Capturing Serenity: Street Photography in a Quiet French Coastal Village
Street photography is often associated with the energy of bustling cities, but what happens when you take your camera to a quiet coastal village? In this blog, I explore the unique challenges and rewards of shooting in a slower, more secluded environment. From capturing local life to finding compelling compositions, this was a test of patience and observation. Watch the full video to see how I approached storytelling in this peaceful setting!
If you enjoy reading about my experience capturing the charm of this quiet French coastal village, you won’t want to miss the full video! In this episode of How I See It, I take you behind the scenes as I navigate the unique challenges of street photography in a slower, more secluded setting. Watch the video [here] and see how I approached composition, light, and storytelling in this picturesque location. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Recently, I ventured into one of these serene coastal villages to challenge myself and my street photography skills. Here's what I learned about the unique beauty and challenges of shooting in such a tranquil setting.
Blending In
In a small village, you’ll often stand out as an outsider. Your presence might make people more conscious of being photographed, which can disrupt the authenticity you’re trying to capture.
Techniques for Success
Use Light to Your Advantage
Coastal villages are often blessed with stunning natural light. Early mornings and late afternoons can provide dramatic shadows, golden hues, and reflections in the water. Let the light guide your compositions.Slow Down and Observe
Without the chaos of a city, you have more time to explore and immerse yourself in the environment. Pay attention to textures—the weathered wood of fishing boats, the rough stone walls, or the smoothness of seashells on the shore.Engage with Locals
A small village offers the unique opportunity to connect with residents. Striking up a conversation might lead to discovering hidden spots or gaining permission to photograph someone in their everyday environment.
The Challenges of Quiet Streets
Street photography is often associated with bustling urban environments—crowded markets, busy streets, and the constant ebb and flow of humanity. But when you step into a quiet French seaside village, the rules of the game change. The rhythm slows, the streets empty, and you’re left with a different kind of canvas.
Fewer Subjects, Less Action
In cities, you can rely on the natural movement of people to create dynamic compositions. In a quiet village, finding interesting subjects requires more patience. People are fewer, and their movements are often slower and more deliberate.
Stillness vs. Storytelling
Capturing a story in a setting where everything feels still is a challenge. You’ll need to focus on subtler narratives—the way a fishing net is coiled, the way light hits an old wooden door, or the interplay of shadows on cobblestones.
Finding Stories in Stillness
What I found most rewarding about shooting in a quiet French seaside village was the need to adapt my vision. Instead of chasing movement, I sought out tranquillity. I looked for visual poems in the way the village interacted with its surroundings: the sea, the sky, and the wind.
One of my favourite images from the trip was of an elderly man slowly pedalling on the hard sand of the deserted beach, the ocean as his backdrop, as he went seeking mussels. His posture, combined with the empty horizon, spoke volumes about the simplicity and depth of life in such a place.
Final Thoughts
Street photography in a quiet coastal village is a lesson in mindfulness. It pushes you to appreciate stillness and find beauty in what might initially seem uneventful. It’s a reminder that every place has its stories; you just need to listen closely and look deeply to uncover them.
Next time you’re in a place where the streets seem silent, don’t be discouraged.
Embrace the quiet, and you might just capture something extraordinary.
How I See It - Black and White Street Photography
My new YouTube video How I See It - Black and White Street Photography is out now.
Just a short note to say that my second video is now up on my YouTube channel.
It’s about five black and white images made in the last year - the story behind the images, the reason for processing in black and white.
Do you go out to shoot in black and white? What makes black and white so special?
And if there’s anything you’d like to see featured on this new channel I’d love to know.
Just comment below.
How I see it - a YouTube video channel
Launching my Street Photography Channel - “How I See It.”
Future plans and how you can help.
A couple of days ago I published my first YouTube video. My hope is to create videos that I would like to watch – just as photography allows me to capture the pictures I want to see.
If these videos resonate with anyone else then that would be incredible. I don’t claim to know it all, or even to have any answers. I am not an expert. I’m an amateur photographer taking pictures with a passion and I’m learning all the time.
How I See It - launching my new street photography video channel
In fact, launching the channel has taught me a lot in a short amount of time. I'm happy to share my opinions and insights, and, if that’s Teaching then I’m fine with that. After all, teaching has been my profession. I know that teaching something is the best way to learn it effectively. I've gained a lot of knowledge from making my first video and hope it will be helpful to others too.
I’ve called this Channel “How I see it.” It is precisely that – how I see things. I'm not claiming any universal truths or expertise other than the experience I've gained from ten years of street photography. I'll undoubtedly make mistakes along the way, but that's how we learn.
In that spirit, I hope that those who follow along will offer their thoughts and comments as we go. If you want to point out diversions, shortcuts or wrong turns then we can all learn together. And if you have ideas for future episodes please feel free to share them by dropping me a line or leaving a comment below each video.