Normandy; Etretat, 2017
If you are a painter or photographer, you don't have to see many Impressionist paintings made on the Normandy coast to convince you that the Impressionists knew exactly why they were painting there, and that seeing in person the coast where they painted is essential. The natural structures around Etretat are dramatic and dynamic. The shapes alone are enough to inspire. Add the emotion and power of the ocean, and you have enough subjects to busy you for years. We only had hours. So this was merely an introduction. Etretat 101. With a few community scenes, as well.
Etretat's stark beauty contrasts with its recent history, and there is still a WW II heavy concrete gun emplacement on the esplanade.
Beach and esplanade, gun emplacement to far left, and headland, with needle (aguiile) visible
To the right
Views from above, hiking up the trail from town
Aguille
Local boats
Crossing the Seine on the super-modern Pont Normandy, en route to Honfleur
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After a lifetime of mainly expressing myself with words, my postings here will mainly rely on images. They will speak for themselves to some extent, but I'll usually add a few comments of explanation. I've taken photographs for decades, since the 1950's, inspired in part by my father's photographic skill. Four years of photo assignments and quality darkroom time eventually gave way to decades of casual and family picture-taking. I re-immersed myself when I left film and turned to digital.