The soft hour Photo

Photographer’s Note

Some are fans of the blue hour, I am one of the soft, almost white hour at the late end of the afternoon, when the North Sea and the sky start to melt together gently, taking opal, pearl like tonalities...

Here, a serene spring day in May.

°°°

The coast of The Pas de Calais in Northern France is known as the Côte d'Opale for its opal like colors. It has many startling contrasts, from the charming valleys of the Course and Canche, the natural beauty of Cap Griz Nez and the chic town of Le Touquet, from large flat beaches to impressive rocks.

This part of France, a mere twenty something miles from England has so much to offer in that there are three National Parks, stunning Flemish architecture, all types of water-sports, and great food at still reasonable prices.

The inland through the Parc Naturel des Caps is beautiful too with idyllic pastoral scenery just 20km from the pancake-flat industrial sprawl of Calais. . The rolling green hills are easy on the eye but steep enough to provide a challenging weekend ride.

Since 1985, the “Conservatoire du Littoral” has
acquired 74,000 hectares, meaning 880km of
shoreline is definitively preserved. In the Nord-Pas de Calais, almost 3,250 ha are thus definitively protected, which is 25% of the regional coastline. Still not enough, but a start...

casperduppy, pastadog, ticoeurs, avene, Floydian, rigoletto, Clementi, syd1946 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pastadog (12821) 2008-06-09 3:37

A good idea, Michele, a very artistic frame you've obtained here, with the little silhouettes of people adding interest and scale. Not sure about the inclusion of that vertical column on the left. Well done, Daniel

ticoeurs (273) 2008-06-09 3:41

Bonjour Michele,

Joli N&b bien contrasté.
C'est vrai que le mélange entre l'eau et le ciel sont fort agréable.
J'aurais vu peut être un peu moins de ciel pour un cadrage plus panoramique.

Bonne journée

Fabrice

cbrman (19051) 2008-06-09 3:57

Hello Michele,

Une très belle vue très artistique de ce bord de mer. Le noir et blanc colle parfaitement à l'image et la compo est très bien faite ! Une image qui me fait penser à celle prise dans les années 30 !
Très bien vu !

A+

Dominique

avene (11136) 2008-06-09 4:49

hello Michèle,
looking at this photo I understand very well why you like that "soft hour" so much, love the calm mood when everything seems quiet. as with some other your photos, I have to think how Daphne du Maurier describes Cornwall, I've already written that I like a lot this slightly melancholic beauty of the Northern seas. the strong horizontal lines nicely emphasise the wide open space that seems to go forever outside the frame, and the tiny silhouettes of the people make everything look dream-like, where sizes and scale don't matter. very nice work, my compliments.

with best regards,
Kristine

Floydian (30970) 2008-06-09 4:50

Hello Michele,
Haha, not a blue hour fan, so you can pass my next one ;-)
But here we see a kind of trademark in your work with deep blacks and bright whites, strong contrast and that is exactly what i like to see in such an image. A kind of mystical feeling inside were the people are there but not playing an active role in the image, they are only there to fill up the landscape...good, very good..!!!
Kind Regards, Henk

ninaL (19582) 2008-06-09 4:53

Toujours la plage et la nostalgie...
J'ai encore passé un week-end au bord de la mer mais j'ai plutôt photographié les gens à Dieppe que la plage (très fort vent).
Ici, j'aime bien ton traitement des tons mais sur le plan de la compo j'aurais coupé à gauche quelques milimètres après le truc à vent (je ne sais pas comment s'appelle ce genre de moulin).
Amitiés, Grazyna.

faubry (32417) 2008-06-09 6:40

tiens aps de portrait? mais une simple photo noir et blanc qui me va bien, une photo qui pourrait être ancienne..les premières vacances en 1936... bonne composition avec les lignes, diagonales;
à bientôt
amitiés
francine

tomescuc (2837) 2008-06-09 7:51

I love it. Great lines, tiny sihouettes, dynamism, and a nostalgic feel too. Outstanding.
CT

rigoletto (26774) 2008-06-09 10:18

This idea is so similar to what i've been thinking for some time. Knowing that there are lots of blue hour fans in TE (i'm one of them, but not crazy at all), i would upload a blue hour photo in full B&W, and dedicate it to all blue hour lovers. But then, i found it a too sarcastic way to make my day, and quit the idea. B&W is already nice enough, the scenery is calm, and the composition very cineatographic.
Hugs,
Deniz

japiey (9521) 2008-06-09 10:37

Hi Michele,

Good concept.
Fine shot ... and a neat crop.
Excellent visual rhythm in controll.
All the best, dear friend.

jp

syd1946 (17965) 2008-06-09 14:57

Hello Michele,
I am impressed from the image you offer to us today...If you told that is the scene from a movie I will believed you!Seems the people and every detail on it was at right place to help you to take this shot!
Full poetic for a daily life scene and so atmospheric!

many wishes,
Thomas

Wahclellaspirit (3017) 2008-06-09 18:45

Bon Jour Michelle,
This is a quiet, softly lit image showing the peacefullness one can expect to find on the beaches of northern France. It appears cold with the pure white light.
Well seen...
Steve

sagar (2307) 2008-06-10 0:31

Hi Michele,
A fine black and white shot with a good graphical effect. A dreamy shot..I should say.
Regards,
Sagarneel.

Clementi (45179) 2008-06-10 3:12

Ciao Michele,
un altro dei tuoi esperimenti in bianco e nero, bene mi piace la sperimantazione e il trovare nuove forme per le foto.
ottimo lavoro
Giorgio

marietom (32076) 2008-06-11 9:39

salut Michèle,

de bien jolis tout petits détails, dans cette image, j'aime beaucoup ce minimalisme.
Zut, pour ta cheville, moi, pour le moment, RAS, je suis en attente d'examens pour faire le point de la situation...
Bon courage !
Bises
Marie

delnaja (7871) 2008-06-12 11:27

le résultat est assez minimaliste... et j'aime bien. Une sensation d'espace malgré écrasé du format. Et puis, j'aime bien cette idée que de faire une série plages en n&b. ça change, habituellement c'est saturé de couleurs.
Parfait.

polter (6168) 2008-06-14 16:19

Once more minimalistic. But this time so nostalgic...
Like it very much. Especially silhouettes with head down :))
Perfect composition and BW conversion. Really great.
Greetings T.