Gifts of the sea Photo

Photographer’s Note

Scanned negative of b/w film TMAX400, Jan 2007.

After posting I realize there is a thin red line on the left of the background, as I cropped about 1 cm on the left. Sorry, maybe I need glasses:-) don't want to delete and wait another day...

Increased contrast, cleaning dirty spots and re-sharpening. I REALIZE NOW AFTER SOME THOUGHTFUL HINTS BY HENK, among others, that these scans are of low quality. I will explore to see if I can find a better photolab to get them done to a higher quality...:-)

***

According to legend, the origin of bouchots mussels is attributed to an Irishman who was shipwrecked on the Charente coast in 1235. Sole survivor of this disaster, Patrick Walton stretched out nets at low tide to catch fish. He noticed that mussels attached themselves to the wooden stakes on which the nets were stretched. He then had the idea to plant stakes in a line to harvest mussels: the first "bouchot" was born.
For a long time, this technique was only used on the Atlantic coast of France, the region in which seed mussels attach themselves naturally to the stakes.
After the 2nd World War, the people of Le Vivier sur Mer tried mussel farming using a variety of methods (on wooden planks or rocks) but the results were unsatisfactory.
Mussel farming began in Mont St Michel Bay in 1954. This new activity developed quickly thanks to the technique of growing mussels on bouchots and to the favourable local conditions. Today, the joint port of Le Vivier sur Mer/Cherrueix is the premier mussel port in France.
Curiously, mussels do not reproduce in Mont St Michel Bay. For mussel farming to develop it was necessary to await the development of modern techniques of attracting seed mussels and the know-how of the people from the Charente region.
Today there are some 271 kms of bouchots producing an annual harvest of between 10,000 and 12,000 tonnes and employing around 300 people.

***

Scan de négatif b/n TMAX400. Après le post je me suis rendue compte qu'il y a une fine ligne rouge qui reste à gauche d'un crop d'1 cm...la couleur du background, pas envie de deleter et reposter demain, tant pis!:-)

La production des moules dans la baie du Mont-Saint-Michel est une activité qui apparaît en 1954. La production annuelle est aujourd’hui estimée à 10 000 tonnes. La moule de bouchot de la baie du Mont-Saint-Michel est le seul produit de la mer à avoir décroché l'Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, en juin 2006. A ce jour à peu près 300 personnes vivent de la mytiliculture dans le secteur.
La technique des bouchots : Les très jeunes moules sont captées au printemps sur des cordages en fibre de coco sur les côtes charentaises et vendéennes, puis sont placées en Baie pour une phase de pré-grossissement et finalement enroulées sur les bouchots. Ce sont des pieux enfoncés dans l’estran sur lesquels sont fixées les moules.
Elles sont récoltées un an à 18 mois plus tard. La récolte s’effectue à l’aide d’une barge d’un bâteau amphibie spécialement adapté aux conditions de la Baie.

Pascale, pboehringer, clio, bombilla, adelune, Floydian, yeti1975, Hendrika, scroller, COSTANTINO, Wahclellaspirit, sayeed_rahman, crckt, rigoletto, doubay, pasternak, KevRyan, MayaG, noborders has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bombilla (3402) 2007-11-28 4:55

Really striking composition, Michèle. The high-contrast idea is really interesting. At first I thought they were some kind of shrubbery. The whole sight is quite unusual. I'd never seen these mussels (except on a plate in a restaurant, of course!) or this harvesting technique before. Fascinating. Best, -Hugh

adelune (2) 2007-11-28 5:11

Une image très étonnante! Comme une armée... sans "fin"! Point de vue très bien choisi! Merci Michèle pour cet très bon cliché, cordialement, alain

Floydian (30970) 2007-11-28 5:25

Hello Michele,
I have never seen this before and your note is a very interesting companion to the image. Although the image is a bit low on quality (you need a real filmscanner) the impact on the composition is striking whitin a absolute fantastic perspective which creates a very good composition.
Regards, Henk

Clementi (43589) 2007-11-28 5:30

ciao Michele,
molto belli questi pali rivestiti di cozze ,interessante la nota ,
ottima la scansione . per quanto rigurda l'errore nei primi 5 minuti puoi sostituire la foto senza aspettare il giorno dopo .
Giorgio

yeti1975 (1270) 2007-11-28 6:39

Tour B/W photos are just out of this world. I learnt to do B/W processing and printing as I worked in a small studio for a year for a year. This was my introduction to photography.

I worked for a wage of approx 30 euros a month (1500 Indian Rupees), it was not for the money but to learn the art. I still love B/W photography but there are no films available in the market. Secondly there is no demand for B/W it is just for ones personal satisfaction.

Hendrika (655) 2007-11-28 10:57

Hi Michele,
This seems like a strange wood, but reading it turns out to be a mussel farm.
Looks more like an enchanted forrest - to bad you could not get a top quality scan from this one.
TFS
Els

scroller (2883) 2007-11-28 11:17

Ola Michele!
I dont mind your scans, I think in them you have your own style. Of corse you can always in different ways accive other results but its a question behind the photos if I can say so. I look at the motive and the technique. Scanns are a cathegory of it self seperated from the photo technique. BUt of course a part of learning how to present ypur work. Any way thoos who have seen your previous pctures must realise this is a part of you and your style.
Keep on scanning and displaying your b/w. They are certainly good enought!
Hälsningar!!
/Stefan

Anna-- (7723) 2007-11-28 13:53

Ciao Michele,
bellissima immagine con un'ottima composizione e splendide riflessioni. Bel B&N
Anna

archimatica (13222) 2007-11-28 15:10

Ciao, Merline.
Soggetto particolare ed interessante.
Bella la scansione in BN, Complimenti.
Buona notte
Renzo

mdetay (4267) 2007-11-28 18:12

Salut Michele,
Les bouchots c'est excellent. Ta photo aussi.
Je ne vois pas le probleme auquel tu fais reference dans le scan (et j'ai mes lunettes).
Bien amicalement.
Michel

