Sharon Johnson-Tennant: Diffusion & Magical Mystery Tour

Pilgrimage Home (Ladakh)- © Sharon Johnson-Tennant-All Rights Reserved

Kitchen , Stok Monastery-© Sharon Johnson-Tennant-All Rights Reserved

Morocco-Photo © Sharon Johnson-Tennant-All Rights Reserved

Morocco- Photos © Sharon Johnson-Tennant-All Rights Reserved

di·aph·a·nous/dīˈafənəs/

Adjective:  Light, delicate, and translucent.

Here are a number of photographs by Sharon Johnson-Tennant, a multi-faceted award winning photographer in Los Angeles and a participant in my 2010 Tribes of Rajasthan & Gujarat Photo~Expedition.

These photographs are part of a larger number she sent me in connection with her forthcoming exhibition named DIFFUSION; a compilation of 9 years of Sharon's work from travel all over the world. She describes the photographs in this exhibition as "images that seem to have stopped in time, things in plain sight but not always seen" such as the two top ones made in Ladakh, a remote area of India. Apart from India, her travels have taken her to Malaysia, Burma, Borneo, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and the Philippines.

The exhibition's opening night is March 3, 2012 (7-10 pm) at the Robert Berman Gallery, in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. The exhibition will continue until March 31st.

As for the lower photographs, they're part of Sharon's larger body of work (still in progress) which she calls Magical Mystery Tour. Those were recently made in Morocco at twilight. That time of day in terms of light, coupled with the natural reticence of Moroccans to being photographed pushed Sharon to alter her techniques to meet these challenges.

On my blog, I frequently describe photographs as powerful, emotive, and/or well composed.  For Sharon's new photographs, I happily add diaphanous and ethereal to all these adjectives.

For further examples of Sharon's talents, visit her new website...you'll see the versatility of her work.

Holidays in 2012 – where to visit throughout the year

From Winter to Summer, Autumn or Spring, from the snow in the mountains to clear waters and sunny beaches, David has it all planned in advance for this year. As usual another amazing destination list :)

Deciding where to go on holiday can be tricky. You’ll often have a month in mind for when you’d like to go away but choosing your holiday destination isn’t always easy. To help you out with your decision, TravelSupermarket has identified 12 great holiday destinations to visit – one for every month of the year!

If you’re currently thinking about booking a last minute holiday, January is the ideal time of the year to visit the Caribbean. At this time of year there is a chance of rainfall but with temperatures throughout the month being at least 22 degrees, it is certainly a lot hotter than the UK. The Caribbean also starts its carnivals in January, giving you the chance to experience island life.


With choices from Antigua, Bahamas and Barbados and many others, you will be able to find miles of long sandy beaches and beautiful landscapes, as well as experiencing the laid-back charm of local towns and villages.

If you fancy a skiing break, then Geneva has over 200 resorts in traveling distance of the city and is an ideal destination for February. The city itself is also culture-rich and offers visitors the chance to wander down the streets of this green city and experience some of the finer things of Swiss life.


March is an ideal time to visit Marrakech, as the weather is warm without being too hot! The people of Marrakech are very friendly and the city itself is bustling with colour, sights and smells. It is easy to move from the narrow streets of the old city to the modern district, allowing you to experience what the city has to offer.


Crete is a popular European destination for some early sun in April, as well as for some excellent deals. The largest island in Greece, it offers beautiful coastline that is great for water sports as well as relaxing. The island has also lots to see, from natural features such as its gorges, to ruins from ancient civilizations.


Japan in May is very lush and the temperatures have yet to reach their hottest. The country offers the traditional Japanese lifestyle coupled with modern cities, having something for all types of visitors.


June is an ideal month for going on safari, with South Africa coming into its own at this time of year. The weather can be hot during the day, but it has cooler nights. Zambia has a number of National Parks, as well as spectacular landscapes that include Victoria Falls. The country offers a huge choice of safari activities, including horseback or elephant-back safaris as well as canoe or open vehicle safaris.


