Tailored Street Photography Workshops

Explore Street Photography with a customised itinerary using local knowledge to maximise your photographic return

Street Photography in Morocco has been largely unexplored by the mainstream ‘street set’.  As a location, Morocco offers great visual opportunities through its medina townscapes and quality of light.

This abundance of riches is offset by a population who are mixed in their attitude to being photographed.  In some regions there is indifference to the camera whilst in others, such as Marrakesh, there is less acceptance.  Therefore, to get the best from shooting here, you need to be both aware, and sensitive in your approach.  To do this successfully you need a third eye, someone with inside knowledge who can navigate the streets as you go.

I can arrange street photography workshops and tours for one or more locations, on a bespoke basis.  I will lead you around any of the following towns and cities that I recommend, based on an itinerary that suits you.  My role will be to guide you to the most interesting spots at the right time and to manage local subjects where needed.

In the evenings I will review your photos with you and offer ongoing and regular feedback on these.  Daily photo critiques can be detailed and specific, highlighting tips for interpreting your images and editing them for cropping, contrast and colour.  By the end, you’ll have a concrete understanding of what makes a good picture (the right light and composition) but also what makes a great picture (through awareness and anticipation).

Geared for street photography, the feel of the northern cities is distinctive.  Although nothing entirely sets you up for Fes.  Arriving here feels like arriving in another world; its sights, smells and sounds of the market, the old city and its historic walls.  It also has the world-famous tannery which is especially worth shooting at ground level.  Fes is more than just a medina.  It’s great for a mix of gardens, medina walls and passing people as well as Islamic motifs and people resting.  The Jewish quarter can also give an entirely different dimension complete with a vast cemetery.  Fes is really for the more accomplished photographer who can work quickly.  The people here are mostly indifferent to photographing in the streets.

Close-by Meknes is another old supreme city, a majestic show-stopper orchestrated by Sultan Moulay Ismaïl.  His mausoleum is a worthy location to photograph, as is the late afternoon light around Bab Mansour gate.  The best area of Meknes is the old medina which is worth repeated strolls around.  The streets lend themselves to photography, providing even-toned backgrounds whilst the lighting works very well both during the morning and afternoon.  The people here are friendly and accommodating, making this one of the premier easy street locations in Morocco.  It doesn’t have the backdrop variety of Chefchaouen, Essaouira or Fes but it’s a place to gather a clutch of high-quality shots of people in street locations.

Hidden deep in northwestern Morocco set against the dramatic backdrop of the Rif Mountains in Chefchaouen.  At its heart, is a small village of whitewashed blue and white. Chefchaouen is a quiet and atmospheric place to explore with your camera.  It provides great rewards for those starting out in street photography, and for the more accomplished.  The backdrops provide ample opportunity for wide views with people passing, whilst the shy local folk provide challenges for the advanced photographer who wants to get closer.  The blue even-toned walls with small colour details mean it’s a street photography winner.

Offering all the rich possibilities of a medina town at a fraction of Marrakesh’s hassle, Essaouira is a must-do for street photography in this part of the world.  With a range of backdrops, its medina is in part a colourful and shabby chic spectacle and regular neighbourhood community, set within faded doors and old stonework.  You can stroll around the medina without getting lost but still feel a sense of medina disorientation.  The local people are a mixture of Arab and Berber and on the whole, are laid back and friendly but they are wary of the camera, so it pays to build relationships here or to work quickly.  Essaouira also offers beach scenes, a working port, an industrial area and a bustling taxi/bus station.

Street photography participants should be proficient with shooting in mixed lighting quickly.  They should also understand the history of street photography and the benefits of getting in close which means they’ll be keen to use wide-angle lenses as well as telephotos. The telephoto flattening effect can be creatively interesting but the real drama is through getting closer to your subjects.  As such you’ll have already developed some practical skills in this area, or are willing to do so in the workshop.

From 250DH an hour, Essaouira workshops and tours for street photography are all year round. Get in touch to find out more.