Travel
I'm lucky enough to travel a lot but I also aim to understand a place in some depth. So I like to find out about the local history, sociology, wildlife and local arts. I prepare for a trip by looking up photos of the famous sights, they're usually a good guide both about the local visual interest and also a warning of what has already been done or over-done.
I try to use the tools of modern photojournalism and photography to communicate how I feel about a place. You’ll see that I have used Portrait, Street, Interior, Historical, Abstract, Landscape, Historical, Wildlife, Phone-camera and Selfie genres at different times for specific effects.
Some pictures of my neighbourhood around rue Saint Pierre in the fifth arondissment of Marseille. It’s a varied neighbourhood, with a mixture of old and new architecture which supports a similarly varied population.
Three views of Mont Sainte Victoire, near Aix en Provence.
The limestone mountain towers around a thousand metres between the valley of the river Durance and that of the Arc. The surrounding hills were fortresses for the Saluvii tribe around 30BC: the story is that they displayed the skulls of their vanquished enemies on the entrances their dwelling. The Saluvii were subjugated by armies under the command of the Roman consul Sextus, who founded the town which has become Aix en Provence. Mont Sainte Victoire and the Pays d’Aix are nowadays more well-known following the paintings of Paul Cézanne (he used a cabane on Mont Sainte Victoire), and the summer evenings of the piano music festival based in Silvercane abbey near the village of La Roque d’Anthéron.
We’ve been staying in Castellane on the river Verdon, the route Napoleon and the GR4 in the Alpes of Haut Provence. It's an ancient town with several church buildings, including a chapel high above the town on the Roc. The medieval bridge is replaced by a modern road bridge.
Nice Provence food with both French and Italian influences, lots of travellers on the Route Napoleon between Grasse and Grenoble, the town is surrounded by the low Alps.
Quick trip to the col de la Cayolle, one of the sources of the Var in Provence. At 2326m above sea level and still showing some snow, this col lies between the Mediterranean and Alpine weather systems and seems to be almost never clear of cloud: it was a treat not to be chased down by a midday storm.
The marmottes were as shy as always but seeking the sunshine and... enjoying the pleasures of spring.
MediaCityUK, the stylish new home in Salford Quays, Manchester of the BBC, Granada Drama, ITV, Google and other media organisations. Interesting to visit just now as the BBC is beginning to populate these bold new buildings.
