IJM Photography — Blog & Projects

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

  • Photography Philosophy – Part VII – The Philosophy of Impermanence

    Photography Philosophy – Part VII – The Philosophy of Impermanence

    Explore the philosophy of impermanence in photography and how fleeting moments, mistakes, and spontaneity shape powerful images. Discover how embracing imperfection and accepting the passage of time can lead to greater creativity and deeper connections with your subjects. A journey through the essence of photography and its evolving process. Read more

  • Photography Philosophy – Part VI – Connection Through Photography

    Photography Philosophy – Part VI – Connection Through Photography

    In Photography Philosophy – Part VI – Connection Through Photography, we delve into the social side of photography, exploring how the craft builds relationships with fellow photographers, subjects, and strangers. From bonding over vintage cameras to overcoming introversion, this article celebrates photography’s power to connect us all. Read more

  • The Opening of the Film Archives – April 2017 On the Border

    Discover the magic of capturing everyday moments in this heartfelt journey through the archives with the Canon AE1. Join me and my daughter Kate on a nostalgic walk through the vines, exploring how familiar scenes transform into timeless treasures through photography. Reflect on seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. Read more

  • Photography Philosophy – Part V – Identity and Self-Expression

    Photography Philosophy – Part V – Identity and Self-Expression

    Explore the profound connection between photography and self-expression in this reflective piece. From personal growth to cultural influences, discover how photography captures identity, shapes perspective, and evolves over time. Join the journey of capturing moments that speak to who we are and who we’re becoming through the lens. Read more

  • The Opening of the Film Archives – March 2017 with Kate in the Vines

    The Opening of the Film Archives – March 2017 with Kate in the Vines

    Discover the magic of capturing everyday moments in this heartfelt journey through the archives with the Canon AE1. Join me and my daughter Kate on a nostalgic walk through the vines, exploring how familiar scenes transform into timeless treasures through photography. Reflect on seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. Read more

  • Photography Philosophy Part IV – The Art of Storytelling in Photography

    Photography Philosophy Part IV – The Art of Storytelling in Photography

    Explore the art of storytelling in photography with insights on crafting narratives through images. This article delves into techniques for capturing daily moments and the significance of single photographs, guiding photographers to create meaningful stories that resonate with viewers. Discover how to transform your photography into a powerful narrative tool. Read more

Featured Projects

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

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