SPECIAL OFFER - 20% discount 
A week's holiday with us for £725 during May.
Available dates:

6th May - 13th May
21st May - 28th May

All dates have bookings already attached so why not join a group for a week's culture and sunshine.

http://www.moroccophotographyholidays.co.uk.

Peter escaped the Berlin winter to enjoy a view during his holiday last week. His 'life emerging' gallery offers an insight into the former industrial soul and grandeur of Essaouira's colonial past.  It's part of the town's charm to see original buildings particularly outside the medina.  Gradually they are being either renovated or developed but for now they provide great photo opportunities. Click on the link to view Peter's galleries.  http://essaouiraimages.viewbook.com/march_2011

www.essaouiraimages.com

For all potential clients of Essaouira images, the situation in Morocco and particularly Essaouira is normal and calm.  Despite organised protests on Sunday Feb 20th across the country this is a relaxed town and very few things can provoke the local population into organised demonstrations; tourism continues to flourish here.   As a resident of Essaouira I am naturally in touch with events here on a daily basis.  For those wishing to book weeks or months in advance, please rest assured any payments will be returned to you if the situation changes.  Best wishes Darren Lewey

During Sharon's week here she produced the first landscape portfolio for the photography holiday experience here in Essaouira.  On Wednesday we went to a village 40km south of Essaouira and trekked amongst the fossilised remains of a former seabed before dwelling on the stream that flows past Sidi m'bark towards the waterfalls and sea. Thursday was a national holiday and with Naima's family we went to a fete near Had-Draa, north of Essaouira which displayed a quite primitive looking fairground wheel which nonetheless enthralled the local children.  By Friday night we were up for some local music with the most famous Gnawi of them all, Mahmoud Guinia, who despite an impromptu evening off played one fabulous song before we headed home.

Essaouiraimages is all about experiencing Moroccan culture beyond the tourist trail.  Each day we focus on a different photographic genre that explores different parts of the town and beyond.  You'll meet new people along the way and feel as if you've been here for a lifetime.  It's an intense experience but one that draws people to return again.  By the end of the week students are confident and independent with their photography and they've met many people and seen places that independent tourists rarely get to experience.

http://www.moroccophotographyholidays.co.uk

Tafraoute

On February 6th Naima and I drove the 5 or so hours from Essaouira to the small but beautifully located town, Tafraoute in the Anti Atlas range of mountains.  The approach as seen above, harbours wonderful valleys of blossom.  However we nearly didn't make as it as we ran out of fuel 30 km out, an hour or so from sunset.  However within seconds a Berber family were passing and they located a can of diesel for us.

Tafraoute is where I first came to Morocco in January 1991 as a student to make a short film with my newly acquired 16mm Bolex camera.  Then I was befriended by a local guy, my age who spoke a little English and with Larbi's help after two weeks I returned to Derby with an unusual film to say the least.  My return this week was exciting, naturally the town is bigger and smarter but of course the draw is the surrounding epic landscape.

We were only there for the day so we headed to the painted rocks, where I had filmed the main sequence for my short.  It still has a magical quality.  More remarkable was that unwittingly Naima was wearing clothes that made her part of the landscape.

http://www.moroccophotographyholidays.co.uk

Dan's review can be found here.  "An oasis of calm and civilisation"
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298349-d547446-r96117848-Maison_du_Sud-Essaouira.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

Niki's review can be found here. "wonderful Riad with superb staff"
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298349-d547446-r95920226-Maison_du_Sud-Essaouira.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

She came, photographed and shopped...Niki lost in the jungle of the Maison du Sud.  You can view her three splendid galleries from last week via the Viewbook gallery link:  http://essaouiraimages.viewbook.com/february_2011

http://www.moroccophotographyholidays.co.uk

Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4167m, photographed last week during one of my trips around Morocco approaching from the village of Amizmiz.

Bernadette, Clare and John from Australia enjoyed their time in Essaouira.  Creatives in their own right, their websites can be viewed here:  http://www.claireellway.com/  http://www.jellway.com/design/

Valentines Day 'things to do' TNT listing for Essaouiraimages. 24/1/11

During his week here Dan explored a multitude of genres, venturing beyond the medina as well as visiting two souks and waterfalls near Sidi M'Bark.  By the end he'd solidified his technique on exposure and was intuitively selecting the right composition.  Interestingly many of his best images were framed portrait style as above.

Dan taking on the mighty Argan just outside Ida ou Gourd.

A collection of photographs unearthed 4 years ago documenting the observations of Vivian Maier, a nanny working the US during the 1950's have been published and they are simply stunning.  Click here to view.  http://www.vivianmaier.blogspot.com/

Back story also available here:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jan/16/vivian-maier-chicago-street-photography?intcmp=239

A charming Claire from Oz making new friends with Aziz.  Find his portrait here.  http://essaouiraimages.viewbook.com/album/john_ellway_portraits#9

Clare Pond bonding with some souk sellers at Had Draa.  She had the knack for integrating and getting some wonderful pictures.  http://essaouiraimages.viewbook.com/album/clare_pond_generic#1

Gerry and Doli with Naima demonstrating the 'hand of henna' on a day trip to Ida-ou-Gourd near Essaouira...without the henna...

A selection from John Ellway's beach shots taken with a Canon 40D at the end of a fine sunny day in early Jan.

For a photography holiday in Morocco you could do no worse than take the national carrier. See below for Royal Air Maroc promotions to Agadir and Marrakesh. They provide free meals and they don't get hung up on luggage excess weights!

http://www.royalairmaroc.com/Marchand/Eng/promotionDetail.jsp?rub=1720&rubid=1772&promo=7975

updated gallery of November's workshop's available here: http://essaouiraimages.viewbook.com/

November 20 -27th photography holiday students. Anabel and Jason were very committed to producing some cutting edge photography in Essaouira around themes of working people and abstract imagery. Highly impressive.

A new review from last week's tour courtesy of Tracey.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298349-d547446-r87908262-Maison_du_Sud-Essaouira.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

Marie, Leah, Tracey and Clare with the Skala behind at the end of their week's holiday. They were very good fun and really engaged well with the locals producing some quite brilliant photos as well as taking time out to horse ride and learn to play the 'bongos'.

NEW DATES AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES COVERING ABSTRACT, PORTRAIT AND REPORTAGE WORKSHOPS:

3rd/4th & 26th December plus a wonderful review below:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298349-d547446-r84130798-Maison_du_Sud-Essaouira.html

Marika, Amanda and Hannah at the end of their holiday. They produced some really excellent photographs which surpassed all of our expectations. They truly had a great time and were a pleasure to tutor and spend time with.

This Saturday sees the first of October's workshops with a group of ladies arriving for the week. Some fantastic photography to be published in due course 'Insh'Allah'. Some bookings are coming in for the week beginning Nov 12th with two places still available.

Kerim at his family house in the land of Argan near Essaouira. He made the trip to water his plants. 3/10/10.

Main fish souk Essaouira Saturday 2/10/10

Sandra on a workshop as part of a week's holiday with Essaouiraimages - Street Darb Lalouj. August 2010