Christopher D'Alves
PHOTOGRAPHER
Morocco is a unique country with every type of landscape - from walking in the desert to skiing in the mountains. It is definitely a beautiful place. I have been twice, each time 30 years apart. I am not saying Moroccans are unfriendly, but they are the least of all the countries I have been to (and I have been pretty much everywhere but Australia so far). Moroccans want you to spend your money, and that is the only time they will approach you and they will want the sell stating if you don't want to buy, don't come. Other than this, it is a beautiful place and should be seen. It is rich in culture and the people are beautiful subjects to photograph - that is if they let you. Most will cover their face and object even if they are passing by and your intent was the shot, not them (but understandably, that is a Muslim thing). When I came across this lady and her child sitting on the sidewalk I could not but see the resemblance in Dorothea Lange's famous photograph: Migrant Mother. Like Florence Owens Thompson, there is a stunning beauty in the structure of her face and although it shows a lot of despair, you can feel her strength to endure. I use my long lens to take shots like this - I was about 50 yards away! The advantage being the subjects are completely unaware I am taking the shot! I know that sounds bad, but what they will never know, doesn't hurt them (all part of street photography).
Leather Tanning. Bird poop is part of the ingredients of the Leather Tanning process; as a consequence, the smell is hard to take! You can make good money collecting bird poop for the Tannery.
At the line of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Could see Gibraltar and the Spanish Coastline from here. Have been all around Spain twice and will have to visit again to photograph. Barcelona is one of my most favorite places on this earth. Gaudi being my most admired Architect and the Spanish people, what can I say; I just love them, especially since my Great Grandmother on my Mother's side last name was Casaban.
We Camped out over night in the Sahara Desert - sounds like we were roughing it, but I have to be honest, the tent was a luxury and we dined in a large tent with hotel service. The feel of the Moroccan Desert is the same as Egypt, which I have also visited twice and will have to go back to since those trips were pre-digital Camera times and I have few photos.
