Algeria Archives - Mahdi Aridj Photography

23rd July 2016/by Mahdi Aridj

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Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

Mahdi Aridj — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 17:00:11 +0000

Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

Available soon in English

Photo stolen by Condor electronics Algeria – Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

Last March I had taken pictures of Algiers from its Casbah, I always said to myself to be plagiarized is a bit good for the ego but when it reaches a certain level and that it is the local newspapers Even international newspaper and companies that steals your work. This no longer flatters your ego but affects the heart of your trade also your finance.

Living from photography in the the internet era is not that easy, overprotecting your photography work to avoid any abuse and Non-respect of copyright in Algeria is a dilemma for me. I had the “misfortune” to not affix a big copyright watermark on my pictures to not spoil them. A photo is a photo, it was taken for the beauty of the moment … for me a big text or a big logo has nothing to do on it. This spoils the picture, its harmony and its balance. So I opted for a light copyright on the right corner of my photos not visible at first sight but visible enough to prove that the photo belongs to me.

Getting his photo stolen by the magazine “Le point”

My first photo was robbed by Le Point Africa, an article written by Adlène Meddi journalist appreciated by Algerian readers. I shared a “post” on Facebook to attract attention and make the bad adviertising and to scandalize few people. No ! I had an answer coming straight from the fourth dimension coming from the journalist who told me in his first message; Because apparently being both Algerian, the formulas of politeness and respect are not necessary (Third-world spirit!) This gentleman told me that the magazine “Le point” did not need to steal anybody. The joke is that I had contacted them a few weeks before to offer them to buy my pictures of Algerie, of course no response from them at that time so can you imagine my reaction when I saw that i’ve been plagiarized ! Today the warning notice and payment of my royalties and copyrights are still in progress and I’ve strolled from service to another one. I was entitled to a “We put your name below the picture it Should suffice …”

My job and my passion is photography, not the legal fights Metallica against Napster when they forgot that they were making music, in short today I understand them a little but I do not want to deviate from This artistic path.

Photo stolen by the magazine “Le point” – Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

Intellectual property in Algeria

Then it was the turn of other Algerian media, like lematindz.net, which illustrated one of these articles with a panoramic picture of Algiers that I made in March 2017. I’ve send warnings noticed them through mails and comments plus a google warning through the DMCA process that will send a warning to the host and with retaliation a google de-indexing (the site will no longer be referenced on google). But this has not changed anything in the case the article is still there with the picture, taunting me reminding me that my beautiful country is a country where we treat ourselves badly and where we don’t respect each other anymore.

Photos illustrating an article in the newspaper “Lematindz.net” used without my consent – Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

Then came the social networks and other web pages that come to serve and other nothing to make Facebook pages of news like chouf-chouf, a Facebook page that denounces abuses in Algeria but that does not fail to commit.

“Algerian music play” on YouTube that promotes Algerian music boasting to write on its site that it violates no copyright and that it only promotes their music. Of course no copyright groups or performers of these songs. So always in the gentle way I notice by writing an e-mail kindly asking the person what my photo does on his page without copyright or other mentions. Then when there is no answer I put a story comment that those who frequent the site or page sees the original link. Then come the stage where I file a complaint with the host for violation of my copyright and my copyrights. There comes a deletion of the content with a warning on the page that the user can not remove.

One of my photos was used to accompany the music of this video following a report it was deleted but while keeping the warning – Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

Of course this triggered the reaction of the person behind this account who wrote me to apologize and ask me to remove the warning from his YouTube page. What I can not do because it no longer depends on me.

The case of Algerie360.com and other Algerian news sites

I had the bad surprise this week to come across articles reprinting one of my photos published to illustrate their articles, French and Arabic sites that say journalistic take photos that do not belong to them sign the articles and claims the profession Of journalists. Telling this job that others exert in danger not so far in our history, let us remember in Algeria the number of journalists murdered or thrown into prison because it was just their job. Today people claiming to profession come to steal your work and on top of that tell you that the picture is on google image. Yes ! They are on google images, that’s normal it’s the internet. You know this stuff or you type in words and that poses you results related to your search, it’s magical. There’s even a picture of my grandmother! In short, what I mean is that under the photo (s) there is a mention “May be subject to a copyright” which means this photo may be subject to a copyright. So its use is not necessarily allowed. But it’s crazy that these pseudo journalists do not read the mention! I have of course right to answers like on the following image where I am told that the photo is on google so here is my fault …

Screenshot of message exchange with administrator Algerie360.com – Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

The case of ONAT | Company of the Algerian Tourist Office

So what is good with Google is that you can see if your photo was used by doing a search of the image on google without it being a complex task, a simple right click on the photo concerned, One click “Search an image with Google” and there you have all the sites referenced by Google that uses the photo whose original you want to find.

