A Journey into Nature Where Time Stops to Play
A Photograph by Abderrahmane Ajja
This is the 171st edition of Tender Photo, a digital platform of African photography.
Loosely arranged in a semi-circle, the three boys form a chorus of royal blue jerseys, black joggers, and rubber slippers. Their laughter syncs with their steps and propels them forward. Shadows nestleare nestled tightly under them. The backdrop of mountains and valleys enclose them, doubling as an arena for their mischief. No other figure appears in the image. The boys are accompanied by a motorbike and a building peering just behind them. The most piercing note is their unbound laughter.
— Haja Fanta
“A way to remember what matters.”
This photograph was taken in the village of Ozaga, Ait Heddou Youssef in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. It is a part of my first series, «A journey into nature where time stops to play», a project that reflects my inner child by documenting the daily lives of Amazigh children.
The process was intuitive and rooted in presence. I spent time close to the community, letting the moments come to me without staging anything. I wanted to capture the spontaneity of play, laughter, energy, and everything that felt true. Through this series, I try to resist the erasure of memory, to reconnect with what is essential, and to detach from the material world. Photography, for me, becomes a way to remember what matters and to honor forgotten realities.
I chose this photograph because it reminds me of when my brother, cousin, and I would travel to the countryside during my childhood. There, we played together, free from the worries of the material world. This photo captures that moment of freedom, simplicity, and shared joy. It evokes a return to those childhood memories, where time seemed to stand still, and every moment spent playing was precious.
My approach to photography is rooted in intimacy, memory, and social awareness. I see the camera as a tool to slow down time and reconnect with what often goes unnoticed. I’m drawn to stories of resilience, transitions, and identity. Photography is impactful because it preserves what might be forgotten. It creates space for voices and presences that deserve to be seen with honesty and care.
— Abderrahmane Ajja
About Abderrahmane Ajja
Abderrahmane Ajja is a photographer and cinematographer based in Marrakech. His work explores the intersection of memory, identity, and social transformation, often focusing on communities in transition. Trained in image-making at ESAV Marrakech, he combines a documentary approach with a carefully composed aesthetic. Drawing from lived experiences, his practice seeks to tell intimate and socially engaged stories, revealing the silent tensions, resilience, and beauty embedded in everyday realities. You can find more of Abderrahmane Ajja’s work via Instagram.
Tender Visions: A Commissioning Program for Photographers and Writers
Thank you to everyone who joined our information session about Tender Visions on Saturday. If you missed it, you can watch the session here.
Applications are due on July 15.
RELATED — “Bodies of Water” by Chris de Beer-Procter
This photo happened in the heat of the moment as a group of children were playing on the docks of Lake Malawi. I was there with my family, enjoying the lake much like them. They hung and leapt and pulled at the water with the sort of crackling glee children have. I had with me my first ever DSLR, which I'd had permanently converted to near infrared—I hoped that I could give my old camera new life and in turn that it would give me a new way to bring play and experimentation into my photographic practice again. And so it tickles me that the main expression of this image is play and sort of a leap of trust.
LAST WEEK — “Up Like Sun, Down Like Sun” by Ian Gichohi
I chose this photograph because I feel drawn to these images. The constant friction of navigating societal expectations, personal desires, and the uncertainties of self-discovery – I think I'm still working with these ideas, these challenges, these moments of self-determination, so I feel drawn to these images.
The TENDER PHOTO newsletter is the flagship project of Tender Photos, a digital platform of African photography and visual storytelling, founded by Emmanuel Iduma and Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀. This edition is edited by Haja Fanta, one of our editorial fellows. Our aim is to engage with life on the African continent through photography. We publish narratives about the people, places, and events pictured in photographs, contributing to nuanced and layered perceptions. The newsletter also read on web (best for viewing images), and via the Substack iOS/Android apps.
Every Wednesday we feature a photograph, a short caption about it, and a statement from the photographer. In the past, we have published commentaries or photo-essays in response to photographs previously featured on the newsletter, including CORRESPONDENCES, CONCORDANCE, KINDRED, INDEX, and AFFINITIES.
Thank you for reading. If this newsletter was shared with you, consider subscribing, or forward to a friend. Please whitelist the newsletter to ensure you never miss it.
 | A guest post by
|