Morocco: It’s All in the Details

Leather shoes for sale in the Fez Medina

I’ve only just arrived in Morocco and internet here is fairly spotty, with upload speeds slow enough that I’ve been unable to update the blog thus far. For a first post, I wanted to highlight some photos from what has struck me since I set foot into this colourful, mystical country – the details. From the ornate carvings on the walls of mosques and madrassas to the bags upon bags of spices and grains, each piled almost casually atop the other but forming a beautiful symmetry as a whole, to the doorknobs and brass statues I’ve seen thus far.

There are plenty of traditionally compelling photos from this country, and I’m sure I’ll post more of those later. But for the moment what stands out above all else is the craftsmanship and detailing in the myriad of parts that make up the whole, even those details that we see in nature as we wind our way through the country. And I really like the fact that is the aggregate of all those small, special things thatmade the biggest first impression overall. Given that they all stood out in my mind, I wanted to share them here with you.

Morocco Photography: Details Aplenty

Ceramic tagines at the pottery village in Fez, Morocco
Ceramic taginieres at the pottery village in Fez
Doorknob on the Palace doors in Fez, Morocco
Doorknob on the Palace doors in Fez at the entrance to the Medina
Kettle at a Berber kitchen tent on the drive to Merzouga, Morocco
Kettle at a Berber kitchen tent on the drive to Merzouga
Leather shoes for sale in the Fez Medina
Colourful, hand-stitched leather shoes for sale in the Fez Medina at their oldest tannery
Meknes, Morocco
Writing on the wall at a mosque in Meknes
Tiled floor in Fez' oldest madrassa, Morocco
Tiled floor in Fez’ oldest madrassa contrasted against our city guide’s tan leather shoes.
Beautiful doorknob in the winding alleyways of Fez' medina
Beautiful doorknob in the winding alleyways of Fez’ Medina
Silver lockets for sale at the medina in Meknes, Morocco
Silver and brass lockets for sale at the Medina in Meknes
Dried chilli in the spice souqs of Meknes, Morocco
Dried chilli in the spice markets of Meknes
Cottonball clouds on the long drive from Fez to Zaita and into the Sahara
Cottonball clouds on the long drive from Fez to the Sahara.
Small acorns for sale in the Meknes spice market
Dried poppy seed heads for sale in the Meknes spice market
Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail in Meknes, Morocco
Tiled walls at the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail in Meknes

A note about these photos: they are taken with my new camera, the first one I’ve bought in years. It’s an Olympus E-P3, with a pancake (aspheric) f/1.7 20mm lens. I’m still really getting used to it – I find myself focusing on the wrong things or getting far too close to the subject as I’m used to my little S90 point and shoot. But it’s been great fun to learn how the camera works and what it’s capable of. I’m very happy I chose to get a Micro 4/3ds and not a DSLR; it’s great not to have a big camera to lug through the medinas.

I’ll also be posting about my ridiculous long-haul flight to Casablanca and plenty of photos from the foods I’ve eaten on the trip. As the internet is quite unreliable, I’ll be adding pictures one by one (and more frequently) on the Legal Nomads fan page.

More to come soon!

Jodi

A reminder that I was sent to India to document my journey as part of G Adventures’ Wanderers in Residence Programme. Flights and tour costs were thus absorbed by them.

79 thoughts on “Morocco: It’s All in the Details”

  1. Yeah, I’m speechless. With your help, I’ve achieved a level of “home”sickness I didn’t think possible. It’s like my whole self is aching to go back to these sights, sounds and scents. It was really nice meeting you in Istanbul and I’ll be checking back regularly to cheer you on! Best of luck, Jodi!

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  3. Incredible photos! I’m off to Morocco in a couple of weeks, but much more excited now after looking at your gorgeous pix :)

  4. What wonderful colors. I don’t know how many “poorly focused” pictures you went trough to get these, but I love the in-out of focus close up shots. Especially the seeds, like the dunes of a desert.

    1. Thanks Andrew. No poorly focused shots were harmed in making this photoessay ;) These were actually taken by manually setting the aperture quite low (1.7) and focusing on just one part of the scene. I’m glad you enjoyed!

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  8. Lovely photos, Jodi!
    Morocco is on my travel list. Now I want to go there even more! :))
    I would love to photoshoot like you. :) Well done!

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  10. I LOVED the pictures! Morocco seems to be a photograpsher’s paradise.The photographer, Peter Sanders, I went with for a photography workshop in Morocco, said, that what makes Morocoo special is the light in Morocco itself. And of course all those motives! I loved your close ups! It is always interesting, how and what someone else interprets of the almost similar venue!

  11. Wow, this blog is so beautiful, with such lovely writing, and the pictures are so vibrant.
    For some information, those locket things are khamsa(s), a symbol traditional in Middle Eastern Jewish circles and Muslim circles.

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