Abdellah Azizi
Photographer & Videographer
Abdellah Azizi (born 1987, Ouarzazate, Morocco) is a Moroccan photographer and videographer known for his narrative and documentary work. His photography covers diverse landscapes, cultural heritage, and communities across Morocco.
Early life and education
Azizi was born and raised in Ouarzazate, a city often referred to as the Hollywood of Morocco due to its role as a major filmmaking hub. His early interest in visual storytelling was shaped by the cinematic environment of the region. He attended film school, where he developed a professional style influenced by cinematographers such as Roger Deakins and Emmanuel Lubezki.
Career
Working throughout Morocco, Azizi captures subjects ranging from the golden dunes of the Sahara and the high passes of the Atlas Mountains to coastal cities and historic medinas. His projects include documenting nomadic lifestyles in remote regions as well as portraying contemporary urban life.
Committed to ethical storytelling, he attended a multimedia workshop hosted by World Press Photo to deepen his approach to responsible visual journalism. His editorial assignments have included work for international publications such as The Washington Post and Atlas Obscura. In addition, photographs from his long-term documentary, the Arhal Project, have been featured in various print and online media.
In 2020, Azizi collaborated with archaeologist Thomas Reitmaier on the photo book Nomaden auf Zeit – Nomades en transit, documenting the lives of the Ait Atta nomads.
Style and themes
Azizi’s photography is characterised by its emphasis on narrative depth and cultural documentation. Influenced by cinematic composition and photojournalism ethics, his work often explores themes of tradition, migration, and the connections between people and their environments.
Exhibitions
2024 – Echoes of Sand & Stone (Marrakech, Morocco): Photo series from the Guerguerat Desert, exhibited at L’Blassa Art Space.
2023 – Portraits of Orality (Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco): Exhibition on oral traditions, presented alongside photographer Ken Wong Youk Hong at La Maison de l’oralité.
2020 – Temporary Nomads (St. Gallen, Switzerland): Photographs from Nomaden auf Zeit – Nomades en transit, exhibited at the Historisches und Völkerkundemuseum St. Gallen.