This is how I fell again on one of my photos of Algiers, this time to promote tourism in Algeria, it’s nice it’s even excellent for my ego. On the other hand for my portfolio not at all. So I contacted ONAT after three weeks and most of all thanks to a series of key words that I pronounced on the phone “Avocado / Justice / penalties / flights”. They made things happen The GCAgency communication box Who manages their site called me giving me a lesson in morals, the guy told me clearly that it was my fault if I had had my picture stolen. Ah ok sorry I did not know I had Written “please use my photos and do not pay me !!!” So I explained to the gentleman that when we find on the floor or elsewhere something that does not belong to us we do not put it in his pocket and above all Not for sale, he asked me for an apology, I replied that the apologies did not pay my bills, and that the damage was already done.I got the removal of the photo in question. But not a Dinar!

Photo of the Bay of Algiers used by GCAgency and ONAT without my consent – Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

CONDOR ELECTRONICS – Campaign Ramadan 2017

One of the best photo flight or the wilder the photo I put the cover of the article is that of Condor Electronics, who took the picture of the Casbah to modify it and put a wish message of Ramadan to the Algerians. Honestly I saw some nonsense but some like that?!? Wow !!! To use a stolen thing to pass a religious message is just the height of the bullshit. Unfortunately it reflects a lot of things that do not go at all in my country, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Sure no response from them by calling them they sent me to walk from one service to another … Hoping that this article changes something.

You will surely tell yourself but why do not you address yourself to the ONDA (National Office of the Rights of Authors)? Hey bah figure that I tried to call them … the number does not work!

When I manage to get my hands on a number that works … Bah nobody answers. For e-mails it’s the same. (Update after the publication of this post somone has posted in the comments the phone number of the Office)

Copyright et non-respect des droits d’auteurs en Algérie – El Bilad

Copyright et non-respect des droits d’auteurs en Algérie – El Djazair 365

Copyright et non-respect des droits d’auteurs en Algérie – GTO Flight

Copyright et non-respect des droits d’auteurs en Algérie – Al joornal

Copyright et non-respect des droits d’auteurs en Algérie – Les pages Maghreb

Copyright et non respect des droits d’auteurs en Algérie – Al joornal

Media cases on the Algerian web that uses photos without consent – Non-respect of copyright in Algeria

Case of the Algerian moralizer

I finish this article with an e-mail that I received which has aroused in me a double reaction, it made me laugh so much but at the same time it made me want to cry.

A gentleman writes me to ask me permission to use one of my photos for a YouTube video. I told him that if he wanted to do it did not bother me as long as he put a link to the page where he found this picture. It does not bother me that a particular person uses my picture on YouTube a little but good I say it does not hurt and then the gentleman looks nice and very correct he asks me in addition, so I Say yes by setting my conditions.

Ten days later I receive a mail in literary Arabic. That shocked me, then made me laugh, then saddened and I thought! Brothel! Who are they ?!? what I concern myself ? But I still laugh 🙂

I let you read I translate the message just at the bottom of the picture!

Translation of the e-mail

Me :

Hello, yes no problem you can use the photo, however put a link to my site at the bottom of the video. Is not that better?

Take care of yourself

Answer:

In the name of God my brother Mahdi, on your page on the web some photos of women who expose themselves (at the limit of soliciting) and others without clothes and me who wants to use one of your photos for a religious video. Below the video I would put a link to your site with photos of women between them and without clothes. How do you think people will see us? What do they say about us?

My dear brother Mahdi in the name of God, a precious advice from brother to brother. Avoid pictures of women and photos of this type so that some people do not use it in what the good Lord has forbidden. So that their sins may not be attributed to you on the day of judgment.

I swear to you my friend Mahdi, I only wish you good things and I apologize for the inconvenience and interference in your private affairs. But do not forget I swear and swear again I only want you to love and advise you only good.

God gave you a gift to use there wisely.

So it’s like stealing your photos and on top of that you get put back and you are given moral lessons and that is not enough, you are proselytizing.

I only asked for photography.

Comment share and tell me what you think.

see you soon !

Mahdi

Kherdja.com

Here they have again struck from the height of their mediocrity the administrators of the Facebook page and the site kherdja.com does not hesitate to use again and again the picture of the Casbah yet protected by copyright.

