Images in the Sun Tours
Images in the Sun Tours
4.9
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Day Tours from Essaouira every Wednesday & Sunday into the local countryside visiting a country market (souk). Both photography and cooking workshops available.
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Images in the Sun Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.9
74 reviews
Excellent
70
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
MrSimak
West Midlands, UK95 contributions
Nov 2022
Second visit this year! The winter months are a great time to visit Morocco. I find myself coming back here as often as I can.
Darren has been living out here for well over 10 years now and each time I come out, he’s scouted a new location to photograph at.
This time we went out during the day to scout the location for some Astrophotography.
We talked to the guys working there, see how they extracted the salt from the water and managed to not fall in! So overall a great day.
This place was out in the middle of nowhere so quite hazardous at nigh which meant not venturing too far in.
I managed to get some decent shots of the Milky Way – The dark sky is amazing, with the Milky Way being visible just after 10pm.
Took some pics of some caves too the following day so overall a lovely short trip.
If you’re into cooking, Darren can arrange this too – I did this when I first visited Essaouira, and it was fun – Starting with getting the ingredients from the Souk to prepping all the food and cooking in an authentic tagine.
I come out here for the dark skies (typically Bortle3) but have been out visiting movie landmarks with Darren too as well as trying to improve my composition.
Whether it’s a leisurely break being shown around the town and surrounding areas, wanting to be chauffeured around scenic routes in a nice, air-conditioned SUV or if its something entirely different, Darren can accommodate most things and usually finds something interesting to do.
I can’t recommend him highly enough!
Until next time Essaouira!
Attached pictire of the Salt compsites and Milky Way. One of a few test shots.
Darren has been living out here for well over 10 years now and each time I come out, he’s scouted a new location to photograph at.
This time we went out during the day to scout the location for some Astrophotography.
We talked to the guys working there, see how they extracted the salt from the water and managed to not fall in! So overall a great day.
This place was out in the middle of nowhere so quite hazardous at nigh which meant not venturing too far in.
I managed to get some decent shots of the Milky Way – The dark sky is amazing, with the Milky Way being visible just after 10pm.
Took some pics of some caves too the following day so overall a lovely short trip.
If you’re into cooking, Darren can arrange this too – I did this when I first visited Essaouira, and it was fun – Starting with getting the ingredients from the Souk to prepping all the food and cooking in an authentic tagine.
I come out here for the dark skies (typically Bortle3) but have been out visiting movie landmarks with Darren too as well as trying to improve my composition.
Whether it’s a leisurely break being shown around the town and surrounding areas, wanting to be chauffeured around scenic routes in a nice, air-conditioned SUV or if its something entirely different, Darren can accommodate most things and usually finds something interesting to do.
I can’t recommend him highly enough!
Until next time Essaouira!
Attached pictire of the Salt compsites and Milky Way. One of a few test shots.
Written November 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyager297919
6 contributions
Feb 2020
This was my second trip with Darren. The first was a week long photography workshop in Essaouira. This was very different - we traveled across Morocco for 10 days. On this tour Darren provided camera tips and would answer and help when asked. So, it was good to have some camera experience. He took us to many scenic places making sure we would arrive during the best light. The best part was meeting the people of Morocco. Our encounters were not brief. We spent several hours with many groups. Not only did we get photographs - but we enjoyed hearing about their lives, drinking tea, and we even had lunch with one family. This is really why I travel. To encounter the people and to feel a part of the country for a while.
The food was both excellent and plentiful. We had a wide range of accomodations from basic riads to a luxurious hotel on the edge of the dunes. The trip was an excellent value.
The food was both excellent and plentiful. We had a wide range of accomodations from basic riads to a luxurious hotel on the edge of the dunes. The trip was an excellent value.
Written May 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wonkybusker
Washington, DC6 contributions
Aug 2022
We spent a fantastic week learning about photography and Moroccan cooking! We gained a lot of knowledge and went a bit out of our comfort zone to get some great pictures. It was an excellent way to see some of Morocco and improve our travel photography skills. After sharing our photos, some of our friends have already asked how they can join a future class. And we can't wait to try out some of the recipes we brought home!
Written September 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iPhototraveller
Vancouver, Canada78 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
What kind of photo tour does one want? Many photo tours cater to people who want to copy the style or images of a famous photographer, or have an abundance of setups where you can get good, but not unique, images, or be taken to famous tourist spots that are already well photographed - the end results are photographs that may be good but hardly original. On some tours the famous photographer shoots for stock and neglects the clients. On the other hand, if you are looking for a photo tour that takes you off the beaten track, but has been researched for photographic opportunities, allows you to develop your own interpretation of a place, and with photographic help available if you need it, then Darren Lewey's ImagesInTheSun tours are for you. Personally, I seldom take organized photo tours unless the logistics, safety or other reasons prevail. Morocco is a place where logistics and safety were difficult issues and Darren's tour handled these issues very well.
