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Under the skies of Normandy - Vincent
作者:admin 日期:2009-12-08
In Normandy if you can gaze at the skyline then it is going rain. If you cannot gaze at the skyline, then it is because it is raining! It is a joke that we commonly share in Normandy to mock the sometimes rainy weather of my homeland. But do not be mistaken dear folk! The weather in Normandy turns very fine from the middle of spring to the middle of autumn. It means for 6 months of the year, it is only about outdoor activities, as for my concern hiking and photography. Those are my favorite months indeed to take a walk in open air for random photo shots. And when heavy clouds show up, I am not discouraged, as I enjoy the sight of the light piercing the welkin. In Normandy, rain can leave you flat, but light can refresh your soul almost instantly. That is certainly why influential impressionist painters like Monet and Boudin often made the trip to the Normandy seaside. To brush the time of an afternoon the unique colors and tones of my home land.
View of the chalky cliffs near the banks of the river Seine, Normandy. My homeland is rather a flat low hilled land covered by forests and large plains for agriculture. However at some point following the meanders of the river, the landscape turns hilly, sharp rocky shapes suddenly come up, and the ground becomes steep.
View of the chalky cliffs near the banks of the river Seine, Normandy. The quiet guy on the left side of the picture, that’s me…
View of the chalky cliffs near the banks of the river Seine, Normandy.
A common sight in Normandy.: Sunset is my favorite time of the day for a walk on the beach.
This picture is so typical of the Normandy seaside it is almost a cliché. Beaches there are kilometers long, enough space for everybody. In comparison with the crowds of tourists that every summer invade the beaches of the French Riviera (Nice, Cannes etc.), the beaches of Normandy are a haven of peace.
These odd shapes facing the ocean are just what make Normandy so distinctive. Beach cabins were en vogue in the first half of the 20th century. They were properties of rich families though, no bigger than 3 square meters, and they were used as changing rooms in a time where moral sense commanded not to exhibit the body in excess. Today it is possible to rent a cabin, and even if more people have access to it, it remains a sign of elitism and social distinction in most of people’s mind.
“…in a time where moral sense commanded not to exhibit the body in excess”. To say the least… This picture, which I scanned from a glass negative, dates from 1914, and comes from a family ancestor found of photography. My grand-father is the little baby in white cloths on the right! It was shot just before 2nd world war broke out. As you can see, it was not a time where people get idle top-less or running in sexy bikini on the beaches of Normandy. Changing cloths in a beach cabin was the preliminary to any potential bathing.
These singular cabins in Normandy were the setting for a photo shooting for Vogue magazine by famous French photographer Guy Bourdin. Guy Bourdin is one of the most influential fashion photographers of the 20th century, and had a clear impact on the works of contemporary photographers David Lachapelle or Steve Hiett. Well-known for his strange, mysterious and complex narratives, his pictures are in turn sensual, provocative, surrealistic, sinister. He is one of my favorite photographers. Want to learn more about the man? Pay a visit to: www.guybourdin.org
In Normandy if you can gaze at the skyline then it is going rain. If you cannot gaze at the skyline, then it is because it is raining! It is a joke that we commonly share in Normandy to mock the sometimes rainy weather of my homeland. But do not be mistaken dear folk! The weather in Normandy turns very fine from the middle of spring to the middle of autumn. It means for 6 months of the year, it is only about outdoor activities, as for my concern hiking and photography. Those are my favorite months indeed to take a walk in open air for random photo shots. And when heavy clouds show up, I am not discouraged, as I enjoy the sight of the light piercing the welkin. In Normandy, rain can leave you flat, but light can refresh your soul almost instantly. That is certainly why influential impressionist painters like Monet and Boudin often made the trip to the Normandy seaside. To brush the time of an afternoon the unique colors and tones of my home land.
On the beaches of Normandy, you sometimes meet with odd shapes…
…and eccentric local figures.
If you enjoy time travel, the Norman architecture should satisfy your curiosity. Here is the bell tower of an ancient stone made church. By ancient we are here talking of a 10 centuries old architecture! The tower was built on the 11th century. At that period there was no clock on the top though…
All photos credit of Vincent, except Guy Bourdin photograph.
View of the chalky cliffs near the banks of the river Seine, Normandy. My homeland is rather a flat low hilled land covered by forests and large plains for agriculture. However at some point following the meanders of the river, the landscape turns hilly, sharp rocky shapes suddenly come up, and the ground becomes steep.
View of the chalky cliffs near the banks of the river Seine, Normandy. The quiet guy on the left side of the picture, that’s me…
View of the chalky cliffs near the banks of the river Seine, Normandy.
A common sight in Normandy.: Sunset is my favorite time of the day for a walk on the beach.
This picture is so typical of the Normandy seaside it is almost a cliché. Beaches there are kilometers long, enough space for everybody. In comparison with the crowds of tourists that every summer invade the beaches of the French Riviera (Nice, Cannes etc.), the beaches of Normandy are a haven of peace.
These odd shapes facing the ocean are just what make Normandy so distinctive. Beach cabins were en vogue in the first half of the 20th century. They were properties of rich families though, no bigger than 3 square meters, and they were used as changing rooms in a time where moral sense commanded not to exhibit the body in excess. Today it is possible to rent a cabin, and even if more people have access to it, it remains a sign of elitism and social distinction in most of people’s mind.
“…in a time where moral sense commanded not to exhibit the body in excess”. To say the least… This picture, which I scanned from a glass negative, dates from 1914, and comes from a family ancestor found of photography. My grand-father is the little baby in white cloths on the right! It was shot just before 2nd world war broke out. As you can see, it was not a time where people get idle top-less or running in sexy bikini on the beaches of Normandy. Changing cloths in a beach cabin was the preliminary to any potential bathing.
These singular cabins in Normandy were the setting for a photo shooting for Vogue magazine by famous French photographer Guy Bourdin. Guy Bourdin is one of the most influential fashion photographers of the 20th century, and had a clear impact on the works of contemporary photographers David Lachapelle or Steve Hiett. Well-known for his strange, mysterious and complex narratives, his pictures are in turn sensual, provocative, surrealistic, sinister. He is one of my favorite photographers. Want to learn more about the man? Pay a visit to: www.guybourdin.org
In Normandy if you can gaze at the skyline then it is going rain. If you cannot gaze at the skyline, then it is because it is raining! It is a joke that we commonly share in Normandy to mock the sometimes rainy weather of my homeland. But do not be mistaken dear folk! The weather in Normandy turns very fine from the middle of spring to the middle of autumn. It means for 6 months of the year, it is only about outdoor activities, as for my concern hiking and photography. Those are my favorite months indeed to take a walk in open air for random photo shots. And when heavy clouds show up, I am not discouraged, as I enjoy the sight of the light piercing the welkin. In Normandy, rain can leave you flat, but light can refresh your soul almost instantly. That is certainly why influential impressionist painters like Monet and Boudin often made the trip to the Normandy seaside. To brush the time of an afternoon the unique colors and tones of my home land.
On the beaches of Normandy, you sometimes meet with odd shapes…
…and eccentric local figures.
If you enjoy time travel, the Norman architecture should satisfy your curiosity. Here is the bell tower of an ancient stone made church. By ancient we are here talking of a 10 centuries old architecture! The tower was built on the 11th century. At that period there was no clock on the top though…
All photos credit of Vincent, except Guy Bourdin photograph.
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