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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The UK Chronicles Part VI: Hepple to Otterburn
The trip to Otterburn stirred memories of the past, but the reality didn’t live up to expectations. The once magical mill had ceased production, and the area’s economic decline was evident. Disappointed by the lackluster offerings, the day took a turn when the idea of visiting Hadrian’s Wall brought renewed excitement. Read more
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The Opening of the Film Archives—Clisson, September 2016
In this latest film archives installment, we return to Clisson with the familiar Canon AE1 and HP5 Plus from Ilford. Clisson, a town renowned for its Italian-influenced architecture and market, offers picturesque options for exploration. The writer shares a departure from routine, finding serenity and contentment in the charming Quartier St Jacques. Read more
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The UK Chronicles, Part V: Rothbury to Hepple
The author describes a place called Hepple that brings them peace and joy. They reflect on revisiting the place with a different camera and the serenity it brings. Despite limitations, they find new perspectives and appreciate the beauty around them. The experience evokes a sense of gratitude and connection to nature. Read more
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The Opening of the Film Archives—Le Château des Ducs de Bretagne, August 2016
In the Film Archive of IJM Photography, the journey through Château des Ducs de Bretagne in Nantes with a Canon AE1 camera is a mesmerizing blend of history and photography. The vintage camera’s elegance and innovative lens beautifully capture the timeless moments within the ancient castle, creating a profound connection between the old and the… Read more
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The UK Chronicles, Part IV: Alnwick to Rothbury
The road from Alnwick to Rothbury offers stunning views of the Northumberland moors and valleys. A photography trip with the author’s son also involved savoring the British countryside. The journey included capturing morning light, enjoying an English bakery, and culminated in the decision to visit Otterburn for more photos and a potential adventure for another… Read more
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Nathalie
Yesterday, I lost one of my colleagues. Not “lost” in the usual sense—we knew exactly where she was. She was lying on the ground outside the workshop, her heart having simply stopped. In France, when something like this happens, we don’t call an ambulance. We call the fire brigade. One of the men at her… 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
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j’adore
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il y a des jours avec, et les jours sans….
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