Day 05 – Bonnieux
We seem to have a history in Provence of showing food. With Françoise, we have no choice. The food is always so incredibly delicious.
Lunch was Cavaillon melon, succulent and sweet (but not too much so), smoked duck, and the usual other goodies she puts into a salad.
Everyone had finished with imaging, and we had made it part way through our critiques, when Françoise let us know that lunch was served out on the courtyard terrace, with the lovely outbuildings, plants, and Magnolia Tree surrounding us. Yesterday, we had lunch under the Mulberry Tree, and before that, on the terrace right outside our imaging room.
After finishing up our critiques, we gathered our things, including rain jackets, as pluit (rain) was in the forecast.
We started with poppies and other wildflowers in a small vineyard. People did broad views as well as close-ups. Black skies raced towards us, and I saw a large strike of lightning. I strongly suggested that we beat a hasty retreat back to the cars.
Then, we drove up the steep hill to yet another hilltop town, Bonnieux (Bonn-YIUH). Arnie and I stayed in this village the first time we came together to Provence and loved it. We helped people, and bit by bit they scattered, the meeting time, we hoped, cemented in their heads. Soon, with not a participant to be seen, Arnie and I wandered and found our own photographs.
It is a town with lots of twists and turns, and it is easy to lose one’s bearings if one is geographically challenged.
My first image in town was made near our meeting place. It is one of those what-is-it images that I love to make. An abstract, really. If anyone can figure it out or wants to guess, chime in.
I know windows and doors can become a cliché, but I have always been drawn to them. Who is inside? What are they doing? I try to bring a different view to my doors and windows. Here, the graphics rule.
Wandering down a narrow alley, I was struck by this image. Simple, yet it tells a story.
I love the way the light reflects off the various surfaces. Here, the shutters and their glow led my eye toward the Geraniums on the sill. By putting the near shutter out of focus, I want to lead the viewer’s eye in to the flowers.
Everyone straggled in to our meeting place, and we set off for supper. There is a nice restaurant overlook the valley far below, and we donned our jackets, choosing to stay outdoors with the view. I had a Steak Tartar with various herbs that was to die for. Charoloais Beef rule in this part of the province. White, they dot the fields, standing out against the brilliant green. There was wine, of course, and everyone enjoyed his and her meal. Lots of laughter prevailed, but we finally tore ourselves away as the evening light began. There were sunsets, shooting into the light, a part-Jack-Russell dog with his master, and many other scenes, all of which I enjoyed, but the one I loved from the evening was this one.
The first time Arnie and I came to the Luberon, I found this arch and fell in love with it. The textures, the way the pavement curved up through the image spoke to me.
Next: Lacoste, home to Pierre Cardin and the reason for one of his lines of clothing. Also, it is the European home of SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design.
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We are very busy working on developing our photography skills, but we also eat, laugh a lot, and have a lot of fun. Picturesque towns, fantastic food prepared by Pierre and Francoise, exercises for our bodies and mind, and laughter: all of this plus learning a lot from Margo and Arnie.
Dorothy,
Thanks for chiming in. Yes, we are having a lot of fun, and we are so glad you are learning a lot, too!
Take care,
TBC