A Desert Berber
This portrait of a Berber man from the Tafilalet region of Morocco didn’t need any special software to make it dramatic. The blood of the tribes who conquered Spain and reached to Tours, France (A.D. 711) runs in his veins. His eyes are mesmerizing and I love his strong features. I think of Saladin when I see this photo as he, himself, couldn’t have looked more fierce.
I shot this in the home of a member of his family. That is his wife standing behind him. She was a beautiful, young woman, but I couldn’t resist focusing on him. He is wearing his best clothing, a gold embroidered gandoura and an indigo colored chech. A gandoura is the full, kaftan like garment worn over a shirt and pants. And a chech is the long strip of cloth wrapped around the head.
I’ve been cleaning this room, my “studio”, and came across this photo which I thought I had lost. I’m so glad I found it. Now it’s in my computer and backed up with Carbonite. I hope that means it is safe.