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The best landscape photos of 2011

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:53:46 +0000

Here’s a little retrospective of some of the most beautiful natural or urban landscapes that I had the chance to photograph in 2011.

Dune landscape: Tip of the Espiguette. Nice big stretch of sand and dunes near Port Camargue and Grau du Roi (south of France), which found an almost wild when winter arrives and this natural site is found deserted by tourists and holidaymakers …

Flamingos, beautiful birds and protected species that nest in by thousands in the natural park of the Camargue (south of France).

Shooting landscapes, is also photographing the seasons: spring, with flowers and foliage of first green leaves…

… or the fall, probably the most photogenic season with its bright warm colors …

… and sometimes misty landscapes in the forest in the cool of the morning.

The human intervention on the landscape has not every time a negative impact. Thus, the artificial lake Salagou, originally created in the 60′s, for needs for irrigation, is a beautiful place, where the blue sky reflected on the surface of the lake contrasts with a bright red ground, the Ruffe, a color typical of this clay soil saturated with iron oxide which covers the plains region of Herault (south of France)…

Mountain scenery: beautiful winding roads that pass through preserved natural parks. Alternation of valleys, peaks and forests, photographed in the Austrian Alps. A very nice idea for those who want to take a breath of fresh air in the Alps during the summer, far from crowded beaches and the seaside resorts …

There are some landscapes that can be described as heavenly. I was able to return this year to photograph the lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice, Croatia. This is certainly one of the natural sites worth seeing at least once in his life. This alternation of tens of turquoise lakes and many waterfalls, can at times give the impression to the visitor to have found a paradise on earth.

Landscapes of the East: the beautiful Istanbul, on the border of Europe and Asia, a megalopolis surprising and inevitable, that amazes by its colors and contrasts, between mosques, bazards, shopping, and intense maritime activity on the Bosphorus.

Romantic Landscape: Who has not dreamed of a gondola ride on the many canals of Venice? Venice, an almost mythical city. Although the streets are crowded with tourists in high season, atmosphere in this city can not be found anywhere else. All the monuments are as splendid as each other, from the beautiful Rialto Bridge to the legendary St. Mark’s Square …

From the canals of Venice, we turn to those of Amsterdam: this is not the same climate, nor the same atmosphere, but Amsterdam is nevertheless a unique city. Visit it by walking … and cycling.

Urban landscapes in black and white: a street in Paris, photographed on the slopes of Montmartre hill. A typical image of romantic Paris, who walks around on the stairs and pedestrian streets, with old lampposts and rooftops of Paris in the background …

Beautiful alpine roads in Austria

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:22:10 +0000

If you travel by car in Austria, you should go outside motorways, and ride along the unique and beautiful high alpines roads, crossing gorgeous natural parks and mountain landscapes.

Click on the photo below to download its HD wallpaper for your computer or notebook.

Gorgeous landscapes along the Nockalm alpine road in Austria

Approaching the wildlife in the Espace Rambouillet

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:02:12 +0000

Located in the heart of the forest of Rambouillet in the Yvelines, in less than an hour from Paris, the Rambouillet area is a wildlife park managed by the french National Forest Office (ONF) where you can observe animals reared in semi freedom: the aurochs, deer, fawns. Upon entering the heart of 180 hectares of wilderness you can, if you take the trouble to move quietly and against the wind not to be identified, approached the nearest deer crossing or a herd of wild boars. Of course, you should keep in mind that these animals wild, calm behavior and attitude are responsible for setting this place where you will be in direct contact with Nature.

The Espace Rambouillet also offers educational tours for young people (and their parents ), for example by proposing to identify insects or imprints of animals, or play activities as the “Green Odyssey” where young and kids can run on platforms and suspended walkways in the trees. Of course we must not forget the hundred not raptors (about thirty different species), and demonstration flights carried out by professional falconers.

