Old man and the Tuareg..., a photo from Western Sahara, South

Photographer's Note

Merzouga is a small village about 50 kilometers from the Algerian border.

Most people are here to take a camel safari into the dunes over a day trip or stay over a night, and to get a taste of remote (tourism-influenced) Berber life. The local population is mix of Arabs and Berber, and generally welcoming and friendly.
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A typical street scene in the older part of Merzouga village.. This one was the outside a mosque, seated is the owner of the mosque and a camel guide, could be a Tuareg but cannot confirm. Tuaregs are Berber people with a traditionally nomadic pastoralist lifestyle.

I happened to chat with him after stealing a few photos, he was cool, shared his Facebook account, but the old man was really grumpy and complaining as to why i was taking his photo !

Angshu has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Gerrit (62042) 2014-09-18 10:31

Hello Sayeed,
fine scene between these two men who both seem to talk. Both rather make there point than listen to the other, that's how it looks like. But I also can see that the younger man has a friendlier face than the old man.
I like the framing with the earth wall and the elegant metal doors.
regards, Gerrit

rbassin (27472) 2014-09-18 10:34

Hello Sayeed,
Une très belle scène, couleurs agréables et design intéressant sur les portes.
Bonne journée
Roland

GFSSD-1 (5888) 2014-09-18 13:32

Küçük bir mola ve sohbet.
simple beautiful clear image
very well job, bravo
all the best

daddo (28748) 2014-09-18 15:54

Salam Sayeed. Interesting as to what you write about the grumpiness of the older men. I found Moroccans particularly hostile towards people with cameras and they seem to have developed a sixth sense in knowing when a camera is pointing towards them, even if the said person and camera are in a moving bus that is rocketing towards them as they ride on a donkey by the roadside. Maybe the unfriendliness towards foreigners has something to do with a long memory of colonial days or just an innate pride of the Berbers and their independent spirit. Anyway, I like the shot as the old man has the same sentiments as I do about baseball caps- his obvious desire is to kill it with the shovel and then to make sure, to bury it. For me they are a symbol of the increasing homogeneity of the world, loss of local culture and the cultural imperialism implied, not to mention exploitation of the workers in third world countries. Sorry, had to get that off my chest. Regards. Klaudio.

emka (158172) 2014-09-18 19:21

Hello Sayeed, Nice picture of these two chatting man. I doubt if the one in blue is Tuareg. They wear blue clothes but not baseball caps. Maybe he is the Western tourist? What alnguge they spoke?
Warm regrads Malgo

abmdsudi (95869) 2014-09-18 20:45

Hi Sayeed
It's a peaceful & relaxing back street on a beautiful day, I love this kind of daily life shot, the visual quality in its simplicity and clarity lifts its way above the usual shot seen in this striking environment. They really take the eye and I love their postures. A successful picture is meant to convey the team effort between the skill photographer and his subjects in the given circumstances. Bravo! TFS
Kind regards

npecanhuk (79329) 2014-09-20 5:51

Hello Sayeed!
Very interesting and attractive picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, horizontal format, black & white borders, chosen pov and composition are all excellent photo qualities that I really liked!
TFS - congrats,
Enjoy your week-end,
Neyvan

Angshu (56760) 2014-09-27 22:20

Hello Sayeed
I am, whenever I see a picture of a Tuareg, at awe at their dress...looks rich and heavy...and wonder why they wear such a heavy dress in the heat of Sahara? Maybe I am wrong, but I get a feeling that this dress is more geared for tourism?
This is an interesting double portrait. The mud walls create a fine BG and the slightly ajar door almost beckons us to a different world!
Cheers!