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Mabrouk Ferroudji – Algerian actor

Mahdi Aridj — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 16:00:01 +0000

Mabrouk Ferroudji

Mabrouk Ferroudji Algerian actor

Mabrouk Ferroudji Algerian actor known by the roles that he interpreted in the cinema and at the Algerian theater scene, in particular:

The well by Lotfi Bouchouchi
Colonel Lotfi by Ahmed Rachedi
Krim Belkacem by Ahmed Rachedi
Er-raksa El Akhira (the last dance) of Lahcene Chiba

Director in the theater as for the play “Sarkha” (Le cri) or Rejli wa rejlek.

It was on a sunny afternoon that I met Mabrouk. A friend had sent him to mefor a portrait photo shoot. I invited Mabrouk to my hood of adoption. The goutte d’Or in the 18th district of Paris. We had a very easy contact, the connection was very fast. He gave me a “carte blanche” that I had returned to him immediately. A certain alchemy operated from the first click of the camera. Mabrouk very comfortable gave me deep expressions, powerful looks and harmonious gestures.

Mabrouk Ferroudji and his works

Theater

« Ana wa Elmadrsa | انا و المدرسة » – School grine belgacem Batna
« Adrare Eltadkhine |اضرار التدخين » – Technic college of Batna
« Seraa el maouad | صراع المواد » – Technic college of Batna
« Elfame yafhem | الفاهم يفهم » – Youth house of Batna
« Wache bikom |واش بيكم » – Youth house of Batna
« Ahna homa ahna | احنا هوما هنا » – Youth house of Batna
« Ahna homa ahna | احنا هوما هنا » – Youth house of Batna
« El-araneb | الارانب » – State theater Batna
« Ki elberh ki elyoum | كي البارح كي اليوم » – Youth house of Batna
« Le général | الجنرال » – University of El-hadj lakhdar Batna
« Mamoun | مامون » – University of El-hadj lakhdar Batna
« Sans commentaire | بدون تعليق » – University of El-hadj lakhdar Batna
« Couple en or | زوج من ذهب » – University of El-hadj lakhdar Batna
« Hlima | حليمة » – University of El-hadj Lakhdar Batna
« Jugurtha | يوغرطة » – State theater Batna
« Contrat | العقد » – State theater Batna
« Defat el ahlem| ضفة الاحلام » – State theater Batna
« The Last Dance | الرقصة الاخيرة » – State theater Batna
« Poubelle Story | بوبال ستوري » – Cooperative Espace bleu Batna
« Radjli ou radjlek | رجلك او رجلي » – Cooperative Espace bleu Batna
« Elsarkha | الصرخة » – Cooperative Elbadil Batna
« El bourdj | البرج » – Cooprative Elbadil Batna
« Opérette – « El Aures | الاوراس » – Cultural association of Tahate Batna
« Opérette – 1^er Novembre | اول نوفمبر » – Cultural association of 1^erNovembre Batna
« Opérette – Elmouaid | الموعد » – Cultural association of Elmouaid Batna

TV Series

« Wine elharba wine | وين الهربة وين » – Hakim movies
« Bin youm wa lila | بين يوم و ليلة » – Hakim movies
« Douar el chaouia | دوار الشاوية » – Timgad movies
« Fi douamt el hayet | في دوامة الحياة » – Atlasse movies
« Mouaid maa el kader | موعد مع القدر » – SDbox movies
« El layali el baydaa | الليالي البيضاء » – Tamarisse movies
« Indama tatmerd el akhlak |عندما تتمرد الاخلاق » – Atlasse movies
« Achwek el madina | اشواك المدينة » – Lina movies
« Demoae el kaleb | دموع القلب » – Cine rêve movies
« Asrare el madi | اسرار الماضي » – Cine rêve movies

Movies

Movie « Meustfa ben boulaid | مصطفي بن بولعيد » – Belkisse movies المخرج احمد راشدي
Movie « En Attendant zin eddine Zidane | في انتضار زين الدين زيدان »
Movie « Djazira children | المخرج احمد راشدي »
Movie « November point final » – Télécinex – المخرج احمد راشدي
Movie «Krim belgacem | كريم بلقاسم » – Télécinex – المخرج احمد راشدي
Movie «انتضار سريع وهران » – Benbrahim movies المخرج رشيد بن براهيم
Movie « Marriage certifié | زواج حلال » – Zamouri movies المخرج زموري محمد
Movie « Operation maillot »- Belkisse movies المخرج عكاشة تويتة
Movie « Le puits | البئر » – LB film المخرج لطفي بشوشي
TV Movie « Martyre | “الشهيد » – ENTV حسين مزياني
TV Movie « الشعب هو البطل » – EL Alamia movies حسين مزياني
TV Movie « Ased mestaoua | اسد “مستاوة » – Tamarisse movies حسين ناصف

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In the streets of Algiers

Mahdi Aridj — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:33:00 +0000

In the streets of Algiers

Algiers

In the streets of Algiers

I’ve been posting some pictures of the streets of Algiers few months ago, showing the beauty of Alger la blanche. Beauty is always a question of point of view. Here in this serie you can see the algerian capital from a different angle or under another light.

