morocco Baker of Asilah, Morocco

Posted this back in November of 2004 but with a very poor scan. Many

requests to improve it. Well, I've been learnin'. Here it is. MS

 

Working Morocco was a dream come true. Casablanca, Marrakech, Fez,

Rabat, names of cities that stir up visions of foreign lands and

famous movies. Towards the end of the trip we (the wife and I) headed

up to Rabat, just across from Spain. But stories of drug pushers

forcing cars off roads to force their wares on you at gunpoint had us

head south fast. The first town we hit was Asilah, a quaint seaport.

We noticed kids carrying towel shrouded cookie sheets into a home,

indicating the town bakery. We surprised him with our presence as no

tourists ever come into his place. I smiled and after pointing to the

camera he slowly shook his head yes, a miracle as most there would

have refused. Thank U Lord. After leaving, I noticed I'd used a film

back with film that was rated two stops off what I thought I had used.

Luckily with print film you can save an image, but I lost the shadow

detail that would have revealed detail in the oven. The next day I

went back but a different guy was baking and did not have the 'look'

of this gentleman. Oh well. I thought it kinda looked like a

Rembrandt, with the Arabic writing on the water bottle about the only

sign of modern times.

 

This is another image in my 2005 Art Calendar 'Best of new work'

theme. Comments

the first time since I'm on photo.net that I rate 7/7. It reminds me the three times i was in Morocco (In Fes)

Nice picture, calibrated the light, for a perfect athomospher!

Bravo

Realy beautiful light and composition and great colors too.Regards,Judy

Excellent shot!

Perfekt photo work

Perfect light, perfec composition, perfect context and a great atmosphere.

brilliant environmental portrait.

 

beautifull-perfect photo 7/7

Just a great shot for a great moment. I really like it.

Gorgeous light and great detail.

Reminds me of my Morocco trip too. I love your subject & theme here. Feel like eating the bread on the tray, they look so yummy :). You have exposed the shot very well. ( can share some of scanning tips? I can't seem to get a good scan of my film pictures.)

Excellent shot Michael. Great composition. Great depth of field.

 

Good to see you tonight...you wanted me to remind you here...I'm just starting to put new images online and would love your input. Thanks!

Hi Cathy. Nice portfolio you have there. The guy tonight had some nice work, but needed to tighten up the presentation to make it really pop. Less is more. Blessings, MS

Excellent and so beautiful scene. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Bravooo!

Biliana

good work!!!!!!!

Looks almost as if the oven (is that what it is?) is going to eat the poor guy. Great photo.

Very good use of "Bladaren" (swe. the Hasselblad) Wide-angel as when it is best. The baker has a lovely expression. Regards.

Great. Unique composition and top drawer lighting.

very nice photo. just pet bottel dose not belong to whole atmosphere!!!

Yeah, without the wide angle I would not have gotten this one. It was a very cramped, small room and I was at the entrance. Of corse, if there was not a window on the left giving me that great sidelight I would not have bothered either.

 

All items were found, not arranged, but I could not have arranged it better if I'd tried- all was perfect. And yeah, it does look like a giant mouth, that oven, going to eat the gentleman. I never arrange any of my found scenes- nor add in poeple that are not there for that matter :').

 

Shahab, the water bottle, Arabic writing and all, helps distinguish this from a Dutch masters painting, don't you think? Personally, I love it; great juxtaposition, but to each his own.

Gorgeous colours and very crisp picture. Couldn't resist clicking on it to see the larger version! 7/7

very nice photo

Masterpiece! and love your story behind this shot too!

Wonderful shot and great story about the taking of it. So true to leave a perfect scene shot under pressure, then a check afterwards finds the ASA setting off by a stop or two. Good darkroom save resulting in a great image.