With Love

   My dear friends,
   It has been very long since I last blogged and I have to apologise for that. It has been 'hard' to concentrate on blogging when we were out all day while on holiday. Not a good enough reason I say, though I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my husband without thinking about work. Those who know us on personal level know that not often we are granted the opportunity to spend the time alone. And I am grateful for that chance.

   Last few months have been like rollercoaster for me - busy in my photography and mummy world. But today's post I wanted to dedicate to Christmas. It is Christmas day and I want to wish you all, whoever is reading this post, whoever is or isn't celebrating Christmas - make today an extraordinary beautiful day and spend it with your loved ones. Tell them why you love them and how precious they are to you. They, who are with us and supporting us on our way, are the true ones. Be grateful to God for having them with you.

 

 I am thankful to God for my beautiful and healthy family. Merry Christmas!

With love

Jasmine

West or East | Germany

   Well, we did not go to Berlin for a beer or wine festival. This destination was part of our summer vacation that was purely to see and with a fraction of our minds imagine the historical events - World War I and World War II.
  As a little child you accept things differently. Stories sound more impressive especially when the story teller has gone through it him/herself. Grandparents who fought, defeated, got injured and won. Separating Berlin from the rest of the Germany. Calling it East and West. But what was the price for the victory? Was it worth it?

I don't want to go into details and tell you about the history. I am sure you have learnt it at school and can refresh your mind about it. Yet one of my MUST see parts of Berlin was The Wall. There is only some of it that is reserved and is covered in graffiti/wall art. So we went for a hunt.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

   I imagined Berlin very different to what I saw. Beautiful wide boulevards, surrounding the main streets, gave this city a relaxed and pleasant feel. Considering the fact that it is only few years that the city became a tourist attraction site (as we were informed by our host), the queues to get into the museums were amazingly long. And while we were waiting...

   Being a wedding photographer I couldn't resist but ask for permission from this bride and groom to take these photos of them looking all loved and romantic. A very interesting experience for me and for them too, I guess. Being photographer in a public area where every stranger is watching you pose, must be nerve-raking. But looking at the photos now it doesn't look like she minds it at all.

   I shall stop my blog post on this pleasant note, but will come back with more from Berlin, Germany. Stay tuned!

  

Happy Saturday

With love

Jasmine

XO

Portrait of a Beautiful Woman | Travel + Work in Spain

   I have been fortunate to have been studying few most inspiring portrait photographers in the world, who's works have truly made me try, practise and get better in my art. 

   For a very long time I was in search of my own style. I felt it, I sensed it, it made my heart jump, but I wouldn't understand what exactly made me feel that way. To figure it out I started to analyse the portraits I loved in details! They are connected, relaxed, feminine and glamorous. It is the connection that the photographer creates with the model, it is the feminine side that is shown and women are normally shy to admit it, it is pure beauty that photographer captures. And the colours. Soft, pastel shades of the colour-wheel pleases the eye and spreads the tranquil mood. I call it fine art!
  
    As I travelled around Europe and had the absolute luck to work with this woman, here is what I learnt. Get to know the person you are going to work with. I mean, don't take your camera out until you spent some time with the "model". Have some coffee and chat (that's what women do BEST, right?). As a photographer it is crucial to know what type of person you are going to spend next two to three hours with. They need to trust you as much as you need to trust them.

   

   I have been very lucky with this lady. Not only she was relaxed and willing to be directed/ posed by me, she also was the most feminine woman I have photographed yet.

    Although it was 33°C in Sapin when we were shooting, it didn't stop my model from being natural and relaxed. Fine, sensual, graceful. This is how I would describe this woman. I feel honoured to have had the chance to work with her. Thank you.   

   Happy Monday everyone

   With Love from Spain

   Jasmine 

PS Any critique or comments are welcome :-) 

Jardin Majorelle | Marrakech, Morocco

   
   Before flying to Marrakesh, Morocco I have been surfing the internet for things and places to do and see. I must say I didn't find much information about this little, but extremely busy city. People visit this city for a day or two to scout the souks for quality items for great prices. This place also appears to have the most motorcycles and bicycles than any other Moroccan city. I am still amazed how an entire family of five can fit and travel on one little motorcycle in the narrowest streets of Marrakesh.

   But today's blog is about one of beautiful and most visited gardens in Marrakech. This one is very special as this is the resting place of greatest and one of my most favoured couturier Yves Saint Laurent. The street named after him looks very much like any other street in Marrakesh - dusty, crowded with people who try to sell things to you for 5 times more that it actually costs. But you forget about outside world as soon as you step in through the big iron gates at the end of it. 

 

 

   Jaques Majorelle, was born in 1886 in Nancy, France. He was the son of the famous furniture designer and maker Louis Majorelle. He first visited Marrakesh in 1919 after being demobilized from military services for delicate health and continued living here and pursuing his career as a painter.

            

 

                       

   Jaques bought four acer land and designed and landscaped his own majestic and mystical garden which today is known as Majorelle Garden. He also commissioned the architect Paul Sinoir to design the villa, where he lived. He later named it Bou Saf Saf. In 1947 he opened the garden to the public, a tradition that continues til this day. After his second accident in Marrakech Jaques had to return to France for medical treatment. Unfortunately, the garden was left unattended and fell in despair. 

   Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge discovered Jardin Majorelle during their first visit in 1966:

  "We quickly became very familiar with this garden, and went there every day. It was open to the public yet almost empty. We were seduced by this oasis where colours used by Matisse were mixed with those of nature" ... " And when we heard that the garden was to be sold and replaced by a hotel, we did everything we could to stop that project from happening. This is how we eventually became owners of the garden and the villa. And we have brought life back to the garden through the years."

                                                                                                     Pierre Bergé  Yves Saint Laurent, “Une passion marocaine”

Éditions de la Martinière, 2010

   

   Yves Saint Laurent used to say that he was able to find an unlimited source of inspiration in Jardin Majorelle and that he dreamt many times about its unique colours. When he passed away in 2008, his ashes were scattered in the rose garden of the Villa Oasis. 

   "It is a way for artist to live on..." After Yves died, I donated the Jardin Majorelle and the Villa Oasis to the foundation in Paris, which bears both our names."

Pierre Bergé, Yves Saint Laurent, Une passion marocaine,
Éditions de la Martinière, 2010

                            

   If you ever visit Morocco you have to pop in to Marrakesh. If there is nothing else that interests you Jardin Majorelle will for sure. As Yves said, the unique colours are endless inspirations. Get inspired, imagine, be creative.

   Happy Friday my dear reader

   With Love from Morocco

   Jasmine

"Small Shop, Small Price"

  
Day two in colourful Marrakech....

   So I must admit, it was all very different on TV. The TV documentaries didn't tell you about the constant flow of various types, sizes and colours of pedal cycles and motorcycles that whizz around the ever so narrow streets of this small pink city which is already packed with people of all ages and cats (plenty of them). This city is obsessed with cats, but that's for another day. In the first 30 mins of us being outside, my husband nearly got ran over by both a motorcycle and a pedal cycle...

 

  

   What they also don't tell you is to haggle when buying. First things first, never, ever pay for the first price you're given in their markets, otherwise known as "Souks". If you do, they will pass you on from one market stall to another and squeeze every penny out of you without you even realising. If you feel confident, as a general rule, if they tell you a price, offer them half and negotiate from there. In my view, whatever price we, customers say, we have it for that... although the place is heaving with shoppers, but somehow supply exceeds demand in this market.

   Secondly, don't assume the market is cheaper than the shops. On the contrary, we visited what looks like a flash shop (indoors with air conditioning and western looking tills) and the prices are cheaper than the market stalls and the quality seems to be better. Although you can't haggle in this particular shop, comparing prices, it seems to be cheaper. We're heading back to this shop tomorrow. 

   Right, advice over, back to the title of this blog. In our walks today we walked into a tiny shop. It couldn't have been any bigger than 2x3 metres. This shop was the place where the gentleman made his jewellery and sold it. It was a very small shop with full of character, his work bench was tiny and was to the left of the till and everywhere else was beautiful silver necklaces, bracelets, ear rings decorated with various colourful stones. Once he realised we were from England, firstly he said "welcome" (as they all do) and then he kept repeating "Small shop, small price" comparing to a similar shop back at home, yes the prices were "small" but we held back the urge to buy everything, for now, until we visit the crafts shop tomorrow.

   It's been a long day today, apart from touring the Souk (again), we also had a camel ride. They are funny creatures that chew constantly. I also didn't realise how tall they are until I sat on one.

   We had a tour guide, or so he says he was, accompanying us for the first part of our day, and we were told we're very lucky its only +35 degrees today. Normally it's in the 50s!

In other news, we have 2 new couples move into the place we're staying, mother and daughter from France and a couple from Germany. I will be quizzing them tomorrow on the best places to visit in Berlin as it's our next stop in a few days time! Also, my husband has been renamed. From Emil he is now known as "Moroccan citizen" Mustaffa.

I am not exaggerating by saying, slowly, but surely this city is growing on me by it's unconventional lifestyle, polite but loud people, pink and terracotta buildings, the most amazing front doors....

Good night, the fan is on and I am off to bed...

An update to follow tomorrow, if we've not been melted by the constant African sun! 

(Souk after sunset, at it's busiest)

Trip to the Market | Spain

  What is the best thing to do to get used to the new lifestyle quicker in a new country? Yes! Go to the local market. 

  We went to Torre del Mar market in Spain yesterday which was very big but as you can imagine we were spoilt for choice. In between dominating red, black, yellow, spots, stripes, flowers, bulls, handmade, home made, home grown products there were other things too, that caught my eye. 

  This little chihuahua and his owner were in the centre of attention of many people. This little ball of cuteness was loving all the attention from the passers by - calm, well mannered and a bit proud too. To get a permission to photograph this pet was a bit difficult for me to get in Spanish. But it was eventually granted by the elderly owner. He probably could see how keen I was to make a portrait of his dog and I even got a smile.

                              

Apart from kilos of olives that I was passing by and wishing I could take all with me back home, the next one was probably the most favourite stall of mine in the entire market. I spent my money here without a regret. Natural stones carefully crafted and designed for women and girls who prefer this style. 

   Here are few more yummy photos that capture the feel of the day. And of course the little chihuahua! 

Happy Sunday everyone

With Love

Jasmine