France

It was good to hear the first German words after a week in France. My wife Karin and I were at a stand-up bar, where we met a German couple. After a few minutes, I had to leave the conversation because I saw that beautiful evening sky. I snapped my camera and searched after the right composition. For the photos you want, you often have to go the extra mile. That’s worth it. After ten minutes I was back and could continue with my glass of red Bordeaux wine.

Post processed with: Aurora 2019, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/6.3
• Shutter speed: 1/10s
• Focal length: 70mm
• ISO: 250

Near the city of Aix-en-Provence lies the mountain Mont Sainte-Victoire. Also called the painters’ mountain, it appears on many pictures of Paul Cezanne and other painters of Southern France. I tried dozens of compositions to get the image right. Nowadays you have many high trees and power poles which disturb the best photo locations. However, I found some niches and now can present the mountain of the great painters.

Post processed with: Aurora 2019, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/9
• Shutter speed: 1/320s
• Focal length: 59mm
• ISO: 64

In Bordeaux are dancing parties on the street. People come together and hop unexpectedly. It’s contagious for many passengers and so more and more attend the dancing. Also, my wife was excited, but since I am a lousy dancer, I was too shy to attend. However, it was the right time for night shots of this likable scenes.

Post processed with: Aurora 2019, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/4
• Shutter speed: 1/100s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 6400

The photo was shot from Pey-Berland, a clocktower in Bordeaux. My wife Karin and I had to wait about 45 minutes in the line. The hot sun burnt down, no chance to hide. Only a handful of visitors were allowed to enter. After reaching the top, we knew, it was worth the wait — a fantastic panoramic view of the city. 

Post processed with: Silver Efex Pro, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/22
• Shutter speed: 1/80s
• Focal length: 70mm
• ISO: 125

Before I was in Bordeaux for the first time, I only had the red wine in my head. On the spot I saw how great the city was, long promenades, dozens of bicycle lanes, historic old town and hundreds of bars and restaurants. My recommendation is to borrow a bike at the public rentals and then explore the city.

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/4
• Shutter speed: 1/15s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 800

The city of Bordeaux is full of life in the night. Many places and streets are crowded a constant bustle. Skateboarders were performing between the old buildings. They showed acrobatic figures. I have always admired the skipping of the skateboard while driving, changing direction, then driving in the opposite direction. And all without a fall.

Post processed with: Aurora 2019, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/4
• Shutter speed: 1/25s
• Focal length: 51mm
• ISO: 800

On the way to the Atlantic coast, my wife and I turned for a break. The next town was Pons. It lies on a higher hill with some historic buildings on its main square, surrounded by a park landscape. Nearby was a butcher, where we got ham and quiche, a tasty lunch.    

Post processed with: Aurora 2019, Photoshop 2019

I was searching after the “Jules Verne”-wall in Nantes when I entered that large square. I put the Samyang 14mm lens on my Sony A7R II and shot a wide angle photo with the square and some passengers in the foreground and the houses-front in the backend. 

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

What can one do in the Medoc? Driving from Chateau to Chateau and taking photos, that was what my wife Karin and I were doing. In most of the Chateaus, you can go around freely, shooting pictures and exploring the facilities. Two times we attended a behind-the-scenes tour where you get info about the wine production and at the end a tasting of excellent Bordeaux wines.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: DSC-RX1R
• Aperture: ƒ/6.3
• Shutter speed: 1/640s
• Focal length: 35mm
• ISO: 80

My first photo in Nantes was in a park with those funny flowerpots, which are looking like bird-heads. There were also sculptures of dogs and turtles made from plants, but they were already withered, so no good photo motive. After going out, we were in a big construction zone; they were building a new railway station and rebuilding the surrounding streets.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: X-T1
• Aperture: ƒ/6.4
• Shutter speed: 1/60s
• Focal length: 38.9mm
• ISO: 200