Theo Allofs – The Camargue, France I
May 12th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized, Western EuropeOther Languages:
Today is my 3rd field day in the Camargue.
A strong rainstorm with high winds coming from the west is giving me a moment to go inside so that I can edit my images from earlier, and write some notes.
The good thing about rainy days is that you can photograph all day long and are not limited to the early morning or late evening light.
The photography project in the Camargue is something totally new to me. Having photographed in wild places all over the globe (except for Europe), the biggest challenge for me in the Camargue is accepting the fences as part of the landscape. After initial frustration I decided not only to ignore the fences (without trespassing), but even to include them in my photography. After all, this is the civilized, over-populated Europe and not some barren desert in Australia, the inhospitable Arctic or a tropical rainforest.
And yet I am amazed how this refuge of birds has been able to survive over thousands of years amongst the ever-expanding farmlands and rice fields. On my first morning I was able to visit the flamingo breeding colony together with a scientist.
20.000 birds are cramped on a small shallow island in the middle of a lagoon. A blur of white and pink, body next to body using every square centimetre of this narrow strip of land… a nature spectacle easily comparable to the paradises of birds in the remote and wild places of our earth.
Theo Allofs / Wild Wonders of Europe
Please note that blogs reflect our photographers' opinions and not necessarily those of the directors of Wild Wonders of Europe.
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3 Responses to “Theo Allofs – The Camargue, France I”
By Bridget Wijnberg on May 12, 2009
oh my word! Stunning!! Breathtaking!! What a special special treat to finish my day. Flamingoes… in Europe! Wow!
By Charlotte Tanner on May 13, 2009
I rode there with Anna Widstrand, a beautiful, and magical place.
By Mike Muizebelt on May 13, 2009
Stunning first set of images, really brings back good memories from my visit last summer.