The box-shaped tent catches my eye. Placed close to the edge of the frame, it is a human-owned insertion in the otherwise pastel-coloured expanse of sand and ocean. It is also, arguably, the element that gives the photograph a fissure of narrative. With what fondness or fatigue does the tent dweller stare at the confluence of dune and water? How often has the tent been moved only to be returned to a similar spot? The view, otherwise, is placid, which is not to say the photograph is mute.

— Emmanuel Iduma

This photograph was taken in Tan-Tan region, southern Morocco. It shows the mouth of the 1100 km long River Draa that flows from the High Atlas mountains to the Atlantic ocean. 

I took this photograph last January when I was exploring this region looking for saharan nomadic communities that could be affected by water shortage and the effect of the climate crisis in general.

It represents South Morocco's beautiful but endangered landscape due to climate change; it also gives a sense of isolation which is an embodiment of the reality of this overlooked region. This image is part of my ongoing long term project Fading Dunes, and it shows the meeting points between river, ocean and dunes, making this place in the world unique.

Using photography as a medium is one of the strongest tools to bring awareness to an issue, helping overlooked communities to engage in solution-based projects and unusual perspectives. Through Fading Dunes, I aim to showcase the beautiful landscape and culture of the Sahara, raise awareness about the effects of the climate crisis on the Saharan community and environment, highlight the lost traditions of the nomadic way of life that have disappeared due to urbanization, and establish connections between communities in southern Morocco and global environmental and cultural foundations.

— Yassine El Attar

Yassine El Attar was born in Laayoune, southern Morocco. He works on long-term human and landscape-based photo-projects concerned with South Moroccan environmental and socio-economic issues. More of his work can be seen on his website and Instagram.