14-DEC-2006
Jaunty soldier, Rabat, Morocco, 2006
I made this photo outside the Royal Palace, headquarters of Morocco’s government. I saw the thrust of the palm shadow on the wall, and waited for someone to step in front of it. This soldier obliged – his jaunty step is a perfect complement to the upward sweep of the palm shadow. The body language – swinging arm and a full stride -- suggests self-confidence and positive attitude.
29-DEC-2006
At rest, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2006
I saw the light and shadow falling on this man as he rests with a cup of tea in a Marrakesh cafe. I exposed for the highlights, letting his face fall into deep shadow. Covering the eyes is an ambiguous gesture. Once again, I leave it to the viewer to answer the questions this image asks. Is he deep in thought? Tired? Lost in sadness? Or just hiding from my camera?
21-DEC-2006
School Girls, Tineghir, Morocco, 2006
These girls display a variety of emotional responses as they greeted us in the lobby of a state-operated boarding institution for worthy students who come from outlying villages. When possible, I like to compare and contrast one response against another. Each girl feels differently about my presence. The girl at left finds my camera amusing. She enjoys the limelight. The other two girls are not as self-assured – their hand gestures and expressions convey uncertainty and caution. The girl in the center abstracts herself with a blurred hand – is she shy? Or simply excited? The spontaneous gestures and responses in this image ask questions and demand answers from the viewer.
25-DEC-2006
Young salesman, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2006
I found this young man selling shoes in the souk. He seems to take my camera for granted. His eyes look away, towards the shoes. His gesture – a scratch on the ear – might signify puzzlement. I used less than a 150mm focal length, so I must have only been a few feet away when I made this image. Yet there were many shoppers on the street with me. It is possible he never saw me -- his mind seems far away.
29-DEC-2006
Hands full of questions, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2006
After making this image in the souks of Marrakesh's medina, I had more questions in mind than answers. The woman’s hands to face gesture can mean different things. Is she trying to remember something she came to buy? Or is she stifling a sneeze? Perhaps a quick prayer is being offered? Her hands are stained red from decorative henna. The more questions a picture asks, the more thought provoking it can be. Ambiguity, rather than certainty, is an important principle in expressive travel photography. The more an image appeals to the imagination of a viewer, the richer and more rewarding the viewing experience becomes.
28-DEC-2006
Tea Time at the market, Attaouia, Morocco, 2006
One of the largest markets in Morocco is held weekly in Attaouia, about an hour from Marrakesh. Everything from clothing to camels is sold and swapped here. I made this image of two fellows talking business in a tent over a cup of tea in the heart of the market. The man at right seems to be drinking a glass of tea and emphasizing a point at the same time. The extended index finger is a universal gesture of exclamation, direction, and authority. A tent has become his office and dining room at the same time. The other man listens but does not acknowledge what he is hearing. Is a customer? A colleague? We can only guess.
16-DEC-2006
Sidewalk café, Fez, Morocco, 2006
A cup of mint tea or strong coffee is all someone needs to buy in order to occupy a seat in a Moroccan cafe for hours at a time. The cafe is a public living room in Fez, and smokers are welcome. His gesture and expression reveal a good deal of character. I was using a long lens (250mm) and burst shooting; he never noticed me. I was drawn to him by the black jellaba he was wearing which blends into the heavily shadowed background. The strong morning light on his face strengthens the detail in the gesture, illuminating both the veins in his left hand and the character lines on his face. Some might wonder why I did not convert this image to black and white, since most of the color in the image is in the skin tones. I tested this shot in black and white and the meaning changes entirely. The warmth of character vanishes in black and white – he becomes timeless, almost medieval in nature. The smoking gesture becomes cold, calculating, and stylized in black and white, while it is warm, relaxed and real in color. This exercise points up the danger of automatically presenting pictures in black and white as a matter of personal style. Monochromatic presentation can completely change the interpretation and meaning of gesture and response. As communicators, we must never choose our medium based on form alone. We should choose the form that best suits our content.