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

  • The UK Chronicles: A Black and White Footnote

    The UK Chronicles: A Black and White Footnote

    Discover the transformative power of black and white photography in this “The UK Chronicles” footnote. Learn how to convert color images to black and white using Adobe Lightroom and techniques to preserve depth and emotion. Explore the unique aesthetic and emotional impact of monochrome photography, showcasing stunning UK landscapes and capturing the essence of travel… Read more

  • The Opening of the Film Archives: An October Saturday in Town with Killian, 2016

    The Opening of the Film Archives: An October Saturday in Town with Killian, 2016

    Discover black-and-white street photography from October 2016 in Nantes, featuring the Praktica MTL3 and HP5 Plus film. This article highlights ‘Ian and Killian days,’ capturing intimate father-son moments and the raw texture of film. Explore the charm of analogue photography and the beauty of imperfections. Read more

  • The UK Chronicles Part VIII: From Chesters, to Rothbury, to Lesbury

    The UK Chronicles Part VIII: From Chesters, to Rothbury, to Lesbury

    The UK Chronicles series comes to an end with a journey through rural Northumberland. The day involves a leisurely drive, a visit to Rothbury, and an unexpected incident at Edlingham church. Despite the mishap, the day ends peacefully, leaving the narrator feeling content and at peace. Read more

  • The Opening of the Film Archives: On va Marcher sur la Lune, Kate

    The Opening of the Film Archives: On va Marcher sur la Lune, Kate

    Explore “On va Marcher sur la Lune – Kate,” featuring my daughter’s candid photos from Nantes. These raw, delicate images offer a unique glimpse into her world, capturing the nostalgic journey of childhood photography. Read more

  • The UK Chronicles Part VII: Chesters Roman Fort

    The UK Chronicles Part VII: Chesters Roman Fort

    The Chesters Roman Fort, situated at the edge of the Roman Empire, is a testament to ancient engineering and lifestyle. Hadrian’s Wall, built to fend off the Picts and Scots, remains an impressive feat. Despite initial skepticism, a visit unveils advanced Roman amenities and a thriving community. The visit ends with a well-deserved tea and… Read more

  • The Opening of the Film Archives: On va Marcher sur la Lune

    The Opening of the Film Archives: On va Marcher sur la Lune

    Explore On va Marcher sur la Lune, a nostalgic journey through October 2016, where vintage cameras and cherished family moments meet. Relive a day spent with a Canon AE-1 and Olympus Trip 35, capturing timeless memories near Nantes’ iconic Grue Titan and Elephant. A sentimental adventure in photography and urban renewal. 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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