This duality is really interesting because it says a lot about Algeria. There’s always two levels of reading. Algeria is big country full of contrastes, layers and levels of life,

As I’ve said it, I grew up there and now I live in Europe, when people asks me about Algeria I always answer Algeria can be eveything and it’s opposite. It’s not just grey, It’s dark and light and all the shades that you can have from it.

You may say those pictures are not showing Algeria under her best light, that I made it more dramatic under this high contrastes and grainny pictures but I would say Algeria is Algeria.

Contrastes & layers

Contrastes & layers | El-Aurassi, Algiers 2017

Contrastes & layers

As you can see it on this picture, a man is cleaning the swimming pool of the luxurious hotel “El-Aurassi” in Algiers and just above the working- class neighbourhood. This kind of locations are like an oasis in middle of the desert. The standard price for one night in this hotel is at least a 3 months work salary.

Old buildings of Algiers

Old woman from her balcony | Cadix, Algiers 2017

Aero-Habitat Algiers

Algiers train station

Algiers from the hotel “El-Aurassi”

Buildings of Algiers, Satelite receivers, electric cables …

The great mosque of Algiers

Womand dressed in black carrying bags – Algiers

Ketchaoua mosque – Algiers

SONLEGAZ | Elctricity & Gaz national company- Algiers

A man waiting for a bus or … – Algiers

A man waiting for … – Algiers

A man with his groceries – Algiers

Racing with the bus – Algiers

Algiers heights

Birds flying over a bridge – Algiers

Jours tranquilles à Paris, Berlin et Alger

Mahdi Aridj — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:35:50 +0000

Jours tranquilles à Paris, Berlin et Alger

Translation coming soon

L’itinéraire d’un jeune homme et de son appareil photo dans les rues européennes et algériennes :

J’ai grandi en Algérie, j’y ai passé 25 ans avant de m’installer en Europe. L’exil m’a ouvert les yeux. C’est en France que j’ai appris à faire de la photo. J’aurais sans doute dû commencer alors que je vivais en Algérie. J’aurais aimé témoigner à ma façon, pendant mes années d’adolescence, du quotidien ordinaire de mon pays. À Paris, j’ai parcouru quartiers et arrondissements, figeant chaque instant que je pouvais, comme des clignements des yeux. J’ai basculé dans ce monde où l’on peut se permettre de s’arrêter, d’observer les autres. Puis, j’ai parcouru l’Allemagne de long en large, pendant cinq mois. J’y ai appris la langue et un peu de culture allemande. À Berlin, j’ai exploré de nouvelles dimensions de mon travail de photographe. J’avais donc fait de la photo de rue dans beaucoup de villes européennes. Mais Alger m’intimidait. Cette fois, j’ai pris mon courage à deux mains, entre les mains devrais-je dire, agrippé à mon appareil. Je me suis dirigé vers les fameux escaliers de la rue du Dr Saadane et j’ai commencé une longue et surprenante balade photographique dans les rues d’Alger la blanche. Armé de mon fidèle Nikon D700, j’ai figé ces étroites rues sous le grand angle de mon 24 mm ainsi que quelques portraits serrés au travers de mon 50 mm.

L’Algérie, acte II

À mon premier retour en Algérie, en visite chez mes parents, j’ai réalisé le cliché que j’avais tant voulu faire, le portrait de ma grand-mère paternelle. Je l’ai offert à mon père deux ans plus tard, quelques jours après qu’il eut perdu sa mère. J’étais bloqué par cette sorte d’autocensure sur l’Algérie. J’étais pourtant chez moi, dans mon pays, à Azeffoun, en toute légitimité. Les paysages de Kabylie, ma famille et mes amis ont d’abord été mes seuls sujets durant ce séjour. Alger sera la prochaine étape.Avec plus de maturité photographique? D’assurance ? De crainte ?

—

«SOUAR BLADEK PRENDS DES PHOTOS »

—

L’Algérie fait partie de ces pays où il est difficile de faire de la photographie de rue. C’est une société où le regard de l’autre est assez présent.Y débarquer avec un appareil photo est assez mal accepté. C’était en tout cas ma conviction.. Mais j’ai commencé à m’enfoncer dans les quartiers populaires d’Alger. J’ai été surpris par l’accueil des enfants et des jeunes. Je leur demandais systématiquement si ça ne les dérangeait pas que je prenne des photos du quartier, voire d’eux. Ma façon à moi d’avoir leur bénédiction… « Bien sûr kho !» (Bien sûr mon frère) « Souar bladek ! Souar Alger !» (Prends des photos de ton pays ! prends des photos d’Alger). En ce jour du derby des deux clubs de foot USMA-MCA, les klaxons des supporteurs résonnaient dans les rues étroites d’Alger, ces rues ornées tantôt de drapeaux rouge et vert symbole des Mouloudiens tantôt de drapeaux rouge et noir symbole des Usmistes. Mais les supporteurs des deux camps finissent toujours par se rabibocher.

