"Unfocused" — A Project Born in Marrakesh

I traveled to Marrakesh on vacation, carrying my camera as always, though without a clear story in mind. I was mindful not to invade anyone’s privacy, particularly that of women in a country deeply rooted in tradition and religion. On my first day, weaving through the bustling markets, the urge to capture what I saw overtook me. Yet, I hesitated: what would happen when my camera met the gaze of a local Moroccan?

I decided to approach it differently — to control the direction of the lens but not the subjects who appeared within it. To look without seeking, to observe without imposing. That first evening, reviewing the photographs, I was stunned. Somehow, I had managed to capture something real without crossing a line — a delicate balance I had explored in my bachelor's thesis.

Over the next two days, I continued. I captured unfiltered, unfocused glimpses of daily life: fleeting expressions, movements, moments untouched by performance. None of those I photographed knew a piece of their world had been quietly preserved. For months, the images sat unseen on my hard drive, as I debated whether they deserved to be shared.