Wahclellaspirit (3017) 2007-11-28 19:49

Hello MichEle,
How are you?
This image is perfect in many ways as it allows the viewer to see another dimension with the design elements of the angles you offer in the rows of mussels. The reflections in the first row in the water, and the superb lighting in the B/W with strong contrast that was needed to allow this image to stand up and be noticed.
Excellent Photo, very graphic...
Talk to you soon,
Steve

COSTANTINO (22499) 2007-11-29 5:00

Hi Michele,
really impressive picture, with nice B&W choice and wonderful reflections.
Congratulations.
Regards,
Costantino

sayeed_rahman (2265) 2007-11-29 8:45

Hello Merline..the B/w effect has this abstact overtones..much like the river one you last posted..its only when i read it..i go..aah..now it makes sense..:)

I like what is abstract...gives the licence to interpret with freedom..else the viewer is forced to interpret in just one way..good symmetry..wonder what the array would look like from top.

The thin red line ( think that a Hwood movie ) and the pic quality aside..think you did well in Jan to get this together :D

Cheers
Sayeed

clio (22544) 2007-11-29 22:21

Bonjour Michèle,
J'aime cette photo si originale. J'y vois une armée de pingouins-moines en déplacement...
Je la trouve personnellement de bonne qualité (mais je n'ai pas vu l'original ).
En tout cas elle et pleine de poésie!
Note intéressante aussi.
Bonne journée
Diane

sagar (2307) 2007-11-30 6:39

Hi Michele,
Well this is a very enigmatic image. Very bright , yet the contrast is not disturbing to the eyes. The reflections are just awesome. A kind of a 'graphical' shot. Well done , my dear friend!!
Regards,
Sagarneel.

pboehringer (770) 2007-11-30 7:32

Michele,
what an interesting post! The image is striking and something that I have never seen before. The composition with the three off center placed bouchots in the foreground, followed by the water and finally the other bouchots in the foreground. The B&W seems to be the best choice to enhance the texture and contrasts of the scene.
I agree with Henk regarding the scan quality.
Regards, Peter

delkoo (34140) 2007-11-30 8:31

bonjour michele
on dirait une foret de sapins de noel emballée pour la vente..
c'est sur la qualité de la photo est pas extra, mais l'impact visuel est tres fort et les moules doivent être succulantes.
bon w.e

didier

Dyerco (9008) 2007-12-02 10:13

What a great shot Michele. I have never seen this before. The repeating pattern is very eye cathcing.
Well done.
Phil

smarcell (14257) 2007-12-03 8:34

Hello Michele, this is a very weird and interesting picture.
I thought they were cypress on the beach, before reading your note ! An unreal place !
Ciao Stefano

Pascale (10098) 2007-12-03 9:55

Bonjour Michele
Grand sourire en ouvrant la vignette et lisant ta note ,je croyais que c'était des cyprès !
J'aime ce graphisme et l'originalité du sujet ,excellent cadrage.Bien préparées ,un délice les moules et surtout les Bouchot...
Amitiés

crckt (7072) 2007-12-03 20:46

Hi Michele,
This is a very interesting image, B/W is definitely the right choice here, brings out the contrast better. Your note is very well researched and written. If you find a better scanner, it would do your pics more justice.
Regards,
Shaeri

rigoletto (26086) 2007-12-04 11:31

Hi Michele,
I am too lazy to read the critiques and your replies to them, so i am sorry to bother you with my question again: How high are those stakes and are they outside the sea due to low tide?
If the answer is yes, i will swallow my tongue. Incredible image and a superb documentary shot. Would nevertheless be very much appreciated to have a standing figure next to those mussel tress.
Cheers,
Deniz

doubay (5023) 2007-12-05 7:04

Hi Michele!
A forest of cypress trees consist out of mussels: What for a weird place! It’s the first time in my life I see something like this. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Andreas

hamperium (279) 2007-12-06 6:44

lekker surrealistisch
mag ik graag zien
super foto wat mij betreft

pasternak (13208) 2007-12-06 7:20

Amazing scene, Michele, well you know the scan quality isn't so good, but the scenery itself compensates for that, never seen anything like this although have been in Brittany several times, thanks for showing this!

Cheers
Alexander

KevRyan (22344) 2007-12-09 15:14

Hi - a really fascinating image and equally intriguing story - the image is very nicely arranged around this pool with a nice seperation between the bouchots into the far distance - good contrast in your finished result which is what was needed to make this unusual landscape sing.

best wishes Kev

Angshu (33533) 2007-12-10 0:57

Hello Michele
This is what I call an interesting post..and mighty interesting it is! Something I've never seen or heard before. Compositionwise this is well done, with the three off center bouchots in the FG, the layer of water & then the multitude of these poles in the BG..fascinating indeed! Yes the scan quality is not the best, but I definitely learnt something new today, thanks to you. Good show!
Best Regards
Angshu

MayaG (2393) 2007-12-10 14:59

Hi Michele,
extremely interesting, the repetition resembles computer art! love the abstract feel in this photo.
regards
Marija

jmdias (19053) 2007-12-10 15:36

michelle

I thought it was a field with cypresses. Wonderful image, the option for B&W was perfect

jorge

noborders (14199) 2007-12-14 8:25

Quel étrange paysage ! c'est à la fois intéressant et très esthétique... J'aime beaucoup !

Nous sommes de la même ville et tu es la 1ère Bruxelloise que je rencontre sur ce site...
Salut depuis le quartier Schuman !
Cath.