Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Morocco

33 Street Photography Photos from 3 Days in Chefchaouen, Morocco

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After Fes, I took a long bus ride up through the Rif mountains to spend a few days in Chefchaouen, Morocco.  The small mountain town of Chefchaouen is famous for its rich history, architecture, beautiful surroundings and most of all, the blue rinse covering everything in sight.

While many of Morocco’s well-known cities are filled with chaos, Chefchaouen is a relaxing escape. It’s also one of the more unique and picturesque cities I’ve been to. So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Chefchaouen…

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7 First Impressions of Chefchaouen, Morocco
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

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Chefchaouen is a small town up in the Rif Mountains of Morocco. It used to be controlled by Spain so it has more of a spanish influence than french, like much of Morocco. But this isn’t why people make the long trip up through the mountains to visit Chefchaouen today.

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I’ll go into some of the reasons this small city has become a popular destination recently, but one is obvious once you see any photos. Much of Chechaouen’s buildings, houses, walls, stairs and even ground are painted blue. This helps give it a unique atmosphere for photography, but there’s plenty more that makes Chefchaouen a city to visit for some Street Photography, and relaxation.

So here are my first impressions of Chefchaouen, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

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Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Hash in the Hills”

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Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken in Chefchaouen, Morocco. Chefchaouen is a special little city up in the Rif mountains of Morocco. If you’re looking in travel magazines, Chefchaouen is famous for being painted completely blue, its unique history, and the beauty of its surroundings. For many, though, it’s also known for being the hash capital of the world. Morocco produces nearly half of the world’s hashish, most of it here in the Rif mountains.

Once in the city, it doesn’t take long for someone to come up and offer you hash or a guided hash farm tour. While it technically isn’t legal, around 800,000 Moroccans work in the industry, mostly problem free from authorities. While exploring the narrow blue alleys of the old city, I climbed to the top where it opened up to a nice view of the city and mountains.

By the edge, there was a small den where I saw an older boy lighting up some homegrown hashish outside. With the mix of blues and orange in the scene, I decided to walk up and make the shot. I didn’t know how he’d react, but he just gave me a look, without showing any reaction at all. After taking the shot, I gave him a nod, but he just turned and kept puffing away, enjoying the view, and the hashish.

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/11
  • Shutter Speed: 1/500
  • ISO: 400

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33 Street Photography Photos From 3 Days in Fes, Morocco

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After Marrakech, I took a train over to Fes, Morocco.  Fes is one of the most preserved old cities in the Arab world with a medina that’s as elaborate as you’ll find anywhere. There’s also a very local feeling with all the people who live inside its walls. While it does attract tourism, it’s nothing compared to the chaos of Marrakech. 

Marrakech assaults all of your senses with so much to experience and capture, while Fes is a little more relaxing and gives you a different experience. So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Fes…

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Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Fes Sky”

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Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken by Bab Chorfa in Fes, Morocco. Bab Chorfa is one of the largest gates in Fes’ elaborate medina. It’s also right by Bab Boujlad, Fes’ most popular gate due to its busy location and beautiful blue color. This whole area was one of my favorite parts of Fes to spend time for street photography. There’s lots of open light, interesting backgrounds, nearby streets to explore, and plenty of activity everywhere. 

In front of Bab Chorfa is a large open space where a market sets up selling mostly clothing. With all the space, it doesn’t get as crowded as inside the medina so you can really move around and use all the sunlight.  I was returning to the medina, while walking just outside this open market, when I took the above photo.

The first thing I noticed was the man sitting down with his pointed berber hat mostly covering his face. Then when I looked at the background of the gate wall, I noticed the black birds and interesting white clouds in the sky. So I took the shot framing it all together, trying to leave a little mystery with the hooded man included in the scene below the black specks in the sky.

