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

  • Zooming In on Flexibility Part II

    Zooming In on Flexibility Part II

    The article outlined personal experiences with different Canon lenses. The EF 16-35mm f/4 L IS USM provided a wide angle for landscapes and urban settings. The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM proved versatile for events and filming. The EF 70-300mm f/4L IS USM, though older, served well for wildlife and landscape photography. It emphasized the… Read more

  • Zooming In on Flexibility Part I

    Zooming In on Flexibility Part I

    The article discusses the benefits and drawbacks of zoom lenses in photography. It emphasizes the versatility of zoom lenses, allowing for quick adaptation to various situations despite some trade-offs in image quality. The author outlines three types of zooms: wide angle, general, and telephoto, each suited to different applications. The article concludes by highlighting the… Read more

  • Prime Lenses: Elevating Your Photography Beyond the Basics – Part II

    Prime Lenses: Elevating Your Photography Beyond the Basics – Part II

    The article explores the author’s experience with prime lenses, including the 50mm f1.8, Helios 44-2 58mm f2.0, Canon 85mm f1.8, and Helios 135mm f2.0. These lenses offer natural perspectives, creamy bokeh, and great shooting experiences for both digital and film photography. Primes are praised for their sharpness, large apertures, and ability to enhance the creative… Read more

  • Prime Lenses: Elevating Your Photography Beyond the Basics – Part I

    Prime Lenses: Elevating Your Photography Beyond the Basics – Part I

    This article is a personal exploration of prime lenses, discussing the author’s experience with specific lenses. The fisheye lens provides unique distortion effects at an affordable price. The 24mm lens captures wide scenes with minimal distortion, while the 28mm lens offers a wider angle for street photography. The 35mm lens is praised for street and… Read more

  • Prime vs Zoom Lenses: Choosing the Right Lens for Your Photography

    Prime vs Zoom Lenses: Choosing the Right Lens for Your Photography

    In this article, the author shares insights on prime and zoom lenses, emphasizing their unique advantages. Prime lenses excel in image quality and creativity, while zoom lenses offer convenience and versatility. Ultimately, choosing the right lens depends on personal needs, budget, and the desired photography style, encouraging readers to explore their passion fully. Read more

  • The Photographer Behind the Lens

    The Photographer Behind the Lens

    Embarking on a photography outing requires careful planning, from selecting the right gear and considering weather and mental well-being to packing essentials and mapping out the journey. The balance between personal passion and professional commitment is crucial. Each outing presents an opportunity for creative exploration, adding depth to the photographer’s journey. 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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