It's all in the detail...

Morocco is fascinating and a photographers paradise. Its landscape and culture have a distinctive beauty which has impressed artists and travellers alike over the ages.  

On my last trip I gathered a small collection of just some of the beautiful details from around the city of Marrakech, including the Saadian Tombs, The Bahia Palace and The Ben Youssef Madrassa.   Skills and Art from hundreds, perhaps thousand of years ago are still being used there today, which makes it fascinating to photograph.  For example, the art of Zillij (the mosaic patterns) with a border of calligraphy is a tradition skill used to build and adorn mosques and palaces and is still used today in new buildings and renovations including private houses, restaurants and hotels.  Here in this collection of images I have sought to capture the wonderful aesthetic of these original details.

 

Maison de la photographie, Marrakech

For my 40th birthday in July 2010, my other half took me to Morocco and in the last 6 months we have been back 4 times! We love Morocco so much we have put things in place to buy a Riad in the Marrakech Medina. 

Last week, on our most recent trip we traveled with Samuel and Laura Sparrow and the four of us enjoyed shopping in the souks until our feet were sore, buying incense from the former slave market and joining in the carnival spirit in the Jemaa El Fna, we even had our hands henna-ed in the sunshine.

This trip we found even more great restaurants and enjoyed chocolat chaud on the Terrasse of Cafe de France a little too often. 

After a delicious lunch on the roof terrace at Le Foundouk we visited the Maison de la photographie and having never been before I was keen to see the collection which dates from 1870-1950 in such a special setting and it didn't disappoint. The black and white photography looked stunning deep in the heart of the Marrakech Medina in the backdrop of a traditional Riad with a central courtyard and fountain. Of the photographs on display, some were anonymous and others by some of the first western photographers to ever capture images of the indigenous people of the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, the Berbers. The exhibition beautifully illustrated the history, culture, ethnology and daily life of this fascinating country.

 

From the roof terrace the uninterrupted view across the Medina to the Atlas mountains was a real surprise. Lunch and refreshments are served on the terrace too, but having just eaten, we went straight back to the souks for more shopping.

 

Back to the future

I've just got my hands on a new Polaroid camera. I've wanted one for ages, ever since my Grandad took a picture of me with one when I was nine years old. I remember watching with amazement as the Polaroid paper appeared out of the clunky plastic camera which looked like something from the future, then patiently waiting as the image came to life in front of my eyes.

The new camera, a Polaroid 300  although not quite as clunky, still has that retro, plastic look and feel. I couldn't wait to get started so here is my first attempt. Looking forward to taking it everywhere and getting creative.

Marrakech - December 2010

Gallery 4 - Exhibition Images

Gallery 3 - Exhibition Images