Morocco Collection
This collection is a study of contrasts – desert and oasis, glaring sun and relief in the evening and shade, the seen and the unseen. It is a dance between privacy and living out in the open, drawing on the contrasts of colors and shadows to highlight the different sides of the Moroccan culture and lifestyle.
The markets, or souks, are a cacophony of sensory input, between the merchants, the buyers and all of the wares. The aroma of herbs and spices wafts throughout the streets while the rugs, clothing and ceramics create a kaleidoscope of color.
The Bedouin are nomadic Arab tribes, following in the footsteps of their ancestors in spite of, or because of, the shifting sands. Historically, they moved around with their livestock in search of food and water, shaping an identity of close-knit community and resilience. Today they carry on a legacy of movement, whether that be through dance, pastoralism or trade.
The Atlas Mountains range across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, separating the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea. Here, endless rolling sand dunes blend into lush green hillsides where the Amazigh and other populations make their homes.
One of my favorite things about photography, and about this trip, is the opportunity to explore beyond the barriers of language, culture, time and space. Amazigh, meaning “free people” are indigenous people of North Africa, embodying one of the oldest living traditional cultures in the region. They have their own language and dialects, traditional dance and music, and a legacy of storytelling.
Morocco’s constitution states, “Man and woman enjoy, in equality, the rights and freedoms of civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental character.” At the same time, there is a contrast with how Moroccan woman live and move in everyday life. In my travels, I was more likely to come across men, and it was less likely for the women I did meet to let me photograph them. You could say it’s a cultural difference, and that’s partially true. But I saw first-hand how vibrant the Moroccan culture is – I hope in the future everyone feels the freedom to live out loud.