In the spirit of discovering the regions of France and the coasts of Normandy and Brittany, in spring 2018 my family and I set off to explore Normandy and a small part of Brittany.
For strategic reasons in relation to the planned trips, we chose accommodation not far from Lamballe. Our aim for the week was to cover the coast from Mont-Saint-Michel to Ploubazlanec, Paimpol and Ile-de-Bréhat.
The Normandy coast
Le Mont St Michel
The first destination is Mont-Saint-Michel, arriving around 5pm. The idea here is to have a little time for photographic reconnaissance. The scouting is already well refined with google map, and PhotoPills (great smartphone software for photographers ). So it's off for a good walk, and a tour of a few possible pre-planned locations.
The aim is to get some nice shots of Mont-Saint-Michel at sunset, but under no circumstances will there be time to move several hundred metres at the last minute if the location isn't right. So I need to plan my position for 9.05pm. This time corresponds to the golden hour of the day, with raking sunlight and long shadows on the ground (which is what I want to achieve).
Not forgetting that, in the framing of the camera, I want to bring in Mont-Saint-Michel (obviously), and the gradation of sunlight. After visualising several positions, I finally opted for this one (the photo on the front page of this article), using the architecture of the access bridge as a guideline for the photo.
Finally, as the Norman sunset was fairly slow, on a fairly flat horizon, I took the opportunity to try and test 2 other positions.
But of course, I took the time to take a look at the Mont! Apart from the sunset atmosphere, I really like the contrasting, grainy black and white renderings of the historic architecture, in the style of an old silver photograph!
The Brittany coast
St Malo
Second stage of the journey, St Malo, its fort, its city to make nice black and white!
St Malo is a splendid town if you like granite architecture, castles or forts, and old towns. The old streets of St Malo are very well maintained and well worth a stroll. For example, when you return from a walk on the ramparts of the Fort, you can take some beautiful photographs of the harbour, the channel and its sailing enthusiasts, or the beaches.
From Fort La Latte to Cap Fréhel
The next stage, again in the evening, is a bit of physical exercise on the clifftops of the Côtes d'Armor. Between Fort La Latte and Cap Fréhel. A magnificent route for seaside walkers, with superb views!
Timing planned, again with PhotoPills, to obtain my favourite light. Lighting that's more or less golden, half-gold, half-blue or blue, depending on the landscape, creates a unique atmosphere and a way of conveying our photographic style.
A short hour of shooting, different framings, and the magic of the moment provided me with a photographic suite with different moods... in terms of tint or temperature... Natural colour grading in the end...
Ploubazlanec
And the last stop, at the entrance to Brittany, the beach opposite the Ile de Brehat, at Ploubazlanec. This time it won't be for the golden hour, but rather a few long exposures? and taking advantage of the rocky textures? Maybe a few black and whites? It wasn't clearly decided at the time! It's just curiosity... I think that sometimes you have to leave room". unpreparedness "It's a good exercise in photographic spontaneity! A good exercise in photographic spontaneity! Finally, here's what it looks like below:
All in all, I think that our French Normandy and Brittany have a lot to offer, and this is obviously just the beginning! Photographers should be able to find what they're looking for in terms of seasides and diverse landscapes, granite and rocky textures, while walkers and hikers will also have plenty of destinations to choose from!
Do you have any experience of our French North West? Photography? A hiker? Nature lovers?
Leave me your comments below, and If you'd like to see more of the Normandy and Brittany coasts, click here,
see you soon
David
