Berber Family with Camels
Morocco in the late 1990’s
I used to hire a Berber man from Merzouga to drive me through the desert to visit villages or nomads, whichever came first. I didn’t know it at the time, but he was shy. I think, now, that he dreaded when I’d tell him to stop the car so I could get some photos. The Berbers don’t like to have their photo taken unless they are asked and even then they will often say no. I didn’t want to ask. If I did, I’d never get the shot I wanted.
On this afternoon we saw a huge herd of camels being driven across the desert by a family: men on bicycles herding the animals, women and children on foot driving laden donkeys. I thought we were far enough that I could get some shots and we could get out of there before being accosted by the men of the family. I didn’t notice that they were on bicycles. They were upon us before I could jump back into the car. And they were not happy. They dismounted and leaned threateningly into the car window. Luckily, my driver was a smoker…an offer of an American cigarette is a temper soother.
This is a scan from a slide. Technically it is lacking but photographically it allows the viewer to be in the desert with me on that long ago afternoon.