The fine weather in July is great for exploring Iceland. The country has such a varied landscape, including glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls and geysers. The days are long as the sun rarely sets and the land is green. There are plenty of activities, such as glacier skiing or even the opportunity to whale watch.


The jewel of the Balearics, Menorca, offers hot weather in August and the chance to relax on one of the many beaches that it has on offer. There are plenty of activities on offer for the whole family, including water sports, water parks, cycling and riding.


Menorca also offers a variety of other activities, including a number of golf courses. There is a variety of historical sites worth visiting on the island, as well as its National Park, the S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park.

There are still plenty of warm destinations in the USA in September. Although the weather can sometimes be unstable at this time of year, Miami offers some fantastic beaches with daily temperatures of above 22 degrees.


There is also the chance to visit the Everglades National Park, which as the subtropical wilderness of the USA, is home to a variety of species. There is also the Biscayne National park that offers the chance to dive around its coral reefs.

Visiting Dubai in October gives the chance for you to experience this truly unique city. Not only does it have many record-breaking landmarks and achievements, it also has many miles of beaches that are ideal for water sports. The city also offers traditional activities, such as camel racing and falconry.


November is an ideal time to take a trip halfway around the world to New Zealand. Both North Island and South Island have beautiful landscapes that include plenty of beaches, lots of wildlife, outdoor activities and the opportunity to experience the unique Maori culture. There is still plenty of sun at this time of year and it is an ideal time to explore.


Cancun in Mexico offers dry weather in December, with average temperatures of around 24 degrees. There are plenty of water sports on offer, including diving. As well as its many beaches, there is plenty to see and do. It has bustling towns and gives visitors the opportunity to explore the ancient world of the Mayans.


Whatever time of year you plan to go on holiday this year, this top picks are just a few destinations that will help you to follow the sun throughout the year.

Jelle Oostrom: Morocco

Photo © Jelle Oostrom-All Rights Reserved

Jelle Oostrom is a travel writer and photographer based in the Netherlands, and has interesting photo galleries of his journeys to Morocco, Andalucia, Thailand, Portugal, Italy and Indonesia.

In common with most photographer who travel to Morocco, Jelle's gallery of this country is predominantly of streetscapes, landscapes and, with a couple of exceptions, of people from a distance (as most Moroccans dislike being photographed for cultural reasons).

I especially liked Jelle's photographs of Chefchaouen; the well known "indigo blue" town close to Tangier and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Aside from Chefchaouen, the Morocco gallery of 45 photographs features Marrakech, Essaouira, Ouarzazate and possibly Fez.

Jelle also authors a Tumblr blog.

Backpacking around the world – 5 of the best places to visit

As promised here are David's top five locations for backpacking. From Australia to Croatia, passing by Thailand and Morocco, a huge adventure that takes us all around the world :)



If you’re looking to get away from the typical package holiday this year and are thinking of replacing it with something a little more ‘out-there’, you may want to consider going on a backpacking holiday. Backpacking is a great way of getting a real insight into a countries culture and way of life and ensures you get a true insight in to your destination which may not always be the case on some other holidays. The experiences you’ll have abroad can leave you with lasting memories that you will no doubt cherish and look back on fondly and people often describe their backpacking trips as life-changing.



If you are currently considering backpacking abroad, here are 5 destinations you should be sure to consider:

Australia - Australia has long been popular with backpackers, not least of all as it tends to benefit from much better weather than Britain! The seasons are opposite to those in the UK, with temperatures in Australia tending to be quite mild, even during the 'winter' months of June and July. This makes chilling out on a sandy beach a great activity at any time of year. With many Australians living by the coast you may want to follow the example of the locals and go surfing. Sydney's Bondi Beach is a particularly popular place to do this.



