Journeys Through a Lens
Photographic Exhibition
by Carolyn Hunt-Gouairat
This is an early morning shot taken on the eastern side of Erg Chebbi from the Hamada. I’ve discovered a place to camp out with a Nomadic Family on the Hamada. Clients often wonder why on earth I take them there. But when the sun rises over edge of the escarpment to the east, with only Algeria beyond, and it hits the dunes, where they are completely unspoilt by foot prints and tyre tracks... it all becomes clear.
I have taken numerous shots of Ali over the years. I have always worked with him on my camel treks, he has become a great model and a subject of many of my images. This shot was a complete one off! The contrast of the blue jellaba against the orange dunes, and the bonus was the subject of two sets of feet at this one moment.
Complete spur of the moment photography. Taken on a mid-December afternoon. A hand held shot when the light was perfect, shooting directly into the sun to capture the silhouette of the kite surfer.
For a panoramic perspective of Agadir, the shooting locations are limited. Taken from a roof terrace in the early evening, I wanted to capture the activity of the bay below with the light just going from the sky across the bay.
A very sharp but simple impression to symbolise the Gnaoua music of Morocco. Set against the white background of one of the hammocks here in the Sofitel – a simple shot that says Gnaoua
South of Agadir, about 20 km to the north of Sidi Ifni is the beach of Lagzira. Known more for the two Arches that naturally protrude from the mainland at the south end of the beach. This shot was taken in the midday light looking towards the northern end of the beach. I liked the contrast of the red rocks against the ocean and a great sky that day. Enhanced by the whiteness on the ocean.
I set the lens on infinity to try and capture the expanse which forms Plage Blanche. Located about 250 Km to the south of Agadir, this un-spoilt and un-inhabited beach stretches some 40 or so kilometres. Accessible by road from Goulmin or by piste from Sidi Ifni – development has not reached this far south – long may this remain the case!
A new task!! To capture fast moving action on a rolling ocean - with perfect light! The impact of the yellow jet ski set against the background of a fortunate Agadir sky makes the picture for me.
The small village of Tamtattouchte is located on the south side of the High Atlas mountains, just to the north of Todra Gorge. Recently been made accessible by surfaced road coming up from the Gorge. On this particular afternoon we had approached the village from the piste to the north (en-route from Dades). We had dropped down from the mountain piste and made a stop in the village to catch the late afternoon light. My two subjects were perfectly (unknowingly) positioned on the road when the light was soft and nice. This image to me epitomises villages in southern Morocco.
When Hamid Bentahar asked me to photograph the interior of So, I truly believe that this image is not entirely what he had in mind. With the lights reflecting from the surround plasma screens, this is shot in the upstairs bar ‘So Nice’. The cocktail glasses were uniformly stacked on the glass bar and the light was hitting them perfectly for a few moments. What makes me so happy with these shots is that they were completely spontaneous. If I had ever tried to create this kind of lighting on the glasses it would not have been possible. I quickly shifted from the wide angle of shooting the scenes of So - to the Macro for some fine lens images.
Late afternoon light on Agadir beach, just out from Sofitel Hotel, a few hundred metres to the south. This fisherman became my perfect subject, shooting directly into the falling sun to create the silhouette effect.