Morocco, Seen Closely: Photographs by Laurie Bullard

I concentrate primarily on natural light and photograph whatever catches my eye. Details I find especially interesting include textural surfaces, shadows, grasses, fire escapes, buildings, ladders, bicycles, boats of all kinds and conditions, chairs, close-ups of flowers, fences, plants, trees, birds, wild animals and, of course, my family; kids and grandkids, assorted family animals, and even engraved manhole covers and other metal works. I rarely photograph landscapes and people. The exception is when I travel outside the US. I view many of our trips as a story that needs to be told, and thus break with my own preferences by photographing cities, landscapes, and people. Rarely do I find the need to manipulate any of my photographs, something I have admired about the NG photographers. I have been inspired by many well-known photographers, including Ansel Adams, but especially by renowned photographer Frederick Evans, who remarked in 1908, “a perfect photograph is one that perfectly records, reflects its subject; gives its beholder the same order of joy that the original would”. I have always liked this quote, have been influenced by it, and ask the viewer to pause a moment to look, see the details, and thus feel joy.

A Note: I have always been intrigued by Morocco and was thrilled when John and I spent 12 days there a year ago. The highlights included Casablanca, Marrakech, the High Atlas Mountains, camping in the Sahara Desert and traveling by Dromedary, the single-humped camel, and finally Fez. It was a feast for my eyes! I hope my photographs selected here at the New Bedford Art Museum give you a sense of this amazing and beautiful country.