Morocco
The gateway to Africa and the world's largest desert, the Sahara. A rocky and desolate landscape that offers much more than meets the eye. Palm oases beneath snow-capped mountains, old mud villages and forts, endless details of rocky hammocks and the sheer beauty of sandy ergs. A landscape that undoubtedly lends itself to a telephoto lens.
The sun rises exactly between the two high dunes of Erg Chebbi. I'm looking for a closer dune with intact structures, stretching into the distance towards the horizon. Most of the dunes are trampled, except for one whose rough structure transitions into a smooth curve that seems to bend towards the sun.
Sun rising over Erg Chebbi
The sun rises exactly between the two high dunes of Erg Chebbi. I'm looking for a closer dune with intact structures, stretching into the distance towards the horizon. Most of the dunes are trampled, except for one whose rough structure transitions into a smooth curve that seems to bend towards the sun.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/125 s
- Aperture: f/13.0
- Focal length: 28mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 24, 2024 07:58:19
The long dunes are stacked one after the other in long strips to the horizon. There, the highest of them rise with an almost mountain-like character and fade in the glow of the rising sun. One of the first morning views of the geometric beauty of the desert.
Layers of the desert
The long dunes are stacked one after the other in long strips to the horizon. There, the highest of them rise with an almost mountain-like character and fade in the glow of the rising sun. One of the first morning views of the geometric beauty of the desert.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/640 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 125mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 23, 2024 08:14:16
The fortress throning on a hill above a palm oasis and under a wall of interestingly structured mountains catches my eye at first sight. The light is not ideal at that time of day, as it is noon. Quite by chance I am lucky enough to see Ksar Tamnougalt again, this time during a colourful sunrise. The mountain range in the background literally turns red and crowns the scene.
Ksar Tamnougalt
The fortress throning on a hill above a palm oasis and under a wall of interestingly structured mountains catches my eye at first sight. The light is not ideal at that time of day, as it is noon. Quite by chance I am lucky enough to see Ksar Tamnougalt again, this time during a colourful sunrise. The mountain range in the background literally turns red and crowns the scene.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/20 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 90mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 26, 2024 08:02:38
Looking out from the highest dune far away, I am immediately drawn to the sandy wave that wriggles like a great serpent through an ocean of smaller waves. I wait for the right moment when the sun sinks low enough to shine its golden light only on the edge of the wave along its entire length.
Snake dune
Looking out from the highest dune far away, I am immediately drawn to the sandy wave that wriggles like a great serpent through an ocean of smaller waves. I wait for the right moment when the sun sinks low enough to shine its golden light only on the edge of the wave along its entire length.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/80 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 187mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 23, 2024 17:26:47
Camel caravans cross the desert dunes. Nowadays mostly for the pleasure of tourists, but it's not hard to imagine the old days when they were the only chance to get goods across the Sahara. It seems to me that the views of the caravans are better served by the harsh afternoon light, which darkens the shadows. It is the shadows that are more emphasized in this image than the camels themselves.
Camel caravan
Camel caravans cross the desert dunes. Nowadays mostly for the pleasure of tourists, but it's not hard to imagine the old days when they were the only chance to get goods across the Sahara. It seems to me that the views of the caravans are better served by the harsh afternoon light, which darkens the shadows. It is the shadows that are more emphasized in this image than the camels themselves.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/1600 s
- Aperture: f/6.3
- Focal length: 300mm
- ISO: 250
- Date taken: Dec 23, 2024 16:36:57
The sandy desert, erg, can be surprisingly sharply defined. Green grasses grow on one side, only to be swallowed up by waves of endless sand just a few metres away. It is here, at this boundary, that a solitary house and a group of trees stand, their green crowns contrasting beautifully with the golden hues of the sand. My first encounter with the dunes
First encounter with the dunes
The sandy desert, erg, can be surprisingly sharply defined. Green grasses grow on one side, only to be swallowed up by waves of endless sand just a few metres away. It is here, at this boundary, that a solitary house and a group of trees stand, their green crowns contrasting beautifully with the golden hues of the sand. My first encounter with the dunes
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/250 s
- Aperture: f/6.3
- Focal length: 300mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 22, 2024 16:50:44
From the first steps in the sands of Erg Chebbi I am looking for a suitable dune for the night scene. A dune with an S-shaped curve, but not too big to get as close as possible with a wide-angle lens while staying below the dune itself. One of these soon presents itself, and this is where I return in the complete darkness of the desert night. Only the Milky Way and the other stars shine furiously in the sky by then.
Stars over the desert
From the first steps in the sands of Erg Chebbi I am looking for a suitable dune for the night scene. A dune with an S-shaped curve, but not too big to get as close as possible with a wide-angle lens while staying below the dune itself. One of these soon presents itself, and this is where I return in the complete darkness of the desert night. Only the Milky Way and the other stars shine furiously in the sky by then.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 20/1 s
- Aperture: f/1.8
- Focal length: 20mm
- ISO: 1600
- Date taken: Dec 23, 2024 19:18:52
A bizarre rock monolith as if it fell out of the American Midwest. Its creation is linked to a bizarre local legend about a boy named Ali who peed in his food and was turned to stone as punishment. To its side stand Ali's parents, petrified as punishment for bad upbringing of their son, and even further their herd of cattle.
Rock monolith
A bizarre rock monolith as if it fell out of the American Midwest. Its creation is linked to a bizarre local legend about a boy named Ali who peed in his food and was turned to stone as punishment. To its side stand Ali's parents, petrified as punishment for bad upbringing of their son, and even further their herd of cattle.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/1250 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 192mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 25, 2024 17:50:57
Although Erg Chebbi is only a tiny sandy erg in the context of the whole Sahara, the dunes here still reach to the horizon. Viewed from one of the highest dunes, the whole desert spreads out below you. A landscape limited to the shades of sand reveals both its subtle and vast structures.
