Alan Keohane, ou le style de l'image : News on People and Celebrities of marrakechmarrakech marrakech Travel Marrakech

-First name, age, profession?

Alan, 49 years old, photographer

-Tell us about your journey?

I found the Morocco in 1986, shortly after the end of my studies in fine arts in Wales and London

I began to visit the Morocco in 1986 when I became a guide hiking for the British agency, Exodus. I came to the Morocco because I was interested by the lives of traditional people in Muslim countries. I have already travelled to the Near East and spent some time with the Jordan Bedouin. I published my first book "berbers of morocco" in 1991. I myself am installed in Marrakech in 1993 with my wife, Joanna Bristow, and I published my second book, "Bedouins, nomads of the Desert" in 1994. I also mounted the Still Images company in 2001.

-The Morocco photography what is evolution?

The Morocco photography has been a considerable evolution since the 1980's.

Initially, there were very few professional photographers in the Morocco. The photography market was very limited and very little pay. The company did not significant value on the quality of the images for his marketing and artistic level, photographic perspective to the Morocco was rather a foreign vision.

When I am installed, I just worked for my country. I was instead sent abroad for publishers and foreign magazines. From time to time, they asked me to make reports to the Morocco for foreign publications.

Tourism development of the phenomenon of the houses of economy, General, the development which have created a demand at the level of professional photography. I spent a period between the end of the 1990's and early 2000s, to photo mode for "Women of the Morocco" and reports for "House of the Morocco". I was corresponding to the foreign press accredited in the Morocco from 1995 to 2005.

Today with the emergence of the internet, photography has become an economic and social activity very important. It is inconceivable to a campaign without good visuals and sites such as Facebook. The digital revolution, as the cameras on mobile phones, has popularized photography as ever. Today, there are many young Moroccans want to become a professional photographer. Market encourages them. I spent all my life to make pictures and I am still as motivated to make the best photos. I am delighted that it is a new generation interested in this job, not just as a means of earning a living but also to develop its own visions of the country.

-For what reason are you interested in the Amazigh culture?

I am of Irish and Welsh origin. Wales is a country with its own language and its own traditions. I believe that we have celebrated the different cultural, diverse and varied, identities that make up our world.

The Morocco is a beautiful country. It is unique not only for its landscape and its natural heritage but also for its rich cultural and historical. The foundation of this unique identity of the Morocco is the Amazigh culture. Its history and its interaction with other cultures including, with Arabic culture, but other people as Jews, etc... It is this unique blend that gives its extraordinary character to the Morocco.

-Tell us of your new product?

The new product is the first of a series of photographic, in black and white maps on one topic assembled in a cardboard gift with envelopes. They are large enough to be framed, collectible or simply send as postcards. The kit will be sold at 165 Dhs.

-How you came the idea to create?

When I installed in Marrakech in 1993, I started a small series of postcards. They were printing in England. I have never edited re here, because for me, the Morocco print quality was not quite satisfactory.

Today, I earned my living as a commercial photographer and I am rather known for photographs of products, mode, and hotels. But I still have personal photos in black and white. I am also always interested in how popular to expose my photos and popularize this photographic art in General.

Between 2001 and 2006 I have produced a series of digital prints on the Morocco in sepia. I have launched them with exposure to MFIS and later, I sold them to different stores in interior decoration. I finished this series when I understood that I could still do better. I spent the last years perfecting my black and white prints system with very encouraging results. Now, I can produce photos in limited prints.

But these prints are very expensive to produce and miss me a more popular way to expose my photos.

It is a combination of meetings in 2009 and 2010 that convinced me to try to open a printing in Marrakech. Marie Rodier has persuaded me to rethink the postcards and this is my English Publisher, Kyle Cathie, who convinced me of thinking to start in the self-publishing. Ilham from Youssef Impressions, I am persuaded by his enthusiasm and Hicham, technical Chief, who did a fantastic job on the prints.

-How can we get this small object?

At this point, you can buy directly in the studio Still Images. We will soon be them marketed in shops of the Grand Hotels of the city as the Mamounia or hotels in the bled as Kasbah Bab Ourika and the Kasbah of the Toubkal.

-How to choose you for the theme of a collection?

The idea is to produce a series of maps Manila photos that may be collected on the different themes. It is a set of very representative photos of my vision of the Morocco. The following themes will highlight my personal interests: great South, the Sahara, the nomads, had them Atta, the High Atlas etc. Each collection will be as a chapter in my life, my vision and the progress of my introspection.

-What are your projects?

I will continue to trade photos because I must live and I have responsibilities to my employees. But I want to take more time for my personal photos and encourage young photographers to develop their talents. I do not have the means to open a school photo but I would be delighted to have the opportunity to teach photography from time to time.

I think that today the battle of place met at the Morocco for commercial photographers is more or less won. But there is still much to do to popularize artistic photography. It is true that it is now much more than before photographic exhibitions but there is a minority activity. Photo prints are always expensive to purchase and there is not many opportunities for young people to expose to sell his prints. I dream to participate in one open photography as salon is located in Europe or many photographers can expose and sell his prints outside of exclusive galleries.

Popular photo prints are often reproductions of old postcards or photos of foreigners like me. Association admires Safi that this photographic days in schools in the Morocco and I would be happy to get more involved in its forms of activities.

-What are your experiences in Marrakech?

I have a huge sense of gratitude to the Morocco. My wife and I are strangers but the Morocco submitted us for our installation, it will be soon 20 years we arrived. Sometimes I have the impression that in the field of photography, I grew up here. It is the Morocco that I had my first story in the magazine, Marie Claire. When I published my book "berbers", the Morocco was little known in the Anglophone countries. The Ministry of tourism has distributed my book to visiting English-speaking journalists in the country. I had an exhibition in London for the Department of the Moroccan Culture in 1994.

Today we live in a village outside of Marrakech or we have the pleasure to feel, even if it is a way limited, that we are part of a community. It is simply in our more than England.

-Do you like the most in Marrakech?

The hospitality and generosity of the people.

-Do you like least in Marrakech?

The conduct. I have the feeling that at any time it is going to happen something. Then all its good education as his politeness and hospitality are forgotten.

-How you spend your free time?

Read, Cook, walking and travel.

-Do you have a story to tell on the city?

When we installed in Marrakech, we have experienced in a farm in Targa. One night, around midnight, we conduisions on the Avenue Mohamed V, after an evening at the restaurant. We were required to stop at a crossroads to let pass a camel herder and his flock. Marrakech time was a small town provincial, more certainly that before, when the camel caravans entered directly in the Medina, but much smaller than the city of today. But after all, I think that Marrakech has not forgotten its roots as the caravan market, products and the means of transport which have advanced. It remains the hub of the North Africa.