This is one of my first ever travel portraits taken back in the Moroccan Sahara whilst on an overland #honeymoon trip with my wife and our beloved Landy 300tdi in Dec 2011.
After several days of rugged driving and the Moroccan empty, flat, hot, dusty, arid, pre-desert landscape, we happened upon a rocky track in a dry riverbed where an old, gnarly, dry tree had caught on the boulders in the flow of water some time ago. A fire would make a welcome treat for out camp that night, and so I got my axe out and started chopping.
Out of nowhere, a figure appeared, and gestured for cigarettes and a drink..which I obliged and offered our morning coffee and smokes. He stood about for a bit, watched me chop, gestured if I could cut some branches off for him, and admired my axe skills (I like to think…)
Just before he left with his bundle of wood, I asked for a portrait. He obliged somewhat grudgingly, and then stood straight as a post staring at me.
I had about 5 seconds to get the shot, as he glared ..then turned away as soon as he heard the first frame go.
I’ll never forget his piercing eyes, head wrapped in rags and dead, but hard and deep expression.
The low sun, harsh contrast and dusty ruggedness of it all is so evocative of that trip, and makes for a very personal and special early travel portrait.
My “Wandering Berber”
One of my favourite ever #travelportraits - shot in Istanbul by the #bosphorus at the back of the #bluemosque , whilst out walking with a group I was teaching and guiding out there. I spotted this diver getting ready and about to dive in, and so I bounded across the boulders and just got a pose and shot off before he slipped into the waters and disappeared.
Before he went, I managed a few words and gestures and found out he dives most days after work, catches about 15 fish a week, and sells to local cafes and restaurants what his family don’t eat.
It confirmed to me, and always reminds me, you have to keep pushing, be open to opportunity and as a photographer, observer and storyteller keep your eyes, heart and mind open to the world around.
My Frogman of Istanbul .
.
.
#fgphotos #filipgierlinski #traveldude #travelportrait #lifeofadventure #bbctravel #expoloretocreate #huffpostgram #travelphotography #canon #portrait #neverstopexpolring #keepitwild #travelstoke #featuremeinstagood #diver #frogman #capture #traveladdict #travelgoals #tv_travel #exploringtheglobe #insta_international #theworldshotz #travel #travelling #environmentalportrait