As mentioned earlier Darren's tours take you off the beaten track so that you can capture unique, interpretative images that you can call your own. Superb photo opportunities were provided by visits to nomad camp sites, and villages that are not frequented by most tourists. Darren's spouse, Naima, is Moroccan and speaks the language and knows the culture of the country. She is a great asset to Darren and his tours because she can break the ice in photographing places and people. For example, we made an unscheduled stop to a nomad camp. We approached the camp by vehicle but stayed in the vehicle and kept our cameras stowed while Naima went to talk to the nomads. Naima was able to convince the nomads that were friendly and wanted to photograph life in the camp as a friendly means of communication with the outside world and not for some bad purpose. So we spent a hour at the camp photographing life in the camp and developing a better understanding of their lifestyle and things that are important to them.
Another unscheduled stop was near the highway when we saw a herd of camels. Darren and Naima established good communications with the camel herders and we were able to get good images of both the herders and the camels.
It is these kinds of events that made the tour exceptional. Darren keeps his group sizes small, so there is little issue with getting in each other's way
An added bonus is that the tour cost is reasonable because Darren and Naima live in Morocco and you are not paying to transport some famous photographer to Morocco and also to pay the commission for the famous photographer.
As mentioned earlier Darren's tours take you off the beaten track so that you can capture unique, interpretative images that you can call your own. Superb photo opportunities were provided by visits to nomad camp sites, and villages that are not frequented by most tourists. Darren's spouse, Naima, is Moroccan and speaks the language and knows the culture of the country. She is a great asset to Darren and his tours because she can break the ice in photographing places and people. For example, we made an unscheduled stop to a nomad camp. We approached the camp by vehicle but stayed in the vehicle and kept our cameras stowed while Naima went to talk to the nomads. Naima was able to convince the nomads that were friendly and wanted to photograph life in the camp as a friendly means of communication with the outside world and not for some bad purpose. So we spent a hour at the camp photographing life in the camp and developing a better understanding of their lifestyle and things that are important to them.
Another unscheduled stop was near the highway when we saw a herd of camels. Darren and Naima established good communications with the camel herders and we were able to get good images of both the herders and the camels.
It is these kinds of events that made the tour exceptional. Darren keeps his group sizes small, so there is little issue with getting in each other's way
An added bonus is that the tour cost is reasonable because Darren and Naima live in Morocco and you are not paying to transport some famous photographer to Morocco and also to pay the commission for the famous photographer.
Written May 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sonjai R
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia3 contributions
Apr 2012 • Solo
I am a well traveled American female and by far, my seven-day photo tour of Morocco with Mr. Darren Lewey was one of the BEST holiday excursion investments I have ever made.
I HIGHLY recommend this tour if you are interested in improving your photography skills through theory and practice while enjoying the beauty of Morocco and its people. Darren is the consumate professional who clearly loves sharing his knowledge with others. He is a very good listener who took my interests and desire to improve certain aspects of my photography skills into full consideration when organizing the tour. It is not a canned tour.
Darren's main photo tour is conducted in the beautiful, coastal town of Essouira which has a wealth of visual opportunities for any level photographer. However, I was interested in seeing more of Morocco on what was my first trip to Northwest Africa. April is a good time of year to visit Morocco - not too hot and not too cool. Clear skies on most days.
Darren responded to my email inquiry within one day and proposed several options for my consideration, complete with an all-inclusive price quote. The riads and hotels Darren selected for my tour through the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, Merzoga, Ait Ben Haddou and the Ourgan Valley (to mention a few of the highlights) were extremely comfortable with most offering excellent local cuisine. Darren pays very careful attention to every detail, yet he was flexible and allowed me just the right mix of private time alone to explore and photography time with him as instructor.
He is very friendly, often engaging local villagers so that I was afforded a variety of interesting opportunities to take wonderful photographs. Each evening at dinner, we spent approximately one hour (sometimes even longer) reviewing my photographs and discussing what worked and what could be improved. Darren provided good feedback, suggesting techniques to help me improve my skills and demonstrating when necessary.
I was a single female traveling alone and felt extremely comfortable traveling with Darren. However, Darren's wife, Naima did accompany us on the tour and she was a real assest. Naima often shared her knowledge about Morocco and communicated with the Berbers we met along the way. They are a good team. Naima also teaches Moroccan cooking classes which I would also recommend if you have some extra time to spend while in Essouira.
Lastly, Darren took photos of me with his camera durng the tour that he later shared - a nice touch for a single traveler. So, in addition to seeing my own work - I have nice, creative photos of me in action. I so enjoyed the experience that I do plan on returning to Essouira for more photography and cooking lessons with the Lewey's.