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/11
  • Shutter Speed: 1/500
  • ISO: 400

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7 First Impressions of Fes, Morocco
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

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When it comes to Moroccan cities, Fes gets compared a lot to Marrakech. Online, you’ll find endless articles and forum topics covering the Marrakech vs Fes debate for visitors. Overall, there seems to be more people who love Marrakech, but also more that leave never wanting to return, while Fes is a little less polarizing. For me, I definitely left Marrakech loving it, but I can see why it’s not for everybody. Fes is much more relaxed with less hassle, tourist traps and chaos. 

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I don’t feel Fes provides the variety of life, colors, and scenery for Street Photography that Marrakech does, but that’s mostly because Marrakech is one of the best cities I’ve been to yet for that. Saying this, Fes is still a very unique city with the oldest, most elaborate and local medina you’ll visit anywhere. For many, this, plus the more relaxing vibe, will appeal more. Just like cities are different, so are photographers, so here are my first impressions of Fes, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

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Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Working Blues”

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Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken by the Bahia Palace in Marrakech, Morocco. While not all of the elaborate palace is open to the public, it’s still one of the biggest draws for visitors to Marrakech. The Bahia Palace is on the edge of the Mellah district too so there’s always plenty going on in the area.

Along one of the main roads to the palace, there was a long wall of aluminum siding due to construction (which I believe is for part of the largest photography museum in the world opening this year in Marrakech). The aluminum wall provided an interesting reflection while also narrowing the road for the all the motorbikes and foot traffic going by. 

I was out here trying to capture the unique mixture of local traffic with the interesting reflection from the aluminum wall when I saw these two men pulling towards each other. I liked how the color blue stood out among the monotone scene and how they were pulling their different work wheels, so I decided to captured them just before they passed each other. While the rest of my shots from this congested street were busy and crowded, this one caught a slower, less chaotic moment.

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/8
  • Shutter Speed: 1/400
  • ISO: 800

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Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Mellah Salon”

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Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken in the Mellah in Marrakech, Morocco. The Mellah is a walled jewish quarter, similar to European jewish ghettos where the jewish population was confined. While it’s no longer jewish only, it still gives an interesting look at the city’s past. 

There’s a lot of shops and narrow alleys that you can explore and get lost in. While it does have its fair share of tourism in parts, it’s nothing to the degree of the medina, and feels a little more authentic and preserved too. It’s also easier to get away from the crowds and find yourself with only the locals. Which is what happened when I captured this shot.

I had been walking around the Mellah for a while, past all the shops and into a much more quiet maze of smaller alleys. People seemed curious to see a foreigner this far into the Mellah, but at the same time, the street hustlers weren’t around to hassle me so it was a little more relaxing to shoot here.

I was noticing an ad of a woman on the window of a hair salon, when all of a sudden I heard a very loud voice coming from behind the curtain door. I had my camera ready and as soon as she came out, I snapped this photo. I’m not sure what she was talking loudly about, but her facial expression here matched her tone. She actually never even noticed me and after quickly popping out to look down the street, she turned back inside, and continued on with her verbal tirade.

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/8
  • Shutter Speed: 1/500
  • ISO: 1600

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33 Street Photography Photos From 5 Days in Marrakech, Morocco

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Marrakech was my first experience in Morocco. For photography, it also ended up being my favorite in the country. While not being the easiest place for street photography, it makes up for it in the amount of life to capture. The colors, chaos, unique atmosphere and year-round sunlight make it a place I’d highly recommend to any photographers out there.

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The only thing I would have changed about my time in Marrakech is make it longer. For cities I plan on returning to, it’s at the top of my list.

So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Marrakech…

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7 First Impressions of Marrakech, Morocco
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

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Marrakech was my first stop in Morocco and a city I had wanted to visit for a while. Luckily, it didn’t disappoint at all. Marrakech is a mix of so many things that you have to experience it yourself to really understand how special it is. It’s not all perfect here, but I knew it would be a city I’d want to return to after only the first day. Although it comes with challenges, Marrakech is definitely made for photographers too.

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So here are my first impressions of Marrakech, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

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