The Tradition by Yassine Errekhamy
In the bustling, narrow alleys of Marrakech, the photographer captured a poignant juxtaposition between ancient tradition and modern life. While navigating the vibrant spice markets, the photographer’s attention was drawn to two elderly, traditionally dressed men in Jellabas, deeply engrossed in their smartphones. This striking contrast challenges the assumption that tradition and modernity are mutually exclusive. The image is award-worthy for its candid observation and its ability to distill a complex cultural narrative into a single, quiet moment of human connection, highlighting how technology permeates even the most historic corners of the world.
Exposure 1/320sec @ f/6.3 | ISO 3200 | Focal Length 209mm
Yassine Errekhamy
Born in a small village in Southern Morocco and raised in the vibrant city of Marrakesh, Yassine Errekhamy developed an early passion for documenting the world through his lens. After studying Cinema and Audiovisual Art at the University of Marrakesh, he gained professional experience as a photographer’s assistant for major events and festivals. His work is defined by a commitment to authentic storytelling, blending the realities of the outside world with his unique artistic perspective to create compelling, narrative-driven imagery.
Resonance Score Breakdown
Transparency Note: The resonance score (10.8/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.
Expert Photography Reviews · 4
The Echo of the Old
Time is not a straight line, though we often pretend it is. We imagine the past as a heavy cloak we must eventually shed to walk into the future, yet the truth is far more fluid.
Read the reflection →The Architecture of Time
We often mistake the city for a static museum, a collection of facades meant to preserve a version of the past that feels comfortable to the observer.
Read the reflection →Reviews & Comments
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The compression of that 209mm lens flattens the alley, turning the ancient masonry into a shallow, textured datum behind the subjects. It’s a claustrophobic frame, yet it captures the exact tension of a threshold where history meets the digital age. I’m struck by how the light rakes across the stone, emphasizing the mass of the wall against the ephemeral glow of the screens. It’s a quiet, honest collision of time that I find deeply moving.
The juxtaposition of Jellabas and glowing screens echoes the street-level irony of Cartier-Bresson, yet the compression from that 209mm lens flattens the space in a way that feels distinctly contemporary. It’s a sharp, cynical look at globalization’s reach. I’ve spent decades tracing this collision of eras, but seeing these men’s faces illuminated by digital light—it actually gave me a jolt. It’s a quiet, uncomfortable evolution of the human condition I haven’t quite seen captured this way.
Before the eye identifies the Jellabas, something in the chest tightens. It’s the dissonance of the glowing screens against the ancient, dust-heavy light. I feel a sudden, sharp ache for the silence they’ve traded away. When I return to this a year later, the phones feel less like intrusions and more like anchors. They’re just two men tethered to the world, and honestly, it makes me feel less lonely in my own digital drift.
The vertical axis here is anchored by the men’s aligned shoulders, creating a rigid, parallel structure that bisects the frame. I’m fascinated by how the 2:3 ratio of light-toned Jellabas against the dark, chaotic background creates a perfect visual weight. It’s a beautifully solved spatial equation. When I trace those glowing screens, they act as the focal nodes, pulling the eye into the negative quadrant. It’s brilliant geometry; honestly, it makes my analytical heart skip a beat.