More than two weeks ago I returned from a short family holiday to the Dordogne/France. It was nine years ago that I visited the Dordogne for the last time and I have to admit that I forgot how attractive this region is. On the way we visited a well-hidden 'old friend' in the forest....after twelve years I was happy that he was still there and that nothing has changed! For one week we rented a house with a terrain of 1,5 hectare, enough to search and find nice butterfly species; the two most common species were the Pale Clouded Yellow and Marsh Fritillary. Due to a cold spring the number of butterflies was low but fortunately the weather was good and day by day the number was increasing. A very nice surprise was the presence of the Provencal short-tailed Blue (Cupido alcetas). It won't be long before I will return to the Dordogne again!
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As I wrote in my former blog, it’s like paradise here.....the combination ‘laissez faire’ nature, the architectural style of houses in small villages, the good wine and cheese makes that it feels like home when I’m walking around.....the only exception is the French language. Yesterday I discovered I field full of Green-veined orchids (Anacamptis morio) and in-between a few of the little and rare Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys Sphegodes) were growing. Near the field full of orchids, in the woods I discovered something else.....something ‘urban’ from long time ago that needed to be explored...... As you can see, it’s a car but can you solve the puzzle and let me know which car brand it is? I give you a lead, it’s a French brand! For more 'urban' photography, please visit my chapter Rust In Peace.
In the Ardeche I found a lot of old rusty cars but some of them were still on the road. In the valley near the accommodation I photographed between flowers an old Hanomag and nearby four other wrecks were ‘rusting’. Two weeks later I looked into the valley and noticed that one wreck was gone.....strange, as for me the wreck looks as it could never drive again.....not in France as I learned....as long as it has four wheels it can be used! In the Ardeche I met Edith. Edith is living near Balazuc in the middle of nowhere and she showed me two old car wrecks. One was an old Simca and the other.....what was it? The wreck was almost invisible and totally embraced by Brambles. Normally I use my tripod but in this case it was impossible; too much Brambles. Very slowly, step by step, I came closer. Fortunately I started photographing the back of the wreck. When I was standing in front of the wreck, I was looking through my camera when I heard a strange noise.....one second later I felt pain and immediately I knew what I had heard......WASPS. They had a nest in the ground where I was standing. Without thinking I ran through the Brambles until I was far enough away. When I stopped I looked at the colour of my legs (I was wearing short trousers)......running through Brambles makes that wasps bites do not hurt and my plan to return after sunset vanished immediately! France is a country full of treasures. On the day of arrival I passed a barn and saw it’s door only for a fraction of a second but my intuition told me that it was hiding something. A few days later I returned to this place but as I couldn’t open the door or look through it, I held my camera up and made some autofocus-flash-photos. This car is not a wreck, it’s a beautiful old Citroen 2CV, one of the first ever made and I like the colour as it reminds of a movie with Louis de Funes and some Sisters..... More images are added: Portfolio -> Rust in Peace Ardeche part V will be added soon.
Canon 7D; tripod; remote release; 35-350mm, 1/30s at F8 and ISO100 I am very glad that I found this treasure! I like the weathered blue of the car in combination with the fresh green of the bush which is growing next and through the car. The car (actually a small truck) is a Hanomag AL 28 from the early sixties.
Of course this beauty will be added in my gallery ‘Rust in Peace’ (Portfolio -> Rust in Peace) although I’m not sure that this car will rust in peace; one day he will be back on the road I think.....Route 66 would be nice! |
Jibt dir dit Leben mal een Buff, denn weene keene Träne. Lach Dir'n Ast und setz Dir druff und baumle mit de Beene.
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