Able to approach the wildlife in the Espace Rambouillet, Forest of Rambouillet, Yvelines, France

More :

official website of Espace Rambouillet

official website of ONF

Photos of Rambouillet forest and some animals that I had the opportunity to cross in the Espace Rambouillet

GPS : N 48° 37′ 42” / E 01° 52′ 19”

Acces on Google Maps

Photo of the day : spring daffodils

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:35:54 +0000

Being located at the edge of the woods or along the aisles of our parks and gardens, daffodils or narcissus are there to celebrate the return of spring and its beautiful days …

Daffodils

Photo of the day : fir-trees over Chamonix valley

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:04:21 +0000

A beautiful fir overlooking the valley of Chamonix from the top of its cliff…

Fir-trees

Travel diary : a week-end trip in New York

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:57:25 +0000

It seems that New York is the favorite destination of french people in Uncle Sam country. This is not surprising, after all on an historical point of view the most immigrants of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries came from Europe in the United States through the port of New York. New York has been more opened to the old continent that other major U.S. cities. New York is a unique city in the U.S., with mixture of cultures, a city that never sleeps, always in turmoil. This city is often taken as a symbol of the USA, with its forest of skyscrapers planted in the early twentieth century. We love it or hate it, but in any case this megapolis not leave indifferent its visitors.

Go just for a weekend in New York, three or four days including the flight, will not learn you a lot about this city, there’s so much to see, so many activities to do there. You can not really in only a few days visit the many museums of this city, except perhaps at a run. But going for a weekend in New York will not be too much expensive, and should be a nice first contact with The Big Apple. Then you may catch the virus of New York, and have an irresistible desire to return to this city for a longer time. The tour guides also advised to spend at least a week or two to really enjoy it.

For myself, I did visit only a part of Manhattan (Midtown, South Central Park, and Downtown). Here is an overview of my weekend in New York:

Day 1 – Arrival in New York & ferry ride

While most of the time the European land at JFK airport, our flight landed at Newark, New Jersey. We had booked a shuttle to get to Manhattan. The drive to Times Square area, where our hotel was quite fast (outside rush hours).

Some people can be surprised when they discover the U.S. roads near New York, which are in poor condition. Some may find the beginning of an explanation in the amount of road maintenance and the harsh climate on the east coast (thermal differences …). But when our mini-bus is passed to the motorway toll gate, the toll was in a very disrepair (thinking about the amount of rust apparent on the toll, that they probably did not see the color of a paint pot for a long time). I felt more like a road equipment come straight from the depths of one old East European country, than the one expected to be seen a few kilometers from the capital of the U.S. economy …

After crossing the Hudson River from the Lincoln Tunnel, we come to Time Square. The time to retrieve the keys and deposit our luggage in our room, we go out for a first round of the district. And we are immediately immersed in the urban jungle, it’s all there: the sirens of emergency vehicles, the Newyorkers running in all directions, cars and trucks that aims at full speed in the potholed streets (be careful when crossing !), and strange chimneys leaving out thick clouds of steam, and of course the giant screens that line the facades of buildings neighborhoods Time Square and Broadway. It is around 15 local time, so we take the metro to go to the south of Manhattan and take the ferry from Staten Island.

The ferry linking Manhattan to the south of Staten Island was free. What’s more, after 8 hours spent in an airplane than getting outdoor on a boat. During this crossing of the bay of New York, we see Ellis Island (where U.S. immigrants were docking), and of course near the Liberty Island and its famous statue. It’s always fun to think that on the morning we were on in Paris and the afternoon we are quietly sitting on the deck of a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, this so symbolic monument of States United States of America and the New York City itself.

Once in Staten Island, we had to get off the ferry to go back immediately to Manhattan in another ferry and return to the starting point, again passing near the Statue of Liberty, with the backdrop landscape of southern Manhattan skyscrapers , lit by the sun.

