I’m not much of a people person. I’m even less of a people photographer here in my home city of Manchester.
But on my travels, this truly shifts. Particularly in Africa, a continent I visited several times in recent years.
Whether it’s photographing Africans from a discreet distance or taking their portraits in memorable encounters, my mindset changes there.
Here is a collection dating from 2012 to my most recent trip to Mauritania. Which image is your favourite? Do you wonder what the story is behind it?
Tap/click first image to see gallery
-
- Mauritania
-
- Ethiopia
-
- Cape Verde
-
- Morocco
-
- Tunisia
-
- Comoros Islands
-
- Namibia
-
- Mauritania
-
- Ethiopia
-
- Cape Verde
-
- São Tomé e Príncipe
-
- Comoros Islands
-
- Cape Verde
-
- Mauritania
-
- Ethiopia
-
- São Tomé e Príncipe
-
- Morocco
-
- Egypt
My favorite is definitely the portrait of the young man in the Everest jacket. As someone from the Canary Islands, I feel a deep connection to this image. We receive many young people like him who have crossed the ocean in search of a future.
What moves me most is his smile; even after such difficult journeys, many of them arrive with that same kindness and light in their eyes. This photo isn’t just a portrait to me—it represents the hope and dignity that remain intact despite everything.
Hello Maria, thank you for your very thoughtful observation. I said this boy could smile if he wanted and it lit up his face. This makes me wonder why I don’t do more portrait photography :)