Variegated Azemmour

Azemmour is a quiet town located about 50 miles southwest of Casablanca on the Oum Er-Riba River. The medina inside the old Portuguese fort is worthy of a look. Void of touts and hagglers, this medina is used strictly for living. The colors are vibrant and the kids greet you with a simple “Bonjour.” A very relaxing place to grab  a few captures and finish the day with a coffee or Moroccan mint tea.

Vintage Madrid

A gallery of shots that I took from the heart of Spain. Madrid has a superb mix of art, culture, sport and politics. The Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado consists of three solid museums: Museo del Prado, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

Reflections: Portuguese Cistern

Built in 1514, the Portuguese cistern in El Jadida, Morocco offers a simple environment to experiment with lighting. The underground space is constructed of five rows of five stone pillars. It measures  a perfect 34 meters by 34 meters. The water that covers the floor offers several variations and angles at unique captures.

Timeless Toledo

Toledo: Roman, Visigoth, and Moor rule before reconquest in 1085 A.D. This gallery is just a glance at this amazing town of cafes, cobble stone streets, cathedrals, art galleries and river paths. The Museo del Greco is worth the price of admission. From ancient synagogues to beautiful monasteries, Toledo offers a relaxing atmosphere. You may even feel your IQ rise a few points, although it’s likely a placebo.

Cuenca, Spain

Above: Captures from the picturesque town of Cuenca, Spain. During the time of the Spanish Civil War, Cuenca was in the Red Zone. General Franco’s troops took it over in 1938. Today the town of 56,000 is a quiet mix of shops, cathedrals and cafes.

Inspiration to Write Your Novel (Paris)

When you visit Paris:

  1. Rent a tiny room in the old quarter
  2. Overlook the city in silence
  3. Buy something from an Algiers peddler
  4. Pencil sketch half a painting, throw the sketch away
  5. Read a short story in a museum

Paris in Detail

Every inch of Paris tells a story. Before rushing to enter, take a second to admire the detail that surrounds us in everyday life. The complex or simplistic designs and the presence of surface texture create a stunning level of organized art.

Alleys in Essaouira

Cities are made by alleys,

Alleys are made by cities.

Streets and boulevards are planned,

Alleys are spontaneous.

When we take a look,

An alley never portrays the same to us.

Essential Essaouira

One of the windiest cities in Africa sits on the Atlantic coast. Essaouira is a beautiful fortified town that has enough untaken photographs to fill a portfolio.

The smell of fresh, filleted fish linger in the narrow, damp, alleys. Spices, paintings and traditional Moroccan items are for sale as owners yell out their prices. The artsy feel reminds a bit of Ubud, Bali on certain levels.

Jimmy Hendrix stayed in Essaouira for a few days in July of 1969. However, local legend has it that his famous song, “Castles Made of Sand” was inspired by the beach castle ruins (pictured above) in Essaouira but he wrote the song two years prior.

Avant-garde Barcelona

Barcelona is a city filled with the architecture of Gaudi and the paintings of Picasso. There are many gothic and post-modern structures for a photographer to capture. Here are some others