We're delighted to announce Sophie Ebrard will have this image exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery this Autumn as part of the Taylor Wessing Portrait award's exhibition of finalists.

'This image is part of an ongoing project called “Mon Ami Achraf.” Shot on the West Coast of Morocco near Essaouira, I’ve followed the life of a young man named Achraf (whom I met 17 years ago when he was just a kid) for the last two years.
The images explore manhood and young adulthood, reflecting on the intricate beauty of this transitional time when teenage years are left behind.
It also explores the theme of friendship. The boy in the picture is one of Achraf’s friends Issam.

It was late when we shot this image, it's the last one we shot. There was no more available light. The horse is lit with the lights of the scooter that was on the side, Issam's face is lit by the car. This image is a good reminder that you don't need expensive technical equipment to make it work, you just need to know how to work with what you find.'

Sophie Ebrard