Photographer Captures 30 Years of Moroccan Life and Culture

After 30 years of photographing Morocco's hidden corners and vibrant cities, British photographer Alan Keohane is sharing his remarkable collection with the world.

His new exhibition "Our Land – Ardna" opened Friday at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, featuring 22 photographs that span from the 1980s to today. The images capture both the quiet traditions of rural villages and the energetic life inside the medinas of Marrakech and Fez.

Keohane's journey started in 1986 when he led British tourists on treks through the High Atlas Mountains. He fell so deeply in love with Morocco that he moved there permanently in 1994 with his wife Joanna, settling in the Marrakech countryside.

What makes his work special is his patient approach. He doesn't swoop in for quick snapshots and leave.

"I don't work quickly. I prefer to revisit the same places, the same families multiple times, building a relationship and documenting the same people over many years," he explains. This dedication shows in every frame, where subjects appear comfortable and authentic.

Keohane sees himself as a respectful guest documenting Moroccan culture, not imposing his own vision. "I try to be a mirror," he says, allowing people and places to speak for themselves.

His photographs reveal how Morocco's rural and urban worlds depend on each other. The medinas couldn't exist without the rural population supplying their markets, and rural communities rely on the artisans and production centers in the cities.

Why This Inspires

Keohane's work reminds us that meaningful art requires patience and respect. In our age of instant photos and quick posts, he spent three decades building trust with communities and returning to the same families year after year. His approach as a humble observer rather than a cultural tourist offers a model for how outsiders can honor and celebrate cultures different from their own. By positioning himself as a mirror instead of a lens imposing his own perspective, he created space for Moroccans to tell their own stories through his camera.

During the 1990s, Keohane taught film photography at the French Institute in Marrakech when photography was still rare in the country. He now occasionally teaches at ESAV and collaborates with leading Moroccan photographers.

Looking forward, he plans to reduce commercial work and focus on personal projects, including new book publications. His first book "Berbers of Morocco" came out in 1991 after years documenting southern Morocco's rural communities.

The exhibition lives in the lobby corridors of Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, where visitors can view limited edition prints and connect with Keohane about his broader collection. Three decades of patience and respect have created a beautiful testament to Moroccan life.