Mon expérience allemande, mes rencontres françaises

En Allemagne, j’ai connu une expérience étonnante. Je me suis lancé dans un reportage photo sur les sages-femmes et les femmes enceintes. Tel un explorateur venu d’Afrique, me découvrant «ethnologue » en Occident… Ce fut une grande expérience humaine. J’en suis ressorti enrichi. À la fin de ce projet, j’ai éprouvé le besoin de retourner en Algérie afin d’y retrouver ma famille. Paris, bien sûr, est la ville de tous les instantanés… Comment renouveler au XXI siècle les travaux des Willy Ronis ou Robert Doisneau. Mission impossible…

Alger en son cœur historique

En remontant le boulevard Didouche Mourad, du tunnel des facultés jusqu’à l’église du Sacré Cœur, j’observe le ballet des Algéroises et des Algérois, se mélangeant dans une large gamme de styles vestimentaires et de classes sociales. Les appels des vendeurs, les coups de klaxon des automobilistes qui tentent de se frayer un chemin entre les piétons. C’est Alger, il fait chaud en ce mois de mars. À 13 heures, je me suis arrêté à une terrasse de café en des-sous de la fac centrale. Mes souvenirs d’Alger, d’il y a plus de dix ans, à l’époque où j’y faisais mes études d’agronomie à El-Harrach. J’y découvrais la capitale de mon pays, seul loin de chez moi, je gouttais à l’anonymat que seule une métropole peut vous offrir. Rattrapé parle bruit des voitures je me suis surpris à contempler les façades des bâtiments haussmanniens d’Alger centre, m’interrogeant sur ses locataires avant et après la colonisa-tion et commenta dû se faire la transition. Plus bas, la Grande Poste avec son architecture néo-mauresque. Laplace Emir Abdelkader,Pombre des ficus de la rue Larbi Ben M’Hidi, passant par le Milk bar et la fameuse Librairie du Tiers Monde.

Là haut, sur la terrasse, s’offre la baie d’Alger

J’ai emprunté les escaliers en bois de cette maison de la Casbah qui m’ont amené à la terrasse. Une vue à couper le souffle ! La baie d’Alger s’offre à moi, sous le ciel bleu azur parsemé de nuages blancs. La brise marine se dessine un itinéraire dans les étroites ruelles de la Casbah, caressant les murs. Elle s’imprègne de murmures et d’histoires, elle flâne, se charge d’odeurs et de senteurs du vieil Alger. En parvenant à mes narines, elle fait me sentir léger. À travers mon objectif El Bahdja s’étale dans un mélange de styles architecturaux. La nouvelle mosquée d’Alger s’érige au loin à l’est pendant que le monument Maqam Echahid veille sur la ville depuis les hauteurs d’El Madania. La Casbah symbole de la culture algérienne est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l’humanité de l’Unesco. Ses toits sont parsemés d’antennes paraboliques pour la réception de chaines étrangères de toutes origines. Ces antennes signifiaient pour moi, plus jeune, une ouverture vers le monde étranger. Aujourd’hui je les vois comme le symbole d’une société qui tourne la tête pour voir ailleurs, s’occuper l’esprit avec d’autres choses. Ces antennes plantées là, sur les terrasses tels des voiles prenant le vent venu tantôt d’orient, tantôt d’occident, influençant une société qui se cherche. De notre emplacement en hauteur, avec un ami, nous avons déchargé nos batteries d’appareils photos et chargé notre mémoire d’images. Nous sommes rattrapés parle soir. Les terrasses de la Casbah descendent le long de la colline, tel un escalier, vers la mer. Nous sommes repartis dans la nuit avec des souvenirs lumineux.

“Jours tranquilles à Paris, Berlin et Alger” est un article qui est initialement parue sur I pour le magazine Paris Alger – N°20 Juillet – Août – Septembre 2017. Formulaire d’abonnement

Mes remerciements à Yves de Saint Jacob

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A trip to the commune of Azeffoun

Mahdi Aridj — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:00:04 +0000

A trip to Azeffoun

A series of pictures that I took on the road during a trip to Azeffoun in March 2017. I’ve decided to work exclusively in black and white because I find that they are more talkative, more expressive and reflecting a certain rawness.

