Which Lenses For Marrakech?

[matty D]

Sorry......another which lenses for xyz thread!

I'm looking for advice on suitable lenses for Marrakech, having never been there, I'm unsure of the photo opportunities to expect.
I'm using full frame and have the following lenses to choose from:

Samyang 14mm f2.8
Nikon 24-70 f2.8
Sigma 35mm f1.4 art
Nikon 50mm f1.8
Nikon 85mm f1.8
Nikon 70-200 f2.8 (Probably won't take this due to size and weight)

I want to travel light, so I was thinking 24-70 for main lens and the 35mm for low light stuff, OR , 35mm, 50mm and 85mm primes. I won't be using a camera bag, instead I'll be wearing cargo trousers to carry lenses in, and carrying the camera on a Black Rapid.

From what I've read, people don't take too kindly to having their picture taken, so I'm a little concerned the 24-70 might be a bit too large a lens, and intimidate people, but the versatility would be much better than being limited to 3 primes (might miss shots or attract too much attention whilst changing lenses?)

So advice please from those that have visited Marrakech, thanks

 

[Yv]

Personally, I would stick with the primes and keep it simple and lightweight. I did Marrakech with a D700/50mm combo and a FujiX10 compact, no problem at all. You might want to go for portraits, but they really aren't fond of photos so I opted for a shoot from the hip approach to get wider, street scenes approach that showed the city as it is, its life. You will be fine taking architectural type shots, no one will take a blind bit of notice, it is only if you are going for the very obvious portriat pics where you will either get told no, or asked for a few Dirhams.
I would avoid taking anything but really wide photos in the Djmaa el Fna, you really will get hassled for money, especially near the street performers, snake charmers, etc, though I didn't have a problem getting close ups of food on the food stalls, that kind of thing.
Most of all, soak it up, enjoy it!! Its a fabulous city, full of colour and life. Visit the photography museum, and head up to the roof to the cafe for the best food in Marrakech

Loads of photos on my flickr if you want to see what I got Matty

 

[realspeed]

If its anything similar to the places I have been I just took out a camera and just one lens and left the other lenses in the hotel. Remember theft is commonplace and if similar very skilled at it in the market places. For really "dodgy" places I just took my camcorder which does still as well and when not using it kept in in my trouser pocket with my hand over it. Rich looking tourists are like honey to a bee and a prime target for the locals. Also think about wearing a body money belt for any cash you might carry

 

[James Blonde]

What camera is it on? FF or cropped?

I'd say something wide and something portraity, and I'd agree with the 35mm F1.8 as it can be quite dark in the souks

 

[Jackwow]

If you want to keep it simple take the 24-70 and perhaps the 14mm for some really wide shots. Lots of tourists with lots of cameras go to Morocco so nobody is going to be surprised by you and yours. People won't be bothered unless you're obviously taking pictures of them.

 

[matty D]

Personally, I would stick with the primes and keep it simple and lightweight. I did Marrakech with a D700/50mm combo and a FujiX10 compact, no problem at all. You might want to go for portraits, but they really aren't fond of photos so I opted for a shoot from the hip approach to get wider, street scenes approach that showed the city as it is, its life. You will be fine taking architectural type shots, no one will take a blind bit of notice, it is only if you are going for the very obvious portriat pics where you will either get told no, or asked for a few Dirhams.
I would avoid taking anything but really wide photos in the Djmaa el Fna, you really will get hassled for money, especially near the street performers, snake charmers, etc, though I didn't have a problem getting close ups of food on the food stalls, that kind of thing.
Most of all, soak it up, enjoy it!! Its a fabulous city, full of colour and life. Visit the photography museum, and head up to the roof to the cafe for the best food in Marrakech

Loads of photos on my flickr if you want to see what I got Matty

Thanks for the great info Yvonne, your shots are fab

If its anything similar to the places I have been I just took out a camera and just one lens and left the other lenses in the hotel. Remember theft is commonplace and if similar very skilled at it in the market places. For really "dodgy" places I just took my camcorder which does still as well and when not using it kept in in my trouser pocket with my hand over it. Rich looking tourists are like honey to a bee and a prime target for the locals. Also think about wearing a body money belt for any cash you might carry

Thanks for the heads up

What camera is it on? FF or cropped?

I'd say something wide and something portraity, and I'd agree with the 35mm F1.8 as it can be quite dark in the souks

Full frame

If you want to keep it simple take the 24-70 and perhaps the 14mm for some really wide shots. Lots of tourists with lots of cameras go to Morocco so nobody is going to be surprised by you and yours. People won't be bothered unless you're obviously taking pictures of them.

I think the 14mm might be a bit too wide, I normally only use it for landscapes and astro shots, and its got a mahusive front element that will attract a lot of attention



I think I'll take the 24-70, and the primes, then if on the first day I find the 24-70 to be a burden, I can ditch it in the hotel and just go out with the primes on subsequent days. Its sods law that if I don't take it, I'll really want it lol

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Samyang 14mm f2.8 - interiors, night sky
Nikon 24-70 f2.8 - many many of your images there
Sigma 35mm f1.4 art - street photography, environmental portraits
Nikon 50mm f1.8 - too small not to take
Nikon 85mm f1.8 - portraits
Nikon 70-200 f2.8 (Probably won't take this due to size and weight) - portraits, details, landscapes. I'd rather leave 50 and 85mm.