Notes: When we take line 1 from New York to get to the ferry from Staten Island, only some wagons of the train let us getting off at the South-Ferry station. So remember to check your wagon that allows you to get off. This is supposed to be announced by the driver, but sincerely the commentary screamed through the speakers was completely inaudible, even for local or native English speakers … Also note that the ferry linking Manhattan to the south of Staten Island does not stop on Liberty Island (it only goes near) and will therefore do not make yourself at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. To go to Liberty Island, you need to take the ferry at Battery Park : Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island ferry (this ferry is not free). Note that since September 11 2001, security measures limit access to the statue itself, and you have to be patient at checkpoints, particularly during peak periods …

The ferry docked in Manhattan, so we leave the terminal to visit the district ( “downtown”). We turn next to Battery Park, then in the financial district of Wall Street, to finish at the rebuilding site of Ground Zero. On the spot, seeing the great empty space left after the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, we can realize the dimension and the horror of the tragedy of September 11 2001 …

Night has fallen, and this business area becomes very quiet. We take the subway to go on the side of Time Square and Broadway theaters. If this area was already impressive in the day, at night it becomes a permanent fireworks with display of colored lights and fixed or videos ads, whatever the direction is the eye could see …

Day 2 – Midtown Manhattan

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast in a Starbucks near the hotel, we take the direction of the Empire State building. Arrived just before the opening, we avoid having to queue at security checks. The transition is even faster than we already had our tickets purchased online from Paris. And now we go towards the top! Arrived at the observation platform, it is New York cityscape under our feets, with midtown Manhattan buildings, Central Park, the Hudson River and the East river, 5th Avenue and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the area around Times Square and other famous and beautiful skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building or the Rockefeller Center. In the south we can see the Flatiron building (the first skyscraper built in New York, which takes its name from its triangular shape, similar to that of an iron …) and then in the distance the skyline of Manhattan downtown skyscrapers. In the background in the bay can be distinguished the Statue of Liberty, emerging from the mist. It was a beautiful start to the day, sunny, with just a little mist that was rising in the East river.

Next, we go down 5th avenue, to see a little more closely the historic Flatiron building and the surrounding area.

On the return we stop at the New York public library, with its beautiful reading rooms, decorated with beautifully carved wood, worth a look.

A little further north on 5th Avenue is the Rockefeller Center and skating rink, St Patrick’s Cathedral, and many shops often interesting, but also often unaffordable… Then the avenue leading to the vast Central Park, with its many alleys, skating rinks, lakes, bridges, fountains, lawns, groves, and its swans, ducks or squirrels… A real green lung in the heart of this metropolis … Central Park is huge and visit the entire park can take some time, but even if you are just passing through quickly, it is part of New York landmark.

Note: Central Park is now considered safe, although it is always advisable not to go alone, especially in desert areas. However, at night, tourist guides advise clearly to avoid Central Park …

Coming out of Central Park, we make a quick hook to the Natural History Museum. Then we descend to the south of 5th Avenue, to visit Grand Central Terminal, with its sumptuous hall, then we continue a little farther to the Chrysler building, which is probably the most beautiful building of Art-Deco style in the city.

Day 3 – Singing in the rain …

No chance, now it’s rainy day. We take to the shops on Broadway and Times Square, buying some souvenirs for children in the huge Toys’r U.S. store, taking some calories in M&Ms Shop (I never imagined that one can invent as many variations of these chocolates, or as many products on the same topic …) and then visit Macy’s, etc … We then take a walk on the side of neighborhoods of Soho, with its trendy restaurants and boutiques, to finish by Little Italy and China Town.