I HIGHLY recommend this tour if you are interested in improving your photography skills through theory and practice while enjoying the beauty of Morocco and its people. Darren is the consumate professional who clearly loves sharing his knowledge with others. He is a very good listener who took my interests and desire to improve certain aspects of my photography skills into full consideration when organizing the tour. It is not a canned tour.
Darren's main photo tour is conducted in the beautiful, coastal town of Essouira which has a wealth of visual opportunities for any level photographer. However, I was interested in seeing more of Morocco on what was my first trip to Northwest Africa. April is a good time of year to visit Morocco - not too hot and not too cool. Clear skies on most days.
Darren responded to my email inquiry within one day and proposed several options for my consideration, complete with an all-inclusive price quote. The riads and hotels Darren selected for my tour through the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, Merzoga, Ait Ben Haddou and the Ourgan Valley (to mention a few of the highlights) were extremely comfortable with most offering excellent local cuisine. Darren pays very careful attention to every detail, yet he was flexible and allowed me just the right mix of private time alone to explore and photography time with him as instructor.
He is very friendly, often engaging local villagers so that I was afforded a variety of interesting opportunities to take wonderful photographs. Each evening at dinner, we spent approximately one hour (sometimes even longer) reviewing my photographs and discussing what worked and what could be improved. Darren provided good feedback, suggesting techniques to help me improve my skills and demonstrating when necessary.
I was a single female traveling alone and felt extremely comfortable traveling with Darren. However, Darren's wife, Naima did accompany us on the tour and she was a real assest. Naima often shared her knowledge about Morocco and communicated with the Berbers we met along the way. They are a good team. Naima also teaches Moroccan cooking classes which I would also recommend if you have some extra time to spend while in Essouira.
Lastly, Darren took photos of me with his camera durng the tour that he later shared - a nice touch for a single traveler. So, in addition to seeing my own work - I have nice, creative photos of me in action. I so enjoyed the experience that I do plan on returning to Essouira for more photography and cooking lessons with the Lewey's.
Written May 14, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arthur W
Sao Paulo, SP12 contributions
Jan 2018 • Friends
For two weeks I looked for a "photographic tour to Morocco".
I contacted several websites, received several proposals, but the most convincing was IMAGES IN THE SUN by Darren Lewey. The choice was more than right. Darren is an animated person, great company and guided us through places we never imagined, away from the tourist circuit and provided us with a proximity to Morocco that we wanted to meet. Amazing and unforgettable photos!
We took also a trip to the North of Morocco with his driver Hafid, a lovely, polite and helpful person.
Both deserve 6 stars!
I contacted several websites, received several proposals, but the most convincing was IMAGES IN THE SUN by Darren Lewey. The choice was more than right. Darren is an animated person, great company and guided us through places we never imagined, away from the tourist circuit and provided us with a proximity to Morocco that we wanted to meet. Amazing and unforgettable photos!
We took also a trip to the North of Morocco with his driver Hafid, a lovely, polite and helpful person.
Both deserve 6 stars!
Written January 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bailesh
Ottawa, Canada36 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
I have just completed an 8-day trip into the Atlas Mountains with Darren, Images in the Sun and it could not have been any better. Besides providing endless opportunities for photographs it also provided a unique glimpse into the lives of the locals. Through his connections, we interacted with a variety of local people and enjoyed their hospitality. These opportunities were never rushed and I am very happy with my images from the trip. Darren was always available for questions, to offer advice and to review photos when asked. I also loved the accommodations. Each were unique, charming and traditional with amazing food. I have fallen in love with this country and can’t wait to come back. I believe much of that is due to the effort that Darren has put into building relationships along the way and sharing them with his guests.
I have just completed an 8-day trip into the Atlas Mountains with Darren, Images in the Sun and it could not have been any better. Besides providing endless opportunities for photographs it also provided a unique glimpse into the lives of the locals. Through his connections, we interacted with a variety of local people and enjoyed their hospitality. These opportunities were never rushed and I am very happy with my images from the trip. Darren was always available for questions, to offer advice and to review photos when asked. I also loved the accommodations. Each were unique, charming and traditional with amazing food. I have fallen in love with this country and can’t wait to come back. I believe much of that is due to the effort that Darren has put into building relationships along the way and sharing them with his guests.
I have just completed an 8-day trip into the Atlas Mountains with Darren, Images in the Sun and it could not have been any better. Besides providing endless opportunities for photographs it also provided a unique glimpse into the lives of the locals. Through his connections, we interacted with a variety of local people and enjoyed their hospitality. These opportunities were never rushed and I am very happy with my images from the trip. Darren was always available for questions, to offer advice and to review photos when asked. I also loved the accommodations. Each were unique, charming and traditional with amazing food. I have fallen in love with this country and can’t wait to come back. I believe much of that is due to the effort that Darren has put into building relationships along the way and sharing them with his guests.
