Avignon

Avignon, 2014.

I prefer colour, but this walled town just seemed to look better in black and white for the contrast. While I used the same lens throughout (aside from the last shot which was taken with an iPhone 5s), the styles aren't very consistent. On the other hand, I was on vacation and was taking photographs for pleasure, and not for consistency.

There's something about the textures of the cobblestones and the masonry with the wooden shutters and styles of doors that you simply don't get in Australia. Even the security grills have character. While this scene isn't full of life, it's extremely evocative to me.

I simply didn't do any justice to this bike. A shot from a front angle might have been better, but the background didn't suit. This definitely would have benefited from multiple shots at different angles. The bush in the corner just spoils the contrast, and I'm sure there could have been a better angle than this one. Shooting low is a bit of a problem for me though, as I have rubbish knees. There are so many low angled shots I've missed because of it.

Tall buildings in narrow spaces. And the contrasting textures created by the older, and more worn building to the left, against the newer (restored?) one to the right.

This was a lucky one shot. And why wouldn't you drive this to town instead of a car while dressed in a suit? Are there better angles? I don't know. But he hopped right out and went into a shop and there wouldn't have been a chance to find out.

Silhouettes, shadows and symmetry. And views out of a window. Bit blown out at the top right, but still good.

I wish this was sharper or had higher contrast, but I'm not sure I could have done much more with it. This was in the Palais des Papes and just an unexpected thing to see. Not as though it was a free-to-access public space. Something more interesting or crowded happening to the left would have balanced it out a bit better, but the massive Chinese and Indian tour groups had already passed, so what can you do.

It's a bit bare, but I like the contrast in this photo. It's so clean and looks kind of vintage, and not just because it's in black and white. Like it could have come out of my Holga. That it came out of my iPhone surprised me somewhat.