In the evening we return to Midtown, to go to the top of Rockefeller Center ( known as “Top of the Rock”). From its panoramic terrace you can admire New York and its main monuments by night, including the Empire State building. Unfortunately for us the weather was not in our favor, and at the top of the skyscraper we enjoyed rain and wind storm. Conditions a little difficult to take pictures at night, anyway I kept nice but wet memories of this evening…

Day 4 – last morning in New York, and fly back in Paris …

For the last day, the sun has returned. We take a breakfast in a self, and when enjoying my cheesecake I distracted look of a giant screen broadcasting videos of beautiful landscapes. This was on the facade of a bank building which, at the time, I didn’t know : Lehman Brothers…

This is the last morning in New Yok, we enjoy the good weather to go to the Brooklyn Bridge. Taxi to save time. The yellow cab drop us at City Hall, just near the pedestrian and cyclist access. The Brooklyn Bridge is separate into two levels of movement: one of them for cars, another, above, restricted to pedestrian traffic and cycling (each have their own lane). Since the bridge, we see the skyline of Midtown skyscrapers (Empire State Building, Chrysler building …), the Manhattan Bridge, and of course the skyscrapers of Manhattan south (downtown), very close. In the distance in the bay of New York, we also see the Statue of Liberty.

We continue our walk around the neighborhood, then it’s time to return to the hotel, to finish preparing the luggage, and take the shuttle to the airport.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed the atmosphere that emanates from this town, and also like friendliness and professionalism of the people we met in shops and restaurants.

If I go back to USA this will probably to visit some great natural parks (one of my dreams !), but for sure I will also return to this Big Apple, just to chew a piece again…

Photos of New York :

All photos of New York

Note: in order to reduce the environmental impact of this trip, the round-trip Paris-New York (2 people in economy class) has been the subject of compensation for its CO ².

This travel diary news is partially an automatic translation of this post. If you see any translation error, please feel free to tell it in the comment area.

Green canyons in middle France

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:55:14 +0000

Although smaller in size, the Gorges de la Jonte in the heart of the Cévennes (Lozère, France) have at times looked like a verdant Grand Canyon, patiently carved over millennia by Jonte river in the limestone. A mountain river hard to access, protected by imposing cliffs, which end up in the Tarn river at the villages of Rozier and Peyreleau. This is the same location as another ends green canyon, the Gorges du Tarn valley, larger than the Gorges de la Jonte, but also longer and more sinuous. Many tourists will travel during the summer season on the road in these valleys, just before enjoying a stroll by boat or canoe from Ste Enimie or La Malène in the Gorges du Tarn.

The Gorges du Tarn and Gorges de la Jonte canyons surround the limestone plateau of Causse Mejean, including separating if from the Causse Noir plateau in the south, and the Causse du Sauveterre plateau on the north.

Gorges de la Jonte, a green canyon

Stroll diary : spectacular cliffs at Etretat

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:12:42 +0000

If I had to bet on the natural landscape most photographed in France, it is well and truly on the cliffs at Etretat that I would make my choice. On the 120 km of this coast of alabaster, cliffs at the north and south seaside of the town of Etretat are the most spectacular and most famous. Already, painters such as Claude Monet had immortalized on canvas these beautiful landscapes. Nowadays, during the summer, and especially on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, there are walkers, hikers and photographers, amateurs or experts, equipped with all kinds hardware, shooting in film as well as digital pictures of these wonders of nature. For sure, these are beautiful cliffs. Personally, I’ve discovered them for the first time in ’98. And of course, I did some pictures with my old Canon Ixus aps Zoom. I did walk 5 or 6 times this year on these cliffs, and I kept very good memories of it. It was nice to take a nap or make a picnic at the top of these cliffs, or walk a few kilometres on the trails of Normandy coast. I did this year my very first website site with photos taken at Etretat, website that no longer exists, and whose archives as well as the negatives of photos must be lost in the depths of a box in my cellar…

At the time, although I already knew these landscapes, seen in both TV broadcasts, on books or magazines, I was really impressed by the beauty of the place. Impressed also by the verticality of these cliffs, some are 120 meters high. And if like me you are subject to vertigo, it won’t let you indifferent . Anyway, even without the vertigo, it is better to never walk close to the edge of the cliff, the ground is unstable and friable… because these cliffs are not static, and move back continuously, because of attacks from the sea at high tide and the dissolution of limestone with the stream of rainwater.

