Morocco travel Photography in the Anti-Atlas
Morocco travel photography with a mixture of landscape photography, people, abstract and interiors, Peter, Val and Jason enjoyed some lovely scenery from the comfort of a Toyoto Landcruiser 4×4, hopping out to take photos at various locations. We had some fine weather for landscape photography; sunny days with some light clouds offering depth to the skies. Polarisers earned their corn on the trip and the kit was all Nikon, with Val and Brian committed enthusiasts from the Macclesfield Camera Club and Jason a previous course attendee here in Essaouira. Adding to their Morocco travel photography portfolios amidst a little bit of walking and the odd Hammam seemed the name of the game and the sun of course was a constant battle to avoid;-).
We stayed at two new hotels this time: We’ve found a new Riad in Marrakesh, Riad Amskal, which we’re pleased with and the Hotel Palais Salam in Taraoudant which is a good 4 star splurge and has one essential advantage: it’s easy to find embedded into the medina wall next to a key entrance. Taradouant is one of those towns with its one-way system that seems to confuse. Nevertheless the medina wall in the the late afternoon and early morning light is Taraoudant’s stellar star.
By day 3 we were at Tafraoute which is a lovely place. It’s a small town, clean and quiet with few tourists and a great base for trips around the region. In the campsites that line the Tiznit road, set against a backdrop of boulders are the French Foreign Legion in the their camper vans; it’s a beautiful area. Photographically the rock surrounding Tafraoute are very absorbing. It’s easy to spend a whole day at two sites which we nearly did. South of Tafraoute and worthy of a one-day adventure by 4×4 is the Mansour series of gorges scored by near empty villages that offer the chance to photograph Berber houses without satelitte dishes.
Strangely the route of the amelns just north of Tafraoute was absent of almond trees, characteristically in full blossom this time of year; a strange quirk for this year perhaps but one that could do with revising. 50km from Tafraoute is Kasbah Tizourgane, another glorious stopping off point. The time of day feels critical here but it’s not always to arrive at morning or evening light. Still it’s a stunning example of fortification. Landscape photography workshops as part of a tour covering Morocco travel photography are available in February and October each year. This month’s galleries of images can be seen here and the Tafraoute page for details of the next trip.
Thank you so much for a great photography trip last week I had a brilliant time! It has given me inspiration and an urge to carry on taking pictures to the best of my ability! Val Feb. 2012
A busy January – Times winners & Pastilla par excellence.
Amongst 3 photography weeks during January and early February, Leigh arrived from Wales armed with some really decent kit. Both an experienced veteren of camera club and international competitions Leigh was extremely able with his a Canon 1DS and 17-40 and EF70-200 lenses, (the latter perhaps the sharpest lens Canon has produced to date). With people photography high on his list, Leigh had a ball both engaging with locals and shooting more covertly. His incisive crisp focusing and control of depth of field really marks his images out as the best people photography to date here in Essaouira. Leigh’s galleries can be seen here.
Cooking became a big feature in January and it’s part of an ongoing plan to offer more activities for couples and singles. Gerry and Lesley came for a week’s cooking holiday with my wife Naima. 
Each day there was a different combination of starter and main course and the results by lunch time were quite exceptional. I can vouch for that! Pastillas are in no way fast food but Lesley and Gerry really came to grips with the technique of this quintessential recipe. Courses in Moroccan cuisine start at £695 pp. for the week inclusive of evening meals, 4 lunches, accommodation and transfers. Enquire for a week’s rate for couples.
Finally Yvette and Peter claimed their prize of a week’s photography holiday winning the Times competition, spending 8 days in sunny Essaouria with me and here’s what Peter had to say about his creative photography holiday:
“…We were both absolute beginners and at the start of the course we knew absolutely nothing about DSLR photography. At the end of the week we left not only with knowledge of camera techniques but also with an awareness of composition…” Their galleries can be seen here.
December’s souks are a bazaar. Photography Holidays for beginners.
On one of our Photography Holidays for beginners, there’s little doubt that a visit to one of the local souks is a feast for the eyes. Souk Had Draa offers quite a spectacle: camels reluctantly being loaded onto trucks for their journey south into the Moroccan Sahara, an assortment of meat sellers, vegetable stalls and the ubiquitous cooking dens spouting charcoal smoke. Taking photos is a challenge but one that really tests the senses and the 3 guys and 4 ladies who visited during December really enjoyed seeing something exceptionally vivid that will live long in the memory. Photographically, Sarah’s abundance of high quality images of the regions’ menfolk takes some beating and is the best collection of photographs from the souk to date. Her Nikon D700 and superb Nikon 24-70 offer an unrivaled clarity for the price. A selection of her photos can be seen here.
Meanwhile December also offered a chance to explore the geology around Sidi M’Bark, part of our Photography Tour on Wednesdays. Successful landscape photography in these parts requires attention to texture and form. Foreground interest and the juxtaposition with distance scenes offers the viewer something more than a wide view where it’s difficult to pick out detail. Wide angle lenses whilst seemingly ideal for landscape work can produce photos that look a little like snaps. If using one, it’s much better to get close to your first subject and create a large depth of field. Above all seek out texture and form within your landscape and also think about using telephotos and shooting with the portrait format. Stephen, Guy and Himal all capitialised on the abstract possibilities offered on the beach at M’ Bark. Their complete galleries can be seen here. If you’re choosing from the vast range of photography holidays for beginners with any supplier always look to find examples of course participants work to give you some idea of what you can achieve with a week’s learning.
The charge of Fantasia
A Fantasia is a team of competing horses with groups of riders, wearing traditional clothes charging in line before firing their old gunpowder guns, the Moukahla into the sky. Fantasia is a perfect example Moroccan folklore and its well groomed Barb a show of pride amongst Moroccan’s wealthy village elders and landowners.
The performance is inspired from historical wartime attacks of Berber and desert knights. The difficulty of the performance is synchronization during the acceleration and especially during firing so that one single shot is heard.
This colorful display of horsemanship begins with a procession made up of women from the Zayaan tribe on horseback. First in line are the virgin women of the Zayaan tribe; behind them are the village men.
The performance reflects the strong relationship between man and horse as is perceived in Islam. While each region in Morocco has one or several fantasia groups, called serba. There is a Berber saying that “only men and virgin women are allowed to ride these magnificent animals,” because non-virgins may cause the stallion to loose its power and speed.
You can also experience the Fantasia near Essaouira at the end of the first week of May. To book your place for a week’s holiday starting on the 4th or 5th of May contact: