Morocco Photo Tour
August 1 - 11, 2027
The longest eclipse in the 21st century is on August 2, 2027. Totality goes through Tangier, Morocco, and it will last almost 5 minutes. This celestial event will be a breathtaking experience. What a way to begin a photography tour!
Morocco is as exotic as it gets. From the medieval market in Fez that's more than a thousand years old to golden dunes in the Sahara Desert, and from camels and veiled women to ancient Kasbahs, this North African country is a paradise for photographers.
The nomadic Berber people of the Atlas Mountains are friendly and willing to be photographed, and remarkable Chefchaouen, a city painted in cobalt blue, offers wonderful backdrops for local models. Join Jim for this exciting photo tour to capture history, ancient ruins, fabulous portraits, and impressive interiors along with dramatic landscapes. You'll return home with some of the best images ever.
Please note: August is very hot in Morocco. The coastal areas have pleasant summer temperatures; Tangier will typically be 84 to 85 in the day and 68 degrees at night. But southern Morocco, including the Sahara Desert, will be between 90 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit while nights will be very pleasant, even cool. We will photograph early in the morning and late in the day to avoid the middle-day heat.
What you will learn on this photo tour:
Camera settings for solar eclipse
How to find strong compositions
How to dramatize your photos with wide angle lenses
Emphasizing graphic design
How to work with foreign models
How to expose in contrasty situations
Using doorways for framing models
Using HDR for night photography
Day 1, Sunday, August 1
Leave your home country so you arrive in Tangier, Morocco (airport code TNG) on August 1. If you depart from North America, you will have to leave on July 31st because of the hours in the air and the time change. Upon arrival in Tangier, the historic crossroads between Europe and Africa, you will be met and transferred to our hotel where you will check in and relax for the afternoon. Depending on the time, our group can visit the Cap Sparkle and the old Medina Overnight Tangier (4-star hotel)
Day 2, Monday, August 2, Day of the Eclipse
We have an early breakfast this morning so we can get in position for the eclipse. It begins at 7:40am and reaches totality at 8:44am. A five minute eclipse gives us plenty of time to photograph it in different ways, and Jim will explain the options along with recommendations for lens choice, camera settings, and approaches to exposure. Following this, we leave for Chefchaouen, the famous blue city of Morocco in the Rif Mountains. We arrive in time for lunch, and then we check into our hotel. The afternoon and early evening is spent exploring and photographing the alleyways, colorful shops, and amazing doorways of this special place. Overnight Chefchaouen (4-star hotel).
Day 3, Tuesday, August 3
Chefchaouen is one of the photographic highlights of the tour. The cobalt blue color of many of its doors, windows, alleys, and ancient walls make for wonderful graphic images. Flower pots, people, bicycles, and other subjects stand out beautifully in this kind of environment. Many of your favorite pictures will be taken here. We have an entire day to photograph this wonderful city, and Jim will arrange a model (or two) to pose for us. Overnight Chefchaouen (4-star hotel).
Day 4, Wednesday, August 4
Before breakfast we can get up early and have a last shoot of the beautiful town without any people. After breakfast, we head for the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. The partially excavated site was developed in the 3rd century B.C. by the Berbers, and then it expanded after the Roman conquest. We spend time photographing the well-preserved ruins, and you will be amazed at the beautiful mosaics from more than 2000 years ago. We have lunch in Meknes, one of Morocco's imperial cities. We will visit the remarkable stable of Moulay Ismael, the Bab Mansour, and the Medina. The medieval architecture in this city is dramatic and photogenic. Late in the day we drive to Fez, the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco. Dinner will be served in the hotel. Overnight Fez (4 1/2-star hotel).
Day 5, Thursday, August 5
At sunrise, we will take advantage of an elevated overlook of the city to take great shots in the low angled sunlight. After breakfast, we begin our guided tour of the ancient medina, one of the world's largest walled cities. No cars are allowed in this labyrinth of narrow streets lined with fresh fruit, mounds of colorful spices, intricately woven Berber carpets and many other art objects of Morocco. We will have lunch in a traditional restaurant in the heart of the Medina and then we continue taking timeless photographs. Capture patterns of color in the shops selling spices, pottery, and fabrics as well as people in conversation, donkey's carrying products to sell, artisans at work, and more. We also photograph people working in the medieval tanning vats fro an elevated perspective. It's fantastic photography! We then have dinner in our hotel. Overnight Fez (4 1/2-star hotel).
Day 6, Friday, August 6
After an early breakfast, we will begin our ascent across the Middle Atlas Mountains. Much of the day will be spent winding our way through the beautiful forests, jagged rock faces, and Berber villages as we cross the Atlas Mountains and begin to descend towards the Sahara Desert. Halfway, we will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, famous for its fossils and rocks. In the afternoon, we make our way down through the Ziz River Valley. Upon arrival in Erfoud, we jump into the 4x4s and head out to the dunes. Sunset on the dunes is spectacular. Overnight in the dunes. (3-star hotel)
Day 7, Saturday, August 7
This morning we photograph Berber men leading camels on the dunes at sunrise for a classic desert silhouette. Then, after breakfast, we drive in 4 x 4 vehicles on the dunes and visit a nomadic Berber village. Listen to some of their music while you take great travel portraits. This is a wonderful cultural exchange as well as a great photo opportunity. Overnight in the dunes. (3-star hotel)
Day 8, Sunday, August 8
We head back to Erfoud enroute to the dramatic geological desert region with spectacular views, sheer cliffs, and earth-toned rock formations. We do landscape photography of the rugged terrain and the river valleys, and we will stop to photograph vendors, shepherds, and other locals we'll encounter. This area has been used for more films than any other in Morocco including Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, The Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. Dinner will be served in the Kasbah. Ksar Ighanda Hotel (3 star).
Day 9, Monday, August 9
We'll get up early to enjoy the cool temperatures and photograph the desert and the Kasbah in sunrise lighting. After breakfast, we continue our journey toward Marrakech. Lunch will be enjoyed on this scenic route of the Tich-n-Tichka Pass. Once in Marrakech, we'll check into our hotel. In the early evening, we will head to the square of the Medina, the famous Jemaa-el-Fna. This is one of the highlights of Marrakech; the square comes alive with storytellers, entertainers, snake charmers, and barbecue pits. There is an elevated terrace that offers great views of the square, too. Overnight Marrakech (4-star hotel).
Day 10, Tuesday, August 10
Today we explore Marrakech in more depth. We visit the Palace of the Bahi, the exquisite architecture of the Saadian Tombs, the Marjorelle Garden, and the beautiful Koutoubia Mosque. Jim will show you how effective both vertical and horizontal panos can be We also explore the souk, or market, with many colorful Moroccan products to photograph. The city is stunning at twilight, too, and we will use our tripods to capture the cobalt blue sky against the warm color tones of the artificial lights in this medieval atmosphere. Overnight Marrakech (4-star hotel).
Day 11, Wednesday, August 11
After breakfast we are transferred to the airport (airport code RAK) for our return flight home, knowing we've seen amazing things and captured wonderful images.