Walk along the cliffs at Etretat

Once arrived on the dike, just before the pebble beach, your will immediatly see 2 natural archs : on your left the Porte d’Aval cliff and your right the Porte d’Amont cliff. Take the stairs located behind the left German bunker, to go to the top of the cliff of Aval. From there you can admire a breathtaking view of Etretat, find the digged needle near the Porte d’Aval, and also contemplate the cliff of the Manneporte, whose natural arch is much more impressive than Aval one.

Lets continue on the trail farther south (south-west), along the golf course. From the top of the Manneporte we have a beautiful panorama with on a side the door and needle of Aval, and on the other side the cliff of the Courtine. This cliff was also pierced by the onslaught of waves, but more discreetly, with an opening which will be probably an arch in the future…

Since the Pointe de la Courtine cliff, you can observe the Manneporte, and through its arch you come to see the needle or the Aval arch. On the other side there are cliffs and beach of Antifer. To reach this beach of sand and pebbles, we pass by the valleuse of Antifer. This “small valley” carved by erosion is a protected natural site, which is one of the few areas of the Normandy coast free of any construction (apart from the small road giving access to the beach). Thus it is nearly 95 hectares where preserved flora and fauna are very diversied.

Farther south, is Cap d’Antifer with its lighthouse and its oil terminal.

Returning to Etretat, direction Porte d’Amont. It seems at first glance less interesting than the Manneporte and Porte d’Aval. It is true that the dimensions of the arch are more modest. However, coming from its heights, you will see the presence of a staircase which allows do go down of the cliff. From the bottom of the staircase, if you look at north-east direction, we have a very good alignment with the Rock of Vaudieu and the Needle of Belval . And after being reassembled, is further upstream along the coastal trail along the cliff that you can admire the beautiful profile of this door of Amont. Note also that at the top of this cliff of Amont there is a museum and a monument dedicated to the Oiseau Blanc plane and airmen Charles Nungesser and François Coli.

Continuing along the trail, you’ll walk near the Needle of Belval. This needle-shaped rock is almost rectangular and straight up. The base is a little more tight, eroded gradually by the waves. Along the trail there are many traces of landslides, demonstrating the inevitable withdraw of this coastline. I finished my little walk at the Valleuse du Curé, a former passage (now sentenced following a collapse), where a stairway of 283 steps carved into the cliff allowed access to the beach. According to legend, the parish priest, Father Desson-Saint-Aignan, had made construction of this straicase in 1883 to do penance…

Back on Etretat, I go to the beach to admire the sunset from near the arch of Aval.

Learn more about Etretat :

Official website of the Tourist Office of Etretat
Etretat seen by satellite on Google Maps (from the Valley of Antifer to the Needle of Belval)

And some basic advice and common sense:

DO NOT approach the edge of cliffs, the ground is unstable and the rock very crumbly despite appearances of strength, and also on the beach avoid for walking under the cliffs (landslides !).
If you want to go on the beaches, such as between the Manneporte and Porte d’Aval (accessible to most sportives through a tunnel dug under the cliff of Aval), remember to check the tide times and keep enouth a time to be able to go back.

Note : this post is a translation of my french travel and stroll diary. If you find any error, please feel free to tell it in a comment.

Wild coast in Quiberon peninsula (Britanny)

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:49:13 +0000

August ’07

The Quiberon peninsula, in the Morbihan (Britanny, France), is separated from the mainland by a relatively narrow isthmus, leaving in its just the narrower space to the track, the road (D768), and a piece of beach. During the high season, this road is very used by tourists who want to go to Quiberon and / or take the ferry to Belle-ÃŽle-en-mer island. It appears clear that it is a place quite touristy whose attendance contrast to the relative tranquility of FinistÃ¨re where I stayed a few days earlier.

The coastline of the Quiberon peninsula is varied: to the west, the Wild Coast, which faces the Bay of Biscay and the ocean whose tantrums visibly sculpted this very rugged coastline. At the opposite side of the peninsula, the east coast of the provides a much more softens landscape, with beautiful white sand beaches and the bay of Quiberon well calm, protected from the swell and winds.

