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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Four: Finding meaning in details > Medina, Fez, Morocco, 2006
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16-DEC-2006

Medina, Fez, Morocco, 2006

Fez, which is also known by some as Fes, has a vast medina, one of the largest and most chaotic old cities in Morocco. The third of the country's imperial cities, Fez is also Morocco's third largest metropolis. Much of its population lives in these medina houses, some of them dating back to the 13th century, as seen here from the heights outside the city. Look closely -- many of these ancient houses incongruously display contemporary satellite dishes. Once we notice the abundance of satellite dishes the entire image changes. It is the incongruity of such detail that makes this image so expressive. Otherwise, it would be a post card view.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/800s f/8.0 at 41.7mm iso100 full exif

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Phil Douglis30-Apr-2008 06:47
i know why you feel this image might benefit from black and white -- it is already essentially a monochromatic image, so why not abstract it further by turning the browns to grays and blacks? I did just that to compare them, and the resulting black and white picture loses its sense of place. The browns in this image are very much the color of the desert that gives this place its identity. So in this case, color is essential to expressing the nature of a Moroccan city.
Dan Chusid30-Apr-2008 06:31
Wonder if the timelessness of b&w would change anything in this image.
It certainly is a perfect example for desaturation.
Phil Douglis14-Nov-2007 00:20
Your comment provokes much thought, Cyndy. Look at almost any city from above, and you will see symbolic conformity, no doubt the result of economic pressures. it is cheaper to build the same thing over and over again, causing cheap housing to dominate any urban landscape. By compressing these buildings with my telephoto lens, i am also symbolically compressing the lives of those who live within them.
Guest 11-Nov-2007 01:46
I am struck by the "sameness" in this image: the houses are all the same, with monochromatic colors and repetitive lines. It is almost overwhelming. Where is the individualism of life in this city? This image makes a very strong statement.
Phil Douglis17-Jan-2007 18:44
I usually hate the mandatory "panoramic overlooks" that part of every tour I've taken. The long views merely show us a scene, but rarely do they have expressive content. And there is not much we can do about it, either -- changing vantage points is hardly an option. However in this case the sheer volume and density of ancient homes was fascinating in itself, and the startling number of satellite dishes made it even more so. And its all in the detail. The ancient is punctuated by the modern, indeed!
Tim May17-Jan-2007 17:00
You are so right - I was pulled to the thumbnail here because of the overpowering flow of ancient houses - but the satellite dishes move this into a new realm - the ancient is flooded by the modern.
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