Azeffoun is the village where I spend all my childhood holidays. Younger I’ve spent a lot of time there, the winter around a fire, the spring to hike, the summer to swim and the autumn just to get inspired … This time, It was on a beautiful winter day accompanied by my parents that I was visiting the beautiful Azeffoun. After my long journey to Germany, to find my marks after a long trip for a photography project.

Commune of Azeffoun

A trip to Azeffoun

Kabyle woman on the road to Azeffoun

The man with the trench coat

Bus stop

Women walking on the road side

Child brining source water in a jerry can

El vaaz Ivahriyen

West coast of Azeffoun’s bay

Azeffoun town

Cheurfa Oufella

The paternal

Water tower Thadarth ouzeffoun

Sheperd and his sheep grazing

A donkey – Azeffoun

Man walking along the Azeffoun road

A man and his wheelbarrow on the road to Azeffoun

A kabyle woman

Tractor in the village of Azeffoun

Child playing alone

Young man contemplating the landscape of Azeffoun

Village of Bezerka from the old Azeffoun

Village of Azeffoun

A trip to Azeffoun

This road that we took the W158, was few years ago impossible to take for security reasons. The road passing through Tifrit Aït El Hadj to Azeffoun passing through Akerrou, El Kalaa, Tidmimine as well as Tifezouine offers a breathtaking view of the Tamgut forest Aït Jennad and further on the bay of Azeffoun with its beaches such as Caroubier Or Mlata on the side of Ait Arhouna (Tardieu) famous in the region for its table grapes.

As I promise to myself each time, one day I would spend more time in the area to do a photo report with more portraits.

To a future publication!

The post A trip to the commune of Azeffoun appeared first on Mahdi Aridj Photography.

Port of Azeffoun

Mahdi Aridj — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:04:15 +0000

Port of Azeffoun

The port of Azeffoun is a compulsory stop for me when I go to the area. I have seen the port of Azeffoun transformed over the years. When I was younger, I learned to fish in deep water, to make big dives … Then work began in the late 1980s to enlarge the port of Azeffoun, they lasted more Of a decade so that the transformation ends to offer the city of Azeffoun and its fishermen the infrastructure that will enable them to develop the fishing and tourism activities.

The fishing port is the first infrastructure to be established there after the settlement of the first settlers. The mixed commune of Port-Gueydon was one of the largest in Kabylia in the days of the French administration. Dozens of villages occupied its geographical area bounded on the south-east by Ighil Tafraout Jehma and Zekri and on the south-west by the villages of Abizar and Timizart N’sidi Mansour. It serves as a junction between the two Kabylies: Bejaïa is only 83 kilometers from the eastern limit of the daïra of Azeffoun.

The blue flag award for the port of Azeffoun

As mentioned by “Taous C” in “La dépêche de Kabylie” The Blue Flag 2016 was awarded to the port of Azeffoun, located in the coastal town of the same name, 70 km northeast of Tizi-Ouzou (Algeria), which won by the same The first place in the ranking of ports in the center of the country. “The 2016 blue flag will float a year over the port of Azeffoun”

This eco-label is awarded at the end of a competition for the evaluation of national port infrastructures in terms of organization, hygiene and management, launched by the ministry that it represents, A press conference was hosted at the headquarters of its management.

If you go by the region don’t forget to visit the harbor and eat some sardines, it’s the best of the area !

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Kasbah of Algiers – photography of the citadel

Mahdi Aridj — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 19:00:33 +0000

The Kasbah of Algiers

Over the bay of Algiers

Panoramic view of the bay of Algiers from the heights of the Kasbah

On a sunny day with my friend Mestiich we went to the Kasbah of Algiers to take some pictures. Accompanied by other friends Walid, Nabil … We started at the square port said next to the National Theater of Algiers where we took a cab direction Bab Edjdid the south gate of the Kasbah of Algiers. We met people from the Kasbah who gave us a really warm welcome. Like this young rapper, son of the Kasbah, who told us that if we need anything we can come back to him or tell people that he sent us. After having eaten a sandwich “Garantita” (Calentita) and drank a fresh “Gazouz“. We went to the workshop of Khaled Mahiout, famous carpenter (ébéniste) of Algiers, world known for his work and his way of welcoming. Mestiich asked him if we could get to the terrace, Khaled nodded with a friendly smile.