If you want to take in some stunning natural sights during your trip you will be spoilt for choice by visiting Australia. Kangaroos, koala bears and wallabies are just some of the creatures you can see, while a trip to Uluru - also known as Ayers Rock - is also sure to be captivating, as is the Great Barrier Reef. Those wanting to explore urban environments should visit Sydney to see the world-famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Meanwhile, Melbourne's Golden Heritage Trail gives you the chance to see fantastic architecture.

New Zealand - New Zealand, located some 1,200 miles east of Australia, is also a great destination for backpackers and much like its neighbour is known for having jaw-dropping natural scenery. The Milford Sound, a fjord located in the country's South Island, is one of New Zealand's most popular attractions. The nation is home to a number of sharp mountain ranges created by earthquakes and volcanic activity caused by clashing tectonic plates, so there is plenty of terrain to explore. And if you're looking to take part in adrenalin-pumping activities make sure you head to Queenstown.



In the winter it is something of a mecca for skiers and snowboarders, while visiting in the summer offers you the chance to go cycling and hiking. However, if you're seeking a more sedate experience, spend time soaking up the cafe culture of Wellington, while Auckland - the nation's largest city - contains a range of museums and galleries, including the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Morocco - For a sense of history and culture, Morocco can be a top destination. Port cities such as Casablanca and Tangier are home to a number of art galleries and markets, while you can also go on guided tours of the Sahara riding on a camel. The traditional markets - or souks - of Marrakech offer the chance to pick up a wide variety of items, while the El Badi and Bahia palaces provide an insight into the lives of the royal family.

Thailand - Thailand holidays and in particular trips to Bangkok have long been popular with backpackers keen to sample the delights of the Far East. Visiting the Thai capital gives you the opportunity to try exotic Asian cuisine such as pad Thai from the many street vendors scattered around Bangkok. Many of the city's hostels and hotels catering to backpackers are located around Khao San Road, which is a short walk from tourist attractions such as Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, the King of Thailand's official residence. Head to the Chatuchak weekend market or Siam Paragon (one of the biggest shopping malls in Asia) for souvenirs, while Vimanmek Palace is among the city's other main tourist attractions.

Croatia - For brilliant backpacking a little closer to home, why not head to Croatia? The nation is not part of the EU, meaning that buying things using the local currency - the kuna - could prove much cheaper than in countries that have the euro. And you will certainly not be short of things to spend your money on or attractions to see. Take some time to explore Dubrovnik's Old Town while the fourth century Diocletian's Palace in Split has Unesco World Heritage Status. Zagreb, the nation's capital, contains a range of performing arts venues and museums, including the Croatian National Theatre.



The Adriatic island of Pag has developed a reputation as a Croatian summer destination for party goers, great if you want to let your hair down and have a night on the town. With so many amazing places to visit around the world, you are sure to have a fantastic time backpacking in 2011 wherever you go.



Once again thanks to David ant to the team at travelsupermarket.com, a travel comparison site with great deals on flights and hotels to all of the countries mentioned, for yet another fantastic post.

Leila Alaoui: The Moroccans

Photo © Leila Alaoui - All Rights Reserved

Leila Alaoui is a young French-Moroccan portrait and documentary photographer living in both Morocco and Berlin. She received a B.S. degree in photography from the City University of the New York Graduate Center.

With a number of international exhibitions under her belt, Leila has also featured her portraits of Moroccans at the Palais Es Saadi in Marrakesh.

One of my favorite in her small gallery of Moroccan portrait is the one above of a traditional "guerrab"...or water-seller. This one is from a souk in Boumia (near Meknes), but most people who visited Marrakesh's Souk el Fna have met these water-sellers who now make a living by posing for the cameras. They are a ubiquitous presence in other Morocco's cities.

I'm especially glad when I discover the work of promising (and established) Arab photographers, especially if they're women...and they'll always figure prominently on this blog.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim: Jewish Morocco

Photo © Aaron Vincent Elkaim-All Rights Reserved
On the occasion of Passover, I thought of posting an interesting visual-historical-religious photo essay relating to the long Judeo-Muslim history of Morocco by Aaron Vincent Elkaim.

