May 1st: the first day of the Month of Our Lady. I loaded the Canon AE1 Program with Fomapan 100 and drove to La Rabatelière to photograph the Sanctuaire de la Salette. What I found was a burned church, an axe-marked door, a miller’s millstone, and a hillside full of statues built in defiance of the Republic. The Vendée remembers.
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Ian’s contemplative journey through Nantes’ Saint-Pierre Cathedral, captured on Ilford HP5 Plus film with a Nikon FE. This black and white photography essay explores reclaiming sacred space from municipal spectacle, celebrating grain, silence, and winter light. A meditation on film photography as spiritual practice and architectural reverence in France’s historic cathedrals.
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A father reflects on one final family trip to Lourdes in What I Gave Them at the Grotto, a heartfelt essay about faith, fatherhood, and the quiet moments that shape a child’s soul. As his children grow older, he grapples with what it means to pass on belief—not through preaching, but through presence. Set against the sacred landscape of southern France, this personal narrative weaves Mass, memory, and a grainy film photograph into a meditation on legacy, letting go, and the imperfect love that lasts a lifetime.
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From Lourdes to the Pyrenees: cable cars, Lac de Gaube, family laughs, and film photography on the Nikon FE and Pentax ME Super in summer 2025.
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A family road trip to Lourdes in summer 2025 — film photography, the Pyrenees, faith, and laughter with the Nikon FE, ME Super, and Ilford HP5.
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Beer, family, and a spontaneous road trip to Lourdes — shooting film on the Nikon FE and Pentax ME Super with Ilford HP5 this summer 2025.
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There are places where the air feels different — where time slows and grace moves quietly among the crowds. Lourdes is one of those places. This is the story of my pilgrimage there with my son Killian, and the moment that changed us both — a quiet encounter, a listening heart, and a whisper from God.
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This article follows a deeply personal journey through the Pyrenees Mountains to the Pont d’Espagne — a place in France often mistaken for being in Spain. It’s not just a travelogue, but a reflection on fatherhood, healing, and connection. Along the way, there’s ice cream, photography, winding roads, and moments of quiet understanding between a father and son.
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Before his big move, Killian invites his dad on one final journey—a return to Lourdes. This warm and honest travel memoir explores father-son bonds, quiet faith, and letting go. Set against the landscapes of southwest France, it’s the first in a three-part series capturing a farewell, and a beginning.
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Can a sonnet written 400 years ago still speak to us today?
In this reflective piece, I explore Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 through the lens of photography, love, and memory — weaving personal experience with poetic interpretation. This isn’t just about words on a page; it’s about what lingers when light fades.
Discover the serene beauty of l’Abbaye de la Grainetière, a historic Benedictine monastery in the Vendée. This article explores its rich history, the simplicity of monastic life, and personal reflections on finding peace amidst modern complexities. Experience the tranquility of this spiritual haven through evocative photography captured on Ilford HP5+.
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In the digital realm, internet comment sections have become battlegrounds of raw emotion and discord, where differing viewpoints are met with hostility and close-mindedness. The prevalence of self-centeredness and intellectual dishonesty presents a challenge to meaningful dialogue. Embracing the Church’s teachings of humility and open-heartedness can lead to a digital space characterized by empathy, respect, and constructive exchanges.
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