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.
Picturesque artisan boulangerie in Marseille 6th arrondissement. Wonderful these places thrive here, their fresh bread, patisseries and Viennoiseries are still some of the great pleasures of life in France. But astonished to see someone reading a book with his petit déj. These are mostly small family businesses, many have been going for generations in the same location. The boulanger here rides a fine bike - a Royal Enfield Himalayan.
Arrived in Menton later than expected due to delays on the TGV network. Plus a Mediterranean storm brewed up out of nowhere (ie not forecast) around Cannes and Antibes on the route from Marseille. But great to be here on holiday for nearly a week. Hotel we get on with and good food options in the town.
Saluzzo in the province of Cuneo in Piemonte, is the main town at the foot of Monviso (3841 m.) which dominates the Valley of the River Po in Northwest Italy.
Monviso / Monte Viso (3841 m.)
- Monviso & the Sources of the River Po
- Saluzzo terracotta
- Brenner−Garda−Saluzzo
- Savoy, journey across forgotten borders
Shafts of sunlight above Le Monêtier-les-Bains (1540 m.) in the upper part of the Serre Chevalier valley. Col du Galibier (2642 m.) and Lautaret (2057 m.) just up the road from here so many motorbikes on the road down to Briançon and the valley of the Durance.
Last time I drive Terry’s 206. It’s a 1600 cc W-reg Peugeot from May 2000. It’s not quite a Classic but is a car from another era: dial-up modems, Tony Blair and the Millennium Bug.
I love the direct feel of the controls when driving, you push the pedal and the 1587 cc four-cylinder engine responds; there’s electronic ignition but no ECU managing the emissions and mitigating the response. No ABS or traction control. Slight power-assist on the steering but a very positive feel nonetheless and it steers true, not under or over.