Jewish history in Morocco dates back to over 2000 years, and Jews have lived in the country as a protected minority. Prior to the arrival of the French in 1912, the currency and flag of Morocco carried the star of David, a recognition that it represented a prophet revered by Jew and Muslim (as Dawood) alike. During the Second World War, the king of Morocco famously declared to the Nazis (who wanted a list of Jews) that there were no Jews in Morocco, only Moroccan citizens.

Following the establishment of Israel, most of the Moroccan Jews have left their country of birth for the USA, France, Canada and Israel itself.

Aaron is an emerging documentary photography who initially studied Film and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Manitoba. His work was awarded on numerous occasions and published in newspapers and magazines across Canada.

His photographs in the mellahs of Marrakesh and Essaouira remind me of my own at the synagogues in these two cities last summer, during the Essaouira Gnawa festival.

Clive Evans: Morocco

Timeless Morocco - Images by Clive Evans

Born in England, Clive travels the world (especially Europe) from his homes in Southern France and Ireland. His years of traveling and documenting Europe and its people result in images expressing individuals, their cultures, and their environments--often with a visual twist.

Clive is also a founder member of Lumen, an international photographer's cooperative with members in Norway, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Germany and Estonia.

His website, hosted by Photoshelter, has 20 galleries but I chose the one of Morocco, which usually provides enormous difficulties to street photographers wishing to capture its people. One of the photographs in the gallery (#5) perfectly expresses the reaction of people when a photographer attempts to take their picture. However, in many cases the reaction is not as good-humored.

From looking at Clive's well composed photographs of Chefchaouen, I realized that the slideshow seems to have somewhat washed out the colors of the photographs, since Chefchaouen's blue is not as vivid as I've seen them in others.

Sean Gilligan: Morocco

In my experience, Morocco is one of the most difficult places for people photography. One not only needs the technical skills of photographing quickly and unobtrusively, but also have an enormous reservoir of patience. I think that Sean Gilligan managed to pull it very well with his gallery titled God, King & Country . The title is from the 3rd image of the gallery which shows a mound of dark sand in which the words God, King, Country are inscribed in white.

Sean Gilligan is a photographer based in New York City, whose objectives are to document cultural diversity, unexpected beauty, intimacy, landscape, and individuals personalities. He has a deep connection with Africa and Ireland and has, over the years, been documenting traditional life as it coexists with modern living.

His work has been featured by CNN, Wall Street Journal, Adidas, Fortune, ESPN, Forbes, among others.

His website has been recently updated and apart from his Morocco gallery, features galleries of Paris, Mexico, Namibia and Ireland.

Nacho Hernandez: Children of the Clouds

Nacho Hernandez is a Spanish photographer who takes assignments worldwide, and has easy access to the Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific regions from his current base in Manila. Nacho graduated from the Washington School of Photography and also holds a MA in International Relations and Development from Georgetown University.

His interest is in international documentary, travel photography and photography with a humanitarian focus. As an example, he produced a long-term project on the Sahrawi people, and which was exhibited at the US Congress in Washington DC. It is this Children of The Clouds which I chose to highlight on TTP.

According to Wikipedia, Hassaniya Arabic speaking tribes, of Arab-Berber and pure Berber/Tuareg heritage, mainly living in Mauritania, Western Sahara southern Morocco, western Algeria, Mali and surrounding territories, form a large part of the population of countries in the area of the Western Sahara.

Western Saharan pro-independence groups have utilized the term Sahrawi to give a their movement a nationalist connotation. Morocco controls most of the territory as its Southern Provinces, but the legality of this is not internationally recognized, and is disputed militarily by the Polisario Front.

