|
|
|
Koutoubia Woman
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
* May I take your picture?
...Why do you want to take a picture of me?
...Ohhh (as she looks up, raising her hand to touch the flowers)
* Here you are (handing her 100 dirhams)
...that is too much, I cannot use that (waving her hand at me)
* I don't have anything smaller
...don't worry (fixing her scarf)
* (I raise the camera)
...(she looks away shyly)
* click, click, click
* Will you be here again? I will bring you something smaller
...I have no where else to go, this is my home (motioning towards the Koutoubia Mosque)...
-----------------------------
As I lay in my bed at the hotel that night I grab my camera. I flick it on to look at the pictures of the day and the woman pops up on the screen. I click to the next picture, to my horror, to see a black screen that says "card error". I keep clicking, error, error, error. Almost 300 pictures gone. She pops up on the screen again...the only photo that has not been corrupted.
The next night, around the same time, I go back with a bunch of smaller bills. She is not there. I walk around the mosque but she does not appear.
The night after I go back again, this time being my last night in Marrakesh, but she is not there. I see another woman who was there the night I took the photos.
* Where is your friend from two nights before?
... (smiles) I was with no one two nights before
* How about the woman I was taking pictures of?
... The only thing I saw you taking pictures of were the flowers by the wall...
Needless to say, this picture is one of my favorites that I have taken in my life. Taken against one of the main walls of the Koutoubia Mosque. I am really still trying to mess with different crops but I do like this. I recovered all the photos on the card when I got home and she hangs in a little frame on my wall. I want to go back to Morocco someday. There is no other place, that I have been, that is quite like it. If I go 20 years from now and see her sitting under the flowers, I will not be surprised. |
Partha_c, sarahnatalie has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
Nice color and great expression. :-D I like the tighter framing here too.
I like her smiling,and the story about this photo is very interesting,thank you for sharing them.
- wolf38
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1981 W: 75 N: 959]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(6572) - [2007-05-09 5:37]
-
Hello John. Picture and text are very alive and descriptive. In addition the diverted face expression of the old woman, who took part in the play. The combination between beautiful photo and outstanding text are here ideal. Very beautifully and worth seeing. Best regards, Wolfgang.
-
- flip89
(3419)
- [2007-05-09 23:19]
-
Beautiful smile you've captured from a very proud woman of stature. Love the natural framing afforded by the bougainvilla.
This is one of the nicest notes I have ever read on TE! The woman is beautiful and I am so glad you were able to save this one. Great work!
Sarah
Beautiful Photo.
You see a sense of pride and happiness in her eyes.
The story behind the photo is amazing.
Did you go back right away to give her the smaller change she asked, if not, maybe that is why the 300 photos disappeared.
Morocco is a mysterious land, full of exotic landscape and people's, definately one of the place's i want to visit.
Cheers.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 128 W: 0 N: 52]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(323)![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 16 W: 0 N: 19]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-s.gif)
(226)