Leila Alaoui is a French-Moroccan photographer who has gained notoriety for her striking portraits.
Leila Alaoui is a French-Moroccan photographer who has gained notoriety for her striking portraits.
Leila Alaoui
For her portrait series, The Moroccans, Alaoui traveled throughout Morocco to find an array of subjects that capture the spirit and diversity of the country.
For her portrait series, The Moroccans, Alaoui traveled throughout Morocco to find an array of subjects that capture the spirit and diversity of the country.
Leila Alaoui
She admitted that in Morocco, finding subjects willing to be photographed could be difficult, due to superstition. <br />"There is an association with witchcraft and there's this kind of fear that if someone takes your photo, they can use it after and put a spell on you," she said.
She admitted that in Morocco, finding subjects willing to be photographed could be difficult, due to superstition.
"There is an association with witchcraft and there's this kind of fear that if someone takes your photo, they can use it after and put a spell on you," she said.
Leila Alaoui
She also noted many Moroccans feel exploited by photographers. <br /><br />"I think people are getting tired of European tourists coming in and taking photos of exotic Morocco. People feel like they're being a bit used," she added.
She also noted many Moroccans feel exploited by photographers.

"I think people are getting tired of European tourists coming in and taking photos of exotic Morocco. People feel like they're being a bit used," she added.
Leila Alaoui
She said that street photography is often frowned upon.
She said that street photography is often frowned upon.
Leila Alaoui
Alaoui also made a film, called The Crossing, which was shown at <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmmpva.org%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Marrakesh Museum for Photography and Visual Arts</a>. In it, everyday Moroccans discuss their experiences, some of which aren't too favorable to authority figures.<br /><br />"When I was in the process of making it, I wasn't sure if I could show it in Morocco. I thought, maybe it was a bit too controversial," she said.
Alaoui also made a film, called The Crossing, which was shown at The Marrakesh Museum for Photography and Visual Arts. In it, everyday Moroccans discuss their experiences, some of which aren't too favorable to authority figures.

"When I was in the process of making it, I wasn't sure if I could show it in Morocco. I thought, maybe it was a bit too controversial," she said.
Leila Alaoui