Leica Lounge · November 13, 2025

Marrakech Face to Face

Louis Jay presented images from his latest book, MARRAKECH FACE TO FACE, showcasing his striking Leica Monochrom portraits and intimate scenes captured within the city’s Medina (old city). He spoke about the shooting conditions in a North African city and also presented some of his Piezographic prints from the book.

"This book is the culmination of a well-tempered photographer. Louis Jay has maintained a lifelong relationship with the medium and has brought many subtle gestures to these photographs, which were made after his retirement from commercial photography." - Ralph Gibson

Marrakech Face to Face showcases Louis Jay’s striking monochromatic portraits and intimate scenes captured within the city’s vibrant Medina. Jay first encountered Marrakech in 1974 as a young traveler exploring Morocco. Though he had not yet begun his photographic journey — and carried no camera — the compelling faces and vivid scenes he witnessed left a lasting impression. For years he longed to return. It wasn’t until after he’d retired from a successful career in commercial photography, nearly fifty years after his first visit, that Jay returned to Marrakech, this time with his Leica camera in hand, determined to capture the timeless spirit of the city and its inhabitants.

"This project was shot over two trips to Marrakech. The first trip I was using a Leica M10 Monochrom with the APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2.0 ASPH for the closer portraits and a Leica Q2 Monochrom for the environmental portraits and street scenes. The second trip I was using the M11 Monochrom with the APO-Summicron-M 50mm and also the Q2 Monochrom." - Louis Jay

Libro: Marrakech Face to Face