Sandra Chandler: Moroccan Impressions

Following her return from our Gnawa Photo Expedition in late June, whose principal objective was to photograph the legendary Gnawa musicians during the 12th Essaouira Music Festival, Sandra immersed herself in working on her Moroccan Impressions, a collection of photographs that are to be shown at Tufenkian on September 3, 2009.

The venue's address is:

Tufenkian Artisan Carpets
515 NW 10th Avenue (in the Pearl District)
Portland, Oregon
503.222.3428 Ext: 105

Sandra is a photographer and interior designer based in San Francisco. She tells us that color, smells and sounds drew her to world travel. Her city's Asian culture first enticed her to China in 1978 when the People’s Republic first opened. She then continued her exploration of Asia by traveling to Bhutan, India, Japan, Singapore, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet, and on to South America and Europe. Her website is here (LINK).

The Travel Photographer blog had a previous post on Sandra here. (LINK)

Larry Larsen: Gnawa Photo Expedition

Photo © Larry Larsen -All Rights Reserved
I organized the Gnawa (or Ganoua) Photo Expedition in late June, which was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose principal objective was to photograph the legendary Gnawa musicians during the 12th Essaouira Music Festival.

Photo © Larry Larsen -All Rights Reserved
This is the fourth of a series of posts which showcase a sample of the participating photographers' work, and it is by Larry Larsen, a Seattle-based artist and photographer. Larry's biography tells us that he was a boilermaker welder for 30 years, but now retired, he's following his true passion in fine art. He learned how to turn on a computer in 2000, began learning Photoshop, and acquired a digital camera and never looked back. He learned that digital photography is very liberating and wide open for experimentation. He has made Photoshop composites and he has played with HDR.

Photo © Larry Larsen -All Rights Reserved
Despite the difficulty of street photography in Morocco, Larry was able, in his unobtrusive way, to make a number of interesting spontaneous photographs, which are on his website. Have a look at his first image in the Morocco series; for those who read Arabic, you'll understand its tongue in cheek humor. For those who don't...ah, well, you'll have to ask Larry.

My Work: Maghreb Still Life

Ancient cameras (Marrakech)-Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Water gourd (Ouarzazate)-Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Allah (Ouarzazate)-Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Shelf & Door(Marrakech)-Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Door (Essaouira)-Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy -All Rights Reserved

Here's a collection of photographs made in the medinas of Marrakech, Essaouira and Ouarzazate, during my Gnawa Festival Photo~Expedition last month. Some of the old cameras are the very popular Kodak 55X Instamatic; one of which I still have in perfect working order!

Oliver Weber: Marrakech

Oliver Weber is a German photographer who currently lives and works on the Canary Island of La Gomera. He specializes in reportage, portrait and street photography.

It was his 2007 photo exhibition “Humans” in Bredevoort, Netherlands, that Oliver Weber became more broadly known to an international audience, and his first book of photographs was published and nominated for the German Photo Book Award.

His interest in street photography is based on spontaneity and the awareness of situations and moods. He seeks to grasp the right moment since once the moment is over, it's gone forever. His black & white street photography of Marrakesh interested me the most amongst his galleries, since I've just returned from there, and I've posted about the immense frustration facing anyone photographing in Morocco. And yet, Oliver seems to photograph with such ease and fluidity.

My Work: Multimedia GNAWA!

At long last, here's the multimedia photo essay on the Gnawa (or Gnaoua) Festival in Essaouira, which includes photographs made in situ during performances and processions. It includes audio clips of live recordings, as well as a short interview with a master "maalem".

Just click on the above photograph or here. This will open a new window and automatically start the multimedia slideshow, so if at work, you'll need to turn down the volume of your speakers.

I originally planned to have this posted in a few days, but the multimedia slideshow was recently "leaked" on Twitter...so as it's out there already, it also ought to be on TTP blog!