It’s just after the Isthmus, at Kerhostin that we leave the D768 road and caps onto the coastal road and along the wild coast. This landscape is very dramatic, and leaves guess violence of nature which could cut these cliffs like this. In fact, during our stay, I was impressed by the ballet far too regular of rescue helicopters and vehicles of firefighters who would recover walkers bathers reckless or irresponsible. However, the buoys relief and the many warnings along parts of the coast are unequivocal : the coast is dangerous even in calm seas.

On the last day before I left, there were even had very rough seas, due to strong winds hit the coast of Brittany. Rather unusual in the month of August, the wind blows are more frequently encountered in the fall and winter. Most of time these storms are comes in autumn and winter, not in summer. Bad luck that day to take nice photos, the zoom of my D50 was broken, and did not take my bridge camera, I had only my cameraphone to capture the impressive waves which hit rocks and cliffsâ€¦ It was wonderful to see, we felt very small face of such energy deployed by Mother Nature, and the sea spray carried by the wind over the cliffs were invigoratingâ€¦

See more :

-All pictures from Quiberon Peninsula

-The wild coast on Google Maps

note : this post is partially an automatic translation of the article originally published on my french blog.

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Sizun cape: family stroll on the “Pointe du Raz” cape and the “Pointe du Van” cape

A landscape photographer and nature lover... — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:10:16 +0000

August 07.

We leave from Quimper, take the D784, and turn after Audierne on a small and very pleasant road . There is a little bit car traffic, but not too much, it is still not the French Riviera, and it’s much better like thatâ€¦ We arrive mid-morning in the parking, situated at the end of the road. Since parking, which from we cannot sea the ocean, we first need to go through souvenir shops and restaurants, to finally reach the path marked out along the coast. Weather on the Pointe du Raz cape is this day very pleasant : a beautiful sun from august and no wind. Certainly, the lack of wind will not provide exceptional photos, but at least I can make a quiet stroll with family.

It is not possible to walk outside marked trails in order to protect the land that, since these protective measures, began to gradually rebuild, no longer trampled by homo touristicus . The heather is in bloom, and gives these landscapes beautiful colors green and purple, with the blue of the ocean in the background. Arriving near the Pointe du Raz cape, all tourists, myself included, have been able to take some pictures. In the distance, you can see the Phare de la Vieille lighthouse, the island of Sein in the same alignment, and we see sailing off a few sailboats, and boats with touristsâ€¦ A few meters from me, a seagull, imperturbable, is looking this super landscape from a rock along the cliff and let curious and photographers approach it…

After a short break, and having enyoyed the beautiful panorama offered to us, we will go by the path that runs along the service road behind the lighthouse of the cape, more direct than the coastal path. Then after passing through the step of souvenirs shops, and brittain cakes and cider, we are taking direction Pointe du Van on the north by the D607 road, which runs along the Baie des TrÃ©passÃ©s (bay of the deads), which is a small beach, the Pointe du Van cape ranging from on the other side of the bay. We had many opportunities to choose a path from the Pointe du Raz to join the Pointe du Van, but it is not practicable for those who are accompanied by young children with strollersâ€¦

There is a lot less tourists than on the Pointe du Raz cape, and the landscape of Pointe du Van, much more flowery, with a coastline of cliffs and cut more, is much more beautiful, with wild flower of the heath, varying shades of light pink to purple on the bottom of Iroise sea, out of sight. Superb! What still take pretty pictures, despite a light still quite hard in the middle of the afternoon.

Now its time to go back on Quimper, not forgetting, of course, go through some stall to take Brittany patties and other local products. Mmmm!

Links :
* Images from the Brittany coast
* Pointe du Raz view from Google Maps
* Point of view from Van Maps

note : this post is partially an automatic translation of the article originally published on my french blog.