All in if you are undecided.

 

[Lyope]

I went to Marrakech late last year and as I was shooting for myself, I left the DSLRs at home and took my x100s, an old SB26, a cheap nano stand with a brolly, and a couple of Pocketwizards. I made some portraits and I shot some street. Never felt like I needed anything more than the fixed 35mm and one light.

Yeah, Marrakech has got a reputation for being the city that hates photographers. But that's because everywhere you go, there are numpty tourists, jamming their FO great big cameras in people's faces and generally being knobheads. Hell, I'd be a bit standoffish if I kept getting photographed by busloads of Americans who make more in a month than I do in a year. If you stop to speak with people, take an interest, pass the time of day and build some trust, you'll get on alright. Having some French helps, as does knowing how to greet people in Arabic. Mainly though, don't reinforce people's opinions of Europeans by being a drive-by shooter with a big lens.

Take as little as you possibly can. The Sigma 35mm is meant to be a nice lens, maybe I'd go with that. Wrap it in gaff tape - not to avoid getting it thieved, but so you don't look like a prat with an expensive camera. If you've got anything smaller (like the Nikon 35mm f/2) so much the better.

 

[matty D]

All in if you are undecided.

Thanks, but I really do want to travel light, so taking everything is out of the question. For a start the airline only gives 5kg hand baggage (even though they probably won't weigh anything, i don't want to have to check in a fully loaded up Pelicase), and secondly its 30 plus degrees, and I don't want to be carrying several kg of gear around all day.

I went to Marrakech late last year and as I was shooting for myself, I left the DSLRs at home and took my x100s, an old SB26, a cheap nano stand with a brolly, and a couple of Pocketwizards. I made some portraits and I shot some street. Never felt like I needed anything more than the fixed 35mm and one light.

Yeah, Marrakech has got a reputation for being the city that hates photographers. But that's because everywhere you go, there are numpty tourists, jamming their FO great big cameras in people's faces and generally being knobheads. Hell, I'd be a bit standoffish if I kept getting photographed by busloads of Americans who make more in a month than I do in a year. If you stop to speak with people, take an interest, pass the time of day and build some trust, you'll get on alright. Having some French helps, as does knowing how to greet people in Arabic. Mainly though, don't reinforce people's opinions of Europeans by being a drive-by shooter with a big lens.

Take as little as you possibly can. The Sigma 35mm is meant to be a nice lens, maybe I'd go with that. Wrap it in gaff tape - not to avoid getting it thieved, but so you don't look like a prat with an expensive camera. If you've got anything smaller (like the Nikon 35mm f/2) so much the better.

Thanks for your excellent advice, I think I'll follow yours and Yvonne's advice and travel light with the 35mm and maybe another small prime. I won't be taking any lighting gear though, as I'm not experienced enough in using it. You came away with some great shots

 

[Yves Geza]

Most of all, soak it up, enjoy it!! Its a fabulous city, full of colour and life. Visit the photography museum, and head up to the roof to the cafe for the best food in Marrakech

This! We only found the "Maison de la Photographie de Marrakech" on our second trip there. It's in the north east corner of the Northern Medina by the Ben Youssuf Madrasa. The 40Dh tickets [last year's price IIRC] are valid for a week which is good because you might want to return! Go up the stairs past the exhibitions of old photographs. They are fascinating but you don't need to stop and look at them. Keep climbing the stairs, and then the outside staircase to the roof terrace cafeteria and ... you'll just gawp! I spent a happy couple of hours watching tourist after tourist reach the terrace and mouth "wow!!" at the view!

And if the chicken tagine with preserved lemon is on the menu, it's simply the best I've tasted anywhere! If you have it, don't just say "shokran madame" to the lady cooking in the kitchen down the stairs, feel free to say "shokran Yves Geza" too

As Yv and Charlotte have said, Marrakech is an incredibly warm and welcoming place. Of course they desperately want and need tourist money and the Fnaa is "spivvy" but everywhere else if you can string together some words in French and/or are willing to relax and take the rise out of yourself, you'll find people are really nice and helpful!

 

[matty D]

Well thanks to all who replied, and offered advice. I have just returned, and had the most wonderful time. I found Marrakech to be a photographers dream, and nightmare all rolled into one, certainly more challenging than I had anticipated, but very rewarding.

In the end I took out the 24-70mm f2.8, 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8. I have to say all my daytime shots were with the 24-70, and night time with the 35mm.

I will put up a thread in the relevant picture sections in due course, but here are just a couple


Street Food by Matt Franks Photography, on Flickr


Working The Grill by Matt Franks Photography, on Flickr


Dinner's Calling by Matt Franks Photography, on Flickr

 

[Yv]

Fab stuff Matt, looking forward to seeing more of them, an amazing place isn't it