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrie D
Emsworth, UK2 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
I have just returned from a fantastic week in Essaouria. There were 7 in our group including a Canadian and a couple from the States with a great mix in ages and photographic experience.
Tutorials took place in the morning, going right back to basics which was really useful. I didn't realise there were so many functions on my camera which I had never used. We reviewed everyone's images in the evening which was a good time to share our experiences and provide positive critique and encouragement.
Each evening Darren took us to a different restaurant so we had the opportunity to taste some traditional Moroccan cuisine. The Riad was in the heart of the Medina so just by stepping out of the front door was a photographers dream.
Darren was a very patient tutor offering advice, checking images and at times suggesting good shots to take. His organisation and time keeping was exemplary.
We had a day in the countryside and visited a traditional country souk and some stunning coastline, both giving great photo opportunities.
Essaouria is a really good place to be based, busy medina, a traditional fishing port and wind swept beaches.
Overall this was a great holiday, I learnt a huge amount from Darren to enhance my photo skills and met some brilliant people. It was great value for money and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in reportage, abstract and travel photography.
Tutorials took place in the morning, going right back to basics which was really useful. I didn't realise there were so many functions on my camera which I had never used. We reviewed everyone's images in the evening which was a good time to share our experiences and provide positive critique and encouragement.
Each evening Darren took us to a different restaurant so we had the opportunity to taste some traditional Moroccan cuisine. The Riad was in the heart of the Medina so just by stepping out of the front door was a photographers dream.
Darren was a very patient tutor offering advice, checking images and at times suggesting good shots to take. His organisation and time keeping was exemplary.
We had a day in the countryside and visited a traditional country souk and some stunning coastline, both giving great photo opportunities.
Essaouria is a really good place to be based, busy medina, a traditional fishing port and wind swept beaches.
Overall this was a great holiday, I learnt a huge amount from Darren to enhance my photo skills and met some brilliant people. It was great value for money and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in reportage, abstract and travel photography.
Written March 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter W
Hereford, UK10 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
I have been on two trips now with Darren Lewey, who runs Immages in the Sun. The first one was a photorgaphic course for a week in Essaouira. This was a mixture of tuition, trips to various locations and feedback. The was all tied in with an excellent holiday in Essaouira which is a lovely Medina including a harbour full of blue fishing boats. Professional tuition and support from Darren and a brilliant holiday as well!
I followed this up the next year with Darren's ten day tour of the High Atlas. This time we were also accompanied by Darren's lovely wife Naima (who by the way also offers courses on Moroccan cookery). We were conveyed in Darren's 4x4 and stopped at hotels in seven different locations varying from the Atlas Mountains to the deserts including one night in Berber tent in the desert (optional!) We went to stunning locations, met some lovely locals and, although this is not a course as such, still received first rate support from Darren on the photographic side.
I can not speak too highly of these two trips, or of Darren and Naima. I will be back!
I followed this up the next year with Darren's ten day tour of the High Atlas. This time we were also accompanied by Darren's lovely wife Naima (who by the way also offers courses on Moroccan cookery). We were conveyed in Darren's 4x4 and stopped at hotels in seven different locations varying from the Atlas Mountains to the deserts including one night in Berber tent in the desert (optional!) We went to stunning locations, met some lovely locals and, although this is not a course as such, still received first rate support from Darren on the photographic side.
I can not speak too highly of these two trips, or of Darren and Naima. I will be back!
Written March 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Relax634817
Ait Azzi, Morocco3 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
Second trip with Darren exploring the hidden charm of Morocco. So appreciate his knowledge of the people, landscape, language and little known cultural elements. As a woman travelling in a country so different from Canada it is very reassuring to be in such good hands.
Again I’m thrilled with the photo opportunities, insight and guidance Darren provided along our trip. Both trips while were geared towards photography, this would also suit a partner that wasn’t quite as photo driven as there is so much to see and learn about outside of the photo opportunities
The riads are often very unique and “pre-tested” for suitability. Food was found to be from very good to excellent.
And never to be underestimated when traveling across hill and dale -his dry sense of humour!
Thanks so much Darren
Again I’m thrilled with the photo opportunities, insight and guidance Darren provided along our trip. Both trips while were geared towards photography, this would also suit a partner that wasn’t quite as photo driven as there is so much to see and learn about outside of the photo opportunities
The riads are often very unique and “pre-tested” for suitability. Food was found to be from very good to excellent.
And never to be underestimated when traveling across hill and dale -his dry sense of humour!
Thanks so much Darren
Written December 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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