Michael from the travel and photography blog „Erkunde die Welt“ is once again inviting to his photo parade – now in its 13th year. This year’s theme: „The best photos of 2023“. I’m happy to take part with impressions from the south of France.
What is a “blog parade” or “photo parade” about? Well, a blogger calls for content to be published – within a specified period of time and on a specified topic. The contributions are collected and published, allowing new contacts to be made between the participants. The fact that networking increases the visibility of all participating blogs is a welcome side effect.
The rules for Michael’s Photo parade 2023 are simple: Create a nice post with your best photos from 2023 – there should be at least 6 photos – and have fun! The photos should be categorised as follows: Landscape, Delicious, Water, Blue, Cold and Black & White. There is a small additional task – Michael would also like to see photos from the categories Hot, View, Animal, Colourful, Heart and Modern.
I have chosen pictures from the south of France for my article. One more note: Click on the pictures to open a larger version in a new browser tab.
Landscape
of dreams
Lavender fields with bories – dry stone houses, yellow soil, blue skies, bony trees and the eternal song of cicadas above it all. This is Provence for us. Not far from Sault, on the way to the Col de l’Homme Mort, we find the perfect lavender field – unfortunately it is not yet in bloom at the end of May.
Typical Provence landscape
The love of the south, of colours and of one’s own culture is omnipresent in the south of France. This wonderful façade is located in the village of Lanuéjols – a bright spot even in bad weather.
Splendid colours in the south
One of the most fascinating things for us in the south of France are the many gorges, for example the Gorge de la Jonte in the Cevennes – the perfect place to watch vultures.
View into the distance – and depth
Delicious
food
Avignon, in the alleyways around the papal palace. Tourist traps and rip-offs on many corners, like completely overpriced white linen dresses for the standard photos in the lavender field. My eye lingers on this chopping board – it’s not needed for water, pastis or olives, but the thought of it whets the appetite.
Important ingredients of Provençal cuisine
Restaurant David in Roussillon shows us just how delicious Provence can taste. Over the course of a week, we savour all the dishes on the menu with a view of the magical ochre cliffs.
Food at its best
Water
in the South
There only seems to be enough water in Provence – as soon as you enter the hinterland, you find dried-up rivers and water tanks scattered all over the landscape.
The young man from Nice didn’t quite trust what was happening at the Fontaine Miroir d’Eau.
Cooling – for everyone?
I have no doubts myself and sit down in the spray of the Fontaine du Soleil with its famous Apollo statue not far away without a second thought. Refreshing!
A good mood in the spray
We always visit the gorges of the Jonte, the Tarn and the Ardeche when we are travelling in the Cévennes. I like not only to look at the rivers flowing slowly and quietly in summer, but also to feel them. However, summer doesn’t mean that the water is particularly warm …
Across the icy Tarn
Blue
by the coast
At the end of May, we are travelling from Mandelieu-La-Napoule to Saint-Raphaëlle. In previous years, we always travelled inland, but in 2023 the time, destination and weather were perfect for us to choose the route along the coast – and enjoy this magnificent view.
Côte d’Azur
Cold
in Cannes
Travel planning is not my strong point. However, if I had planned it, it probably wouldn’t have worked out. Unexpectedly, we find ourselves in the middle of the Cannes Film Festival. I wonder if the fine champagne is cold enough for the stars?
Champagne for the stars
Film Festival – THE show. If you want to be seen, you have to show yourself. But naked in the rain, in a corner on the pavement. That’s probably unsuccessful, but certainly cold …
Business can be cold …
Black and White
in Saint-Raphaël
Black and White: Harley-Davidson with special parking space
Most of the yachts on the Côte d’Azur are white, a few are grey, the super-expensive ones wear high-gloss black. In the harbour of Saint-Raphaël, I notice this special combination: a black Harley on a white yacht. I wonder how the motorbike gets on the road?
Photo Parade 2023:
Additional task
Hot
in Vaison-la-Romaine
As I get out of the pool in Vaison-la-Romaine, a huge insect buzzes past me and lands unerringly in a puddle I’ve left on the hot stones. I trust that the water is more interesting than me and pull out my smartphone:
Hornet with thirst
Outlook
in Avignon
Inside, the huge papal palace in Avignon is largely plain, empty and unadorned; there is not much left of the former splendour from the time of the antipopes. This does not detract from the magnificent view over Avignon when you approach one of the beautiful windows.
Papal view of Avignon
Animals
are watching
On the way towards Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, we visit the village of Boisson. We want to take a look at the church tower with the striking statue at the top. We are watched closely as we stroll through the shimmering alleyways.
An attentive observer
Colorful
on grey stone
Looking down from the Château d’eau du Peyrou in Montpellier, I notice a colourful spot on the stone slabs below me: I have to take a closer look.
Greetings from Africa
Hearth
is triumph
The remains of a party, perhaps even a wedding? Small hearts made of thin metal foil and paper, found in a hidden alleyway in Nice.
Almost stepped on
Modern ways
through the Middle Ages
The visit to the papal palace in Avignon had been on the agenda for a long time and was definitely impressive. Especially thanks to the modern concept of the guided tour using tablets and augmented reality. We don’t use them, but children in particular find it difficult to part with their digital devices …
Digitally through ancient walls
And finally:
my best photo 2023
When you think of Provence, many people think of endless, blooming and fragrant lavender fields. We did too, for a long time. In 2023, however, we find a huge field of poppies. My most beautiful photo was taken in 2023.
Colourful and magical Provence
About my pictures: I take pictures with whatever is available at the moment – smartphone, compact camera, action cam or with the big kit. I manage my photos with Adobe Lightroom, and I also use it for most of my image editing. PhotoShop is now only used for very special shots.
And now – click over to the photo parade of „Erkunde die Welt“ – it’s worth it!
Perfectly matching:
Stelvio – Count from 1 to 10!
Have fun looking at them!
The “Light painter” Uli Biggemann: a portrait
Tried it out: Professional Line photo book from Saal Digital
