Panorama Fail

On the east coast of Oleron the minor road that runs along the coast has been designated the “Route des Huîtres” and for good reason, all the way along the route are the colourful shacks and boats of the Oyster farming industry.

Oysters

On Oleron there is really only one game in town – Huitres (Oysters).

6K Barn Swallow

I was busy photographing the Oyster sheds at La Baudissier when I noticed a Barn Swallow shooting in and out of a gap in one of the sheds, presumably feeding some nestlings.  Up for a challenge I thought this might be a good opportunity to once again test out the 6K functionality of the G9.

Fort Boyard

Fort Boyard is a fort located between the Île-d’Aix and the Île d’Oléron in the Pertuis d’Antioche straits, on the west coast of France. Though a fort on Boyard bank was suggested as early as the 17th century, it was not until the 1800s under Napoleon Bonaparte that work began. Building started in 1801 and was completed in 1857.

Hip to be Square

One of my favourite functions on the Lumix G9, that comes as a consequence of having an electronic viewfinder, is the ability to see the results of different crops (picture modes) in camera or indeed filter effects such as monochrome.

N – E – S – O

Le Phare de Chassiron lies at the western tip of Ile d’Oleron facing out into the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic beyond.  Around the lighthouse the gardens have been laid out in the pattern of the cardinal points of a compass creating leading lines from the north, east, south and west or nord, est, sud and ouest in French.

At the Market

Anyone who has been to France knows that the French have an obsession with food, culturally it is a very important part of their lives.

Landscape or Skyscape

The rule of thirds, which is not really a rule, would have you put the horizon on a third.  But which third ?

More Cabanes

More colourful Cabanes – this time in Le Chateau d’Oleron.  A number of these old Oyster farming cabins have been converted into artists studios whilst others remain in their original use, all in all a rather odd mix – still they do make good photographic  subjects although enough is enough and other subjects await.

Oléron Odysey

Ile d’Oléron is the largest of France’s Atlantic islands.

Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente

Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente is one of the most picturesque villages in Roman Saintonge.  Climbing a rock buttress on the banks of the River Charante the village affords nice views and provides some good places to stand.

Saintes

Saintes an historic town in southwestern France, in the Charente-Maritime department. In Roman times, Saintes was known as Mediolanum Santonum, and during much of its history, the name of the city was spelled Xaintes.

Royan and The Coast of Beauty

A little mish mash today – all taken on a cycle ride along the “cote de beaute” between St-Palais-sur-Mer and Royan.

Charrelets – Belle Epoque Architecture – and that Catherdral again.

Wow !

The most striking building in the French coastal city of Royan is undoubtedly the Cathedral (église Notre-Dame) – it stands on the site of a former neo-gothic church that was destroyed in 1945 (as was much of Royan).  Designed by architects Guillaume Gillet and Marc Hébrard and built between 1955-58 entirely of concrete, it is considered one of the leaders of French contemporary architecture.

Lumix G9 – New Firmware 1.1

On 30th May Panasonic issued the first firmware update for the G9. It can be downloaded from Panasonic’s website here.