View over the bay of Algiers Bab Edjdid – The Kasbah of Algiers

The Kasbah of Algiers

I entered the patio and I was dazzled by the light coming from the “squifa” (Sas) The time was suspended for a while, remembering childhood memories of when I was going to visit my aunt in Tangier street in the lower Kasbah … it goes back more than twenty years. Once the nostalgia moment passed, I took the wooden stairs which brought me to the terrace “Stah”. A breathtaking view! The bay of Algiers offered itself to me. Beneath a blue sky dotted with white clouds, the sea breeze cut me off. Coming from the sea, drawing an itinerary. Passing through the narrow streets of the kasbah impregnated with whispers and stories. Caressing the walls, changing their trajectory. Strolling, charged with the smells and scents of the old Algiers, the sea breeze rising nose made me feel light and free

Houbel, Botanical garden, Algiers Harbor …

Picture from the Kasbah of Algiers

The bay of Algiers

As I recovered my senses, I took my camera to immortalize the bay of Algiers. She was there just under my look, like an open mouth, smiling, going from La Pérouse to the Admiralty from east to west. El Bahdja is set in a mixture of ancient and modern architectural style. The Jemma Al Djazair stands far to the east while Houbel watches over Algiers the white from the heights of El Madania. The Kasbah, a symbol of the Algerian culture, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site for two decades. The roofs of this Medina are dotted with antennas and parabolic heads for reception of foreign oriental or western channels, offering an alternative to local TV programs. These antennas meant for me younger, an opening towards the foreign world. Today, I see them as the symbol of a society that turns its head to see elsewhere, to mind the mind with other things. Planted there on the terraces like sails taking the wind coming from the east or sometimes from the west influencing a society that seeks itself.

A sunset in the Kasbah of Algiers

From the terrace where I was, I noticed the streets and the close constructions testifying to the high density of the dwellings. The descending terraces on the hill built like a staircase descending towards the sea, offering a view to all those who live there. From our location in height, we unloaded our camera batteries and loaded our minds with images and good moments, photos of the Kasbah of Algiers and its bay below. Until we got caught up by the night.

Khaled Mahiout in his workshop

We went downstairs to friend Khaled, who almost locked us up because we did not see the time pass. We spent a few minutes with this world-renowned carpenter, we talked about his work and also his “Association of Friends of the Kasbah – Save the Kasbah of Algiers”. I took the opportunity to sign his guestbook, filled with signatures of famous personalities. Khaled watches over the Kasbah of Algiers as well as his craft as an ébéniste and promises to train future generations.

We left in the dark with memories illuminating our eyes. The Kasbah of Algiers offered herself to us on this unforgettable day.

More Algeria photography

Azeffoun

Kabylia

Street photography Algeria

Port of Azeffoun

23rd June 2017/by Mahdi Aridj

Order prints of Algeria by Mahdi Aridj Photography

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Houbel – Martyrs’ Memorial – Algiers

Mahdi Aridj — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 19:08:13 +0000

Houbel

Martyrs’ Memorial – Algiers

Houbel

During my stay in Algiers, I went to the martyr’s memorial (Houbel) to take some pictures. Located on the heights of Algiers in the town of El Madania (formerly Salembier). From its 92 meters height of concrete, Maqam E’chahid was inaugurated in 1982 for the 20th anniversary of the independence of Algeria. Imagined by Bachir Yellès, Houbel represents three revolutions: “Cultural, agrarian and industrial” another reading says that the monument symbolizes three periods of the Algerian history: “Resistance to occupation and colonization, War of national liberation, the present and the future of the country. ” These three palm leaves of which Houbel consists are located above the bay of Algiers.

Riadh El Feth

To the north and below Houbel, there’s the Botanical Garden Hamma where Tarzan (1932) was shot. In the West and then in the East respectively the bois des arcades and the projects of Diar El Mahçoul, built by the architect Fernand Pouillon known in Algeria for Aerohabitat and other constructions. Then to the south of Houbel is the esplanade of Riadh El Feth, a mythical shopping mall in the 80s and early 90s where there are concert halls (Ibn Zeydoun), bar and dancing (The triangle) And other souvenir shops…

Salembier

Passing through Salembier I went through the city Diar El Mahçoul wanting to take pictures of the Buildings called “Cité comfort” I was intercepted by the youth of the neighborhood “wled el Houma” they wanted me to make pictures of them with a tagged message On the walls of the city “Doula el haggara” (contemptuous Government) I realized these pictures with in the background the Houbel, without realizing the conditions of life in the comfort projects, which bears very bad its name. A very high human density where the tenants of these buildings lives in very harsh conditions, “socially cruel cases” as described in the newspaper “Liberté” in 2016.

