Four decades behind the lens. Six years of sharing the journey.
Welcome. I’m Ian — photographer, horn player, and writer living in the Vendée, near the Loire-Atlantique border. This blog has been running since 2019 and shows no sign of stopping.
You’ll find black and white film work, travel essays, orchestra photography, philosophical digressions about why any of us bother pressing the shutter, and the occasional camera review written by someone with strong opinions and a perhaps unreasonable attachment to grain. No algorithms chose what appears here. No agency wrote it. Just forty years of looking, and six of writing it down.
Start anywhere. Stay as long as you like.
Latest from the Field
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China – Foshan to Shenzhen Day 1 of 4
Join me on a journey from Foshan to Shenzhen as I navigate street photography, local markets, and concert halls on an orchestra tour in China. From indulging in fresh berries to performing for enthusiastic audiences, this travelogue blends humour, cultural insights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life on the road. Read more
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China – YongZhou to Foshan
Explore the unique experience of traveling through China in “Yong Zhou to Foshan (Part 1).” From countryside vistas to street photography, uncover cultural insights and local flavors as Uncle Ian shares his adventure on Boxing Day. A mix of humor, travel, and food exploration awaits. Read more
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China – from Changsha to Yongzhou
Explore the journey from Changsha to Yongzhou during Christmas with an orchestra, filled with humor, cultural insights, and unforgettable moments. Discover the fun, challenges, and unique experiences of life on tour in China, from food adventures to concert hall highlights. A must-read for travel and music enthusiasts alike. Read more
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China: An Introduction from Nantes to Changsha
Embark on an immersive journey with the orchestra as we prepare for our upcoming concert tour in China. From rehearsals to cultural exploration, this piece captures the anticipation, the excitement, and the behind-the-scenes moments leading up to our first performance. Join us on this captivating adventure. Read more
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Conclusion: Reflecting on the Philosophy of Photography
Dive into the final chapter of A Photography Philosophy Series, where we explore the deeper meaning of photography. From capturing emotions to storytelling, identity, connection, and impermanence, this reflective journey goes beyond technique to uncover why we photograph and how it shapes our perspective. Join the conversation and share your story! Read more
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Happy New Year
My Dear Reader, I have neglected you for too long. For the last two weeks, I have been on tour in China of all places. Therefore, you have only been able to read the Photography Philosophy series, and whilst being in China, I may have taken the odd photo both in colour and black and… Read more
Featured Projects
- The UK Chronicles
Light, minimalism, and preparation.
Shot entirely on the Fujifilm X100F during a recent solo journey through Britain — a deliberate exercise in traveling light, seeing deeply, and preparing for the sensory overload of China. - The Film Archives
Memory in monochrome.
A vault unlocked: black and white film photographs from Nantes, Clisson, and beyond — captured long before this blog existed. Grain, patience, and timeless moments. - Photography Philosophy
Why do we do this?
Not a tutorial. Not a gear guide. A quiet exploration of purpose — the “why” behind the viewfinder. For those who photograph not to post, but to feel. - The Orchestra Visit to China
Culture, chaos, and concert halls.
A visual symphony from the road with the orchestra — temples, trains, backstage glances, and the electric silence before the first note.
About the Photographer
I am not an influencer. I am not a brand.
I am a photographer, ever so slightly stubborn, analogue at heart, digital when needed, and fiercely independent. I’ve been developing my own film since the 1980s. I built this blog in 2019, not for followers, but for focus.
I do not outsource my editing. I do not chase trends. I shoot what moves me, and I hope, sometimes, it moves you too.
“Commercial editing offers and unsolicited partnerships will not be published or replied to. This space is sacred; for art, not advertising.”
A Note from a Reader
“j’adore… il y a des jours avec, et les jours sans….”
— A kind visitor, September 2025
Stay in Touch
New work drops weekly — never spammy, always sincere.
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IJM Photography 
j’adore
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il y a des jours avec, et les jours sans….
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