Felice Willat: Gnawa Photo~Expedition

Photo © Felice Willat -All Rights Reserved
Photo © Felice Willat -All Rights Reserved
Photo © Felice Willat-All Rights Reserved
I organized the Gnawa (or Ganoua) Photo Expedition in late June, which was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose principal objective was to photograph the legendary Gnawa musicians during the 12th Essaouira Music Festival.

This is the third of a series of posts which showcase a sample of the participating photographers' work, and is by Felice Willat, founder and president of Tools With Heart, a company that develops products to enhance personal discovery and well being. A successful entrepreneur, it's clear that her photography is influenced by her background in network television production.

As obvious from her website (link follows), Felice's photographic style is more artistic than documentary, and she is happy to march to the beat of her own drum. My favorite from those I've chosen for this post is the one showing the exuberant embrace of the Gnawa musicians. Her photographic vision of Morocco can be seen in its totality on her website, along with her many other portfolios.

I've featured Felice's work on a number of occasions on this blog; once on the occasion of her new book The Spirit of Burma, and earlier on, when she returned with photographs of Burma.

My Work: A Gnawa Smile

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy -All Rights Reserved
One the highlights of the Gnawa Photo-Expedition was the procession of Gnawa troupes through the streets and alleys of Essaouira, which started at Bab Doukkala and ended at Mohammed El Qorry near Bab Marrakesh. The procession signaled the start of the 12th Festival of Gnawa Music.

The procession started off by a Gnawa carrying a tray of incense, and was followed by the troupes, possibly in a certain order of hierarchy. There was quite a presence of administrators and police, but I wasn't prevented from photographing as I wished. I suppose they took me for an accredited photojournalist.

The most prominent Gnawa troupes were the Houara de Taroudant, Ganga de Zagora, Ganga de Tamanar, and Gnaoua Agadir. Each of the troupes wore distinctive costumes, ranging from a flamingo pink to black, while others such as the Ganga de Zagora only wear the traditional white.

The Gnawa in the above photograph wears a multicolored tunic, probably based on a traditional belief that there are seven colors which represent 7 jinns (spirits) in Islamic numerology. Click on it for a larger version.

A multimedia feature including my photographs of various Gnawas and ambient recordings of their music and performances will shortly be posted on this blog.

Gnawa Festival: What Worked/What Didn't

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy -All Rights Reserved
To end the recent string of post-expedition navel-gazings, here's what I think worked and didn't in terms of gear during the Gnawa Festival photo-expedition. As readers of this blog know, I opted for a minimalist equipment load, and stuffed my Domke F-3X with the following:

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II
* Canon G10
* Canon 17-40mm f4.0
* Canon 28-70mm f 2.8
* Canon 24mm f1.4
* Marantz PMD 620 Audio Recorder
* Acer Aspire One 8.9-inch Mini Laptop (w/LR2 and SoundSlides)
* A 250gb G-Tech Mini G-Drive External Hard Drive

I used my 5D Mark II fitted with the Canon 28-70mm f2.8 about 70% of the time, the 70-200 f2.8 about 20% of the time and the 17-40mm f4.0 the balance. The 24mm f1.4 never left the bag this time. Wherever I went, I felt I needed the flexibility of zooms, and a prime wouldn't be useful in the situations where I photographed. I experienced initial difficulty in focusing on moving subjects, and blamed my 70-200 lens until I realized that I hadn't turned on my camera's AI Servo AF mode!

I have to say that my beloved 70-200 f2.8 is on its last legs. I guess it dropped too many times in Orissa, on Angkor Wat's stone slabs, in Bali's rice paddies and elsewhere. It now wobbles and rattles and, while it still works, it also earned a well deserved retirement...maybe as door stop.

My experience with the G10 was an unhappy one, and I left it aside after a few tries. I had high hopes that it would be a perfect street camera for the alleys of the medinas, but it frustrated me and I gave up after a while. Larry Larsen, a member of the photo-expedition, used his as a point & shoot and seemed reasonably content with its images. Perhaps he managed his expectations better than I did. I have no doubt that in the right hands and used in the appropriate conditions, it's a fine little point & shoot. However, in my case I expected something more...but I didn't have the time nor patience to work at it.