Youth of Diar el Mahçoul – Salembier Algiers

Order prints of Algeria by Mahdi Aridj Photography

20th October 2017/by Mahdi Aridj

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Pictures of Algiers – Photography in Algeria

Mahdi Aridj — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 10:18:11 +0000

Pictures of Algiers

A getaway in the Algerian capital

Photos of Algiers on a sunny day

During my last trip to Algeria I’ve took some pictures of Algiers. I did street photography in many European cities, but in Algiers didn’t really had the chance until now. First because I moved to Europe, the distance didn’t help. But also because of certain fears. During my previous visits I’ve always stopped my self from doing it because I thought it was dangerous, that people were not open and that it was going to attract me the wrath of the authorities … The frustration and the look of Algiers made me more brave this time. I headed to the famous stairs of the street of Dr Saadane and I began a long, surprising and pleasant photographic stroll in the streets of Algiers. Armed with my faithful D700, I fixed the narrow streets of Algiers, “north Africa’s white lady” under the wide angle of my 24mm as well as some tight portraits through my 50mm.

To place Audin and surroundings

Going up the boulevard Didouche Mourad, from the tunnel of the faculties to the sacred heart (Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d’Alger) observing the ballets of people, mixing in a wide range of dress styles and social class. From the conservative to the modern style, from well-off to modest people, a sign of a very heterogeneous society where everyone lives together.

On the way down, I went through rue Meissonier (now rue Ferhat Boussaad) the famous shopping street teeming with people, animated by the calls of the sellers and punctuated by the horns of motorists who struggle to keep their patience while trying to make their way between pedestrians. It is Algeria, it is hot in this month of March, it is Saturday, newly second day of the weekend. Meissonier lives!

Around the Great post of Algiers

It is 1 pm, I stopped at a terrace of cafes under the central facade to blow, after having dined a few hours. I was looking at the photos of Algiers that I took and I leave in my thoughts, my memories of Algiers, more than ten years ago, when I was studying there. I discovered the capital of my country, alone far from home, I tasted to the anonymity that only a metropolis can offer you. Caught up by the noise of the cars I caught myself contemplating the facades of the Haussmann buildings of Algiers Center, questioning me about its tenants before and after the colonization and how had to make the transition, if there were still memories or other vestiges Of another life. Algiers is full of stories!

Emir Abdelkader Square, Milk bar, Third World Bookshop …

Lower down, the large post office with its neo-Moorish architecture which was once the site of an Anglican Church. Architectural beauty, the great post office of Algiers (La grande poste d’Alger) was transformed in 2014 into a museum on the history of the post and telecommunications in Algeria. From there, in the direction of Emir Abdelkader square, which runs through the streets saturated with cars rolling under the shadow of the ficus tree, passing through the Milk bar and the famous Third World bookshop (Librairie du tiers monde). Feasting of these scenes of the Algerian life, I didn’t fail taking pictures of Algiers.

Popular districts of Algiers

Going up the perpendicular street to the former rue d’Isly, I began to sink into the popular districts of Algiers center. Pleasantly surprised by the welcome and curiosity of the “children” of the district “welad el houma” systematically asking them if it don’t bother them taking pictures of the district and why not some of them. My way to thank them but also to have their blessing. “Bien sure kho!” (Of course Bro’) “Souar bladek! Souar Alger!” (Take photos of your country, take pictures of Algiers ! ). This allowed me to discuss issues such as the history of the neighborhood and also the Algerian society.

On this day of the USMA-MCA soccer derby, the horns of the fans resounded in the narrow streets of Algiers, streets adorned sometimes with red and green flags symbol of the “Mouloudiens” sometimes of red and black flags symbol of the Usmists. This bi-annual rendezvous where the two mythical clubs of Algiers clash for 90 minutes around a ball while the enthusiastic supporters of the two camps tear each other during a game but always end up being reconciles the next day.

Walking through the streets of the Cadix and Soustara neighborhood, I followed the narrow streets and the famous staircases of Algiers until I lost myself. Later my photographer friend Mestich took me on the heights of the Casbah, towards Bab El Djedid to make pictures of Algiers and its Casbah …. But I will tell you later about it.

More Algeria photography

Touiza | Volunteering in Kabylia

A trip to the commune of Azeffoun

28th June 2017/by Mahdi Aridj

Kasbah of Algiers – photography of the citadel

20th March 2017/by Mahdi Aridj

In the streets of Algiers

8th August 2017/by Mahdi Aridj

Street photography Algeria

23rd July 2016/by Mahdi Aridj

Houbel – Martyrs’ Memorial – Algiers

18th March 2017/by Mahdi Aridj

Port of Azeffoun

23rd June 2017/by Mahdi Aridj

Pictures of Algiers – Photography in Algeria

17th March 2017/by Mahdi Aridj

Attatba wholesale market

19th March 2020/by Mahdi Aridj

Azeffoun

Order prints of Algeria by Mahdi Aridj Photography