Erg Chebbi
Although Erg Chebbi is only a tiny sandy erg in the context of the whole Sahara, the dunes here still reach to the horizon. Viewed from one of the highest dunes, the whole desert spreads out below you. A landscape limited to the shades of sand reveals both its subtle and vast structures.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/80 s
- Aperture: f/11.0
- Focal length: 21mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 23, 2024 17:42:28
As the sun sets behind a pair of rock monoliths, a sharp streak of light sweeps across the landscape, bathing it in a yellow glow. Long after sunset, the landscape darkens and the sky is bathed in brilliant reds of every hue.
Colours over the rocky wasteland
As the sun sets behind a pair of rock monoliths, a sharp streak of light sweeps across the landscape, bathing it in a yellow glow. Long after sunset, the landscape darkens and the sky is bathed in brilliant reds of every hue.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/200 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 16mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 25, 2024 18:11:48
Together with the Anti-Atlas, the Jbel Saghro Mountains form an imaginary counterweight to the highest North African mountain range, the High Atlas. Although lower, the shapes of the mountains here are far more varied and interesting in my eyes. Rock monoliths and vertical walls are common, their shape often only becoming apparent in the last rays of the setting sun.
Jbel Saghro
Together with the Anti-Atlas, the Jbel Saghro Mountains form an imaginary counterweight to the highest North African mountain range, the High Atlas. Although lower, the shapes of the mountains here are far more varied and interesting in my eyes. Rock monoliths and vertical walls are common, their shape often only becoming apparent in the last rays of the setting sun.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/125 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 300mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 25, 2024 17:51:42
An insignificant canyon by Moroccan standards, whose name I'm not even sure of as it is not commonly shown on maps, serves as a motif for me one evening in the mountains. You have to find the viewpoint, there are no paths leading to it and don't expect any railings at the top. Just desolate, pure nature and a river that cuts deep into the rocks.
Afourer canyon
An insignificant canyon by Moroccan standards, whose name I'm not even sure of as it is not commonly shown on maps, serves as a motif for me one evening in the mountains. You have to find the viewpoint, there are no paths leading to it and don't expect any railings at the top. Just desolate, pure nature and a river that cuts deep into the rocks.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/8 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 16mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 25, 2024 18:14:14
The sand of the desert can create fine small structures with the help of the wind, but also large overlays without significant details. The geometric purity of the lines and curves of the moving dunes is striking. This is where it pays to look for the S-shaped curves that can lead the eye smoothly into the image.
S-curve
The sand of the desert can create fine small structures with the help of the wind, but also large overlays without significant details. The geometric purity of the lines and curves of the moving dunes is striking. This is where it pays to look for the S-shaped curves that can lead the eye smoothly into the image.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/100 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 90mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 24, 2024 08:14:22
On the outskirts of one of Morocco's largest oases, larger or smaller settlements are crowded together. Some are modern and inhabited, others abandoned and almost in ruins. It is from these that the history and colourful interplay with the surrounding rocks breathes the most, contrasting sharply with the unexpected lushness of the oasis' palm trees and fields.
Palm paradise
On the outskirts of one of Morocco's largest oases, larger or smaller settlements are crowded together. Some are modern and inhabited, others abandoned and almost in ruins. It is from these that the history and colourful interplay with the surrounding rocks breathes the most, contrasting sharply with the unexpected lushness of the oasis' palm trees and fields.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/160 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 103mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 24, 2024 16:49:33
Barren rocky mountains limited to shades of orange as far as the eye can see. Only sporadic stands of shrubs and grasses. In a seemingly uninteresting landscape, all you have to do is find a prominent feature, a bush, a rock or an entire mountain, and wait for dusk to fade the sharp shadows. With small portion of luck, the remaining clouds will turn a stunning evening crimson.
Reds over Jbel Saghro
Barren rocky mountains limited to shades of orange as far as the eye can see. Only sporadic stands of shrubs and grasses. In a seemingly uninteresting landscape, all you have to do is find a prominent feature, a bush, a rock or an entire mountain, and wait for dusk to fade the sharp shadows. With small portion of luck, the remaining clouds will turn a stunning evening crimson.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/8 s
- Aperture: f/11.0
- Focal length: 18mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 25, 2024 18:08:59
The Moroccan landscape would not be complete without its typical settlements, villages and fortresses. Given the natural colour of the original architecture, it seems as if the buildings have grown by the miraculous work of nature. Here, for example, in one of Morocco's largest ksars, a fortress seems to have grown naturally out of the rocky hillsides.
Ksar Ait Ben Haddou
The Moroccan landscape would not be complete without its typical settlements, villages and fortresses. Given the natural colour of the original architecture, it seems as if the buildings have grown by the miraculous work of nature. Here, for example, in one of Morocco's largest ksars, a fortress seems to have grown naturally out of the rocky hillsides.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/400 s
- Aperture: f/3.2
- Focal length: 90mm
- ISO: 200
- Date taken: Dec 21, 2024 16:20:25
The rock formations in the Dades Valley have a unique impression. Thanks to the notches and curves, the group of rocks earned its name from its resemblance to the palms and fingers of apes. The detailed composition without the sky makes the strange boulders stand out.
Monkey fingers
The rock formations in the Dades Valley have a unique impression. Thanks to the notches and curves, the group of rocks earned its name from its resemblance to the palms and fingers of apes. The detailed composition without the sky makes the strange boulders stand out.
- Camera used: SONY ILCE-7C
- Exposure time: 1/160 s
- Aperture: f/8.0
- Focal length: 90mm
- ISO: 100
- Date taken: Dec 25, 2024 11:43:14