The moment I saw the Hassan II Mosque under that brooding sky, I knew I had to capture it. Casablanca was cloaked in a magnificent grey, a soft, diffuse light filtering through the clouds, and the vast esplanade before the mosque was slick with recent rain, creating incredible reflections. It wasn’t the bright, sunny Moroccan postcard shot, but something far more profound. I framed the towering minaret, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture adorned with its intricate mosaics, through one of the grand arches of the complex. The arch offered a natural frame, adding depth and a sense of looking into another world. Then, a solitary figure in a flowing garment walked into the frame, their presence a perfect counterpoint to the monumental scale of the mosque, their reflection stretching out on the wet, tiled ground like a painter’s stroke. The air was cool, the silence broken only by the distant cries of seagulls. It was a scene that spoke of tranquility, history, and a quiet grandeur. This image, for me, is a testament to how adverse weather can often create the most dramatic and soulful photographs. It’s about patience, observation, and letting the environment tell its own story through your lens.
Historical background:
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, is an architectural marvel and a significant landmark. Commissioned by King Hassan II and completed in 1993, it stands as the largest functioning mosque in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, its most striking feature is its location: approximately one-third of the mosque extends over the Atlantic Ocean, symbolizing God’s throne on the water. Its minaret is the world’s second-tallest, soaring 210 meters (689 ft), topped with a laser beam directed towards Mecca. The mosque features intricate marble, granite, wood, and mosaic craftsmanship, showcasing traditional Moroccan artistry, and boasts a retractable roof allowing worshippers to pray under the stars. It was built to serve as a grand statement of modern Morocco’s cultural and religious identity.