I thought the PMD 620 recorder performed quite well in the rather extreme situations I put it through. Since most of the Gnawa performances were held in small zaouias, the din of the iron querqab (castanets) used by the Gnawa caused significant distortion in the recordings. Moving around to better positions was impractical, so I had to choose a spot where to stand or sit, record and photograph...not exactly an easy thing to do. I tried using Audacity's filters, but the distortion on some of the sound tracks is still too harsh. As one expert told me when I complained, distortion happens and we have to live with it (or not) sometimes.

Both the Acer and the G-Tech Mini G-Drive performed flawlessly. No complaints there.

Sandra Chandler: Gnawa Photo Expedition

Photo © Sandra Chandler -All Rights Reserved
Photo © Sandra Chandler -All Rights Reserved
Photo © Sandra Chandler -All Rights Reserved
I organized the Gnawa (or Ganoua) Photo Expedition in late June, which was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose principal objective was to photograph the legendary Gnawa musicians during the 12th Essaouira Music Festival.

This is the first of a series of posts which showcase a sample of the participating photographers' work, and is by Sandra Chandler, a photographer and interior designer from San Francisco. Sandy uses a Nikon D300 usually fitted with a 24-70mm 2.8 lens.

Despite the difficulty of street photography in Morocco, I'm glad that Sandy managed to capture wonderful human expressions in one of the above photograph. She is drawn to world travel because of the the cornucopia of colors, smells and sounds, and I think these requirements were more than met in Morocco.

Sandy recently published a wonderful book ‘Carnevale, Fantasy of Venice' of her beautiful photographs of Venice and its magical Carnevale, and I sense she may well follow suit with a book on Morocco. We'll have to wait and see.

Wendy Connett: Images of the World

I "meet" Wendy Connett daily through her interesting and entertaining Escape From New York blog which is on my Google Reader whatsit. Although she lives in New York City, her website also tells us that she considers the UK and India as her second homes....and I thought I was the only one who felt that way!

Wendy is a journalist and photographer, who travels the world to photograph its people, its places and its unique celebrations. Her photographs are licensed around the globe for commercial and editorial use, and are published in over 25 countries. Her work appears on a regular basis in magazines, newspapers, brochures, textbooks and travel guidebooks. Travel & Leisure, The Guardian, The Times, Rough Guides, Fodor's, Frommers are some of the publications where to see her work.

She has just announced a major redesign of her website Wendy Connett Travel Photography, which I urge you to visit. Her opening images of her Morocco portfolio are of Essaouira famous blue fishing boats. This a favorite spot for photographers to capture the very essence of Essaouira which, despite its recent fame as a tourist destination, is still a fishing village. In fact, for fans of grilled sardines, drop by Chez Sam, a lovely restaurant a few steps further into the harbor area.

Gnawa Festival: Afoxé Loni

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy -All Rights Reserved
One of the highlights of the Gnawa Festival was to be able to photograph three of the famed Afoxé Loni dance troupe during their rehearsal at the Lalla Riad in the medina of Essaouira. Afoxé Loni is considered to be one of the most beautiful and musically sophisticated Blocos of Berlin’s “Carnival of World Cultures”, and its history is closely tied to that of the carnival’s.

Amongst the three dancers was one of Afoxé Loni's founder, Murah Soares who is considered to be one of the greatest talents of Afro-Brazilian dance in Germany. Unfortunately, I didn't get the names of the remaining two phenomenal female dancers.

What I didn't know is that in Bahia, Afoxé processions are closely tied to the Candomblé religion; their purpose is to ritually purify the streets and calm down latent violence before the actual carnival parade. Here in Essaouira, the trio rehearsed with the virtuoso Gnawa Maalem Mahmoud Guinea, and produced a fusion of frenetic Brazilian and Gnawa music.