Ait Ben Haddou Photo

Photographer’s Note

Illumination by torches, armed worriors, shiny armors, horses and camels, slaves, gold, beautiful women,... that was Aid Ben Haddou at least during the time when the famous movie Gladiator was in making here. Today all the shine disappeared, the old fortified city fell asleep again, trees, palms and other vegetaion keeps silently dismantling the years ago proud towers and gates made out of clay and mud. Although it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the erosion is uncompromising and obviously only insufficient funding is available to save this wonderful historical site. And the local keepers ? They lack on fantasy and do not organize any events, which would attract more and more turists to spend more and more money in order to save this fantastic monument. The personal interests and pockets are to be seen here. Guides cash for taking turists to the top of the hill, local travel agencies keep bringing thousands of turists just to see the monument, take their pictures and continue in hurry for another site. The main gates are blocked by ugly brick walls and behind them ? Behind them, inside the walls, local people do care about their tiny fields, perhaps bringing them some small crop, however damaging much more the historical monument. Even inside of the castle lives a local family, breeds there goats and cashes 10 Dirham into their pockets from each turist, who is brought by the guide to see the way they live. If there would not be any other "Gladiator" or the mankind would not find funding for restorations, not even talking about the local government, the next generations would find here just a heap of rubbish. And that would be a big loss.

© 2009 - All rights reserved. The photos taken by Michael Trezzi are registered and copyrighted. Use in any form (web, paper publication, public exposure, etc.) is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the photographer. To contact the Author please use the „Contact Me“ link on his TrekEarth Intro page.

tatadalou, kepec, ffranz, fijiphil, ildi, teacozie, jaywalker, pticaruh has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

poulinp (4464) 2006-05-19 12:55

The hot light is superb. I like the unevenness of the city, whose slope follows that of the mountains to the background. Wonderful shot.

Budapestman (43292) 2006-05-19 12:57

Hi Michael!
Beautiful colors, fantastic city, miracle lights, very good photo!
George

klennon79 (0) 2006-05-19 13:03

Beautiful compostion! The colors and lighitng are amazing! Nice depth and detail. Great perspective as well.

tatadalou (818) 2006-05-19 13:12

Hi Michael,
Wonderful shot! The compo is very interesting and the sharpness, great. The colours of the sky and the villlage are amazing. I find the green of the tree a little bit too saturated but otherwise, the picture is great.
Delphine

nomadgraphics (145) 2006-05-19 13:14

wow, it looks like the city is burning. verry beautiful colors, warm tones, and the green balance the photo overall.
Also, the note is verry sad, and I must admit that in my country is the same thing with many of our greate cultural monuments.

kepec (237) 2006-05-19 13:30

Hello Michael
Great colors! I imagine it was during the sunset? the light adds to the ambience! And your note is very interesting!
Regards, Karine

Graal (59126) 2006-05-19 13:45

Hi Michael,
beautiful view, good light and colours. You had fine POV. Interesting note. I like this work.
Rgs, Aleksander

kvananthnaag (376) 2006-05-19 13:52

The red city in beauty, well shot.

toni_al (15476) 2006-05-19 15:01

Salut Michael
Très bon cadrage avec cette superbe lumière. on dirait un château de sable.
Amities
Toni

fijiphil (1345) 2006-05-19 16:40

Great note!! Great image too, the colours seem almost unnaturally harsh though, even allowing for the morning sun. I think the picture would benefit from a healthy dose of Unsharp Mask too. TFS

lucinka (9920) 2006-05-22 14:08

Michael, it is always pleasure to see such a beautiful photo, especially when it was taken in Morocco. Ted jsem si vsimla,ze jsi z Cech. To vzdycky potesi, kdyz vidim nejakeho cecha na TE, ktery umi tak hezky fotit. Zvlastni je, ze jsem si te drive nevsimla, ale to se ted zmeni. Krasny den. Lucie

ildi (23) 2006-06-29 17:22

Hi Michael,

This picture was one of the reasons why I joined this website! I love everything about this shot. I've been there and you really have to get it right to have a result like this! What time of day did you do this? Early morning or late evening?
Ildi

rozy975 (3047) 2006-07-25 12:33

Gorgeous view!
Light is great.
Shades, vivid green and sunlight on the walls of the city.
Great job.
Well done!

Lore007 (211) 2006-10-28 8:20

Very clear and sharp shot. Also very nice colours and compo. Congratz!

vonp (2235) 2007-01-07 12:40

Hello Michael,
First of all I'd like to say you nthat your gallery is simply fantastic: Bravo.
About this picture, I can just say that's perfect: great color and amazing composition.
See you soon
Paolo

happypoppeye (4064) 2007-06-21 8:14

Great color. Super saturated but really great. Composition is classic and sharpness is excellent.

Great work.
John

jaywalker (12415) 2007-08-27 11:40

Hi Michael, I have not seen anything of yours on for a while, however when looking into your sight this photo jumped out, I love the strong colours & excellent light, your POV shows of this stunning historical site wonderfully well, it would be a loss to the world if these magnificent structures were not saved, I have never seen a fortified city like this ever, maybe the locals don't realise what they have here, however that goes for a great deal of the world we live in, a beautiful photo & a superb note, kind regards Wilson.

pticaruh (276) 2008-08-15 11:07

Very touching and true note, Michael. Unfortunately similar is the situation in many of Eastern Morocco's kasbas and ksour. I was working in all the area aroun Er Rachidia - there are beautiful, and still preserved at some point mud-buildings (Goulmima, villages around Erfoud, etc.), yet, as you say, they are neglected as a resource of money - which will lead to a better preservation.

About the photo - I like the light line of the rising Sun, crossing these great kasbahs.Yes, the city really awakes for another of its countless days.

Another day - another dollar...