 Awaken your senses and join an inspiring Responsible Photography Holiday in Morocco
Working
and travelling in
Morocco since 1981 with four years spent living in North Africa, it is
therefore no surprise that Gail Ward feels very at home in Morocco. One
of her favourite countries, Gail loves
the diverse environment, vibrant culture and strong traditions, but she is also saddened by some of the negative impacts the growth of tourism is causing.
"Very many thanks for a wonderful holiday and a unique opportunity to experience and photograph aspects of Morocco. I
was extremely impressed with your professionalism, dedication and
enthusiasm as well as the warmth of the welcome and continuous concern
for my well being throughout the week. It was a truly memorable and
intense experience and I hope I have made some quality images to match
the opportunities you provided for me".
©Gail Ward 2002
Gail was one of the early pioneers of very tiny group photography holidays and workshops. Morocco was where it all started and where the first responsible photography_holiday took place - all those years ago. Today she sometimes wondered if she did the right thing. Gail has since seen not only seen tourism gradually grow in Morocco
but also the significant increase in people travelling with some form
of 'camera'. Since 2005 there has been an explosion of development, an
increase in flights and a big influx of visitors, particularly to
Marrakech. Flying into Marrakech, you will see the
City spread below and may notice just how much building is going on. In
fact people have been rehoused outside Marrakech to make way for some
of these new developments. The conflict of balance between economic
development and benefits to the local people is the same worldwide. In
Marrakech's
famous Djemaa el-Fna there are often more visitors than local people
and the atmosphere is not quite the same as it used to be. Talking to
friends in the 'place' as the Djemaa el-Fna is often referred to,
Gail hears time and again that the digital camera or 'phone is used
without any thought for the local people who are making their living or
going about their daily life - they are often just 'camera fodder' to
many of the tourist snappers. Buying a holiday, and in particular a photography holiday, does not automatically buy the right to photograph indiscriminately! However, Marrakech is still, and always will be, a unique, vibrant and fascinating place - especially
if you put your camera to one side and instead take time out from
photography to sit, soak up the atmosphere, talk and banter with the
traders and stall holders. Travel further afield and Gail's chosen photographic
locations for focused photography studies in Morocco offer some wonderful opportunities to really capture the flavour of
Morocco and to experience the warm hospitality of Moroccan people, some of
whose livelihoods benefit directly from Responsible Photography Holidays.You can see Morocco through the eyes of some of our clients on the Morocco photo gallery!     
Gail and her Responsible Photography partners all have an infectious
enthusiasm for Morocco that we'd love to share with you!Photo Trips in Morocco 
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