Photographer Journal: 2016

Monday, December 12, 2016

24 hours in Gonaives

Most of the writing orientation participants were still waiting by the time we reached College Elim of Gonaives. We left Thomassin at about 6:45am, an hour and a half behind schedule and because it was Saturday morning there wasn't the usual traffic heading down to Petion Ville. We usually have (home made) breakfast, courtesy of my very good friend JE Milcé who is an excellent chef and Gouter Aux Voyages writer—Once you leave Port-Au-Prince and get on the Rte National heading North, there isn't any place on the road to grab something to eat. By the time we reached Cote Des Arcadins we were all starving but fortunately, we weren't too far from St Marc where we made a stop at a very good friend restaurant and about an hour later we got back on the road heading toward Gonaives.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Yanvalou Restaurant


photo © patrice dougé All rights reserved

"A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. It should smile at you and create fantasy" Juan Montoya -

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Jean Sambour new restaurant - Le Vert d’Or


photo © patrice dougé All rights reserved

Following his basic studies in Ecuador, he enrolled at the well- known institute of graduate studies at Glion, which since 1962, offers two campuses in French speaking Switzerland - including the site of the former Bellevue Hotel - and in London a hotel management program at a university level. After a professional getaway in Mexico on behalf of a big hotel, Mr Sambour packed his bags and started to plan his return. Not in Ecuador, but in Haiti, his father's birthplace. His late father who carries the same name as Jean Sambour is well known in Haiti and particularly in Petion Ville and Kenscoff, as a brilliant architect, and above all, as the owner of the now former Infinite restaurant, a very trendy bar, a place which held special events in the fog, in the mountains of kenscoff. - jean Euphele Milcé

Friday, October 28, 2016

Bananier, secluded beach, accessible by sea


photo © patrice dougé All rights reserved

It was past noon when the captain, glad for the first sunbeams of the day, came to help us put on our life jackets. We faced very soft waves for a quarter of an hour before setting foot on land and discover paradise as presented in movies and in the most eye-catching books. Bananier, a secluded beach accessible by sea, is an extravagance of fine sand placed in a lush vegetation. There's a village around and children go to school by boat and they haven't learned how to eat trees. They told us a bunch of stories about the mistresses of the water, and they also said they are protected from everything except from hunger and storms. Jean Euphele Milcé - Complete article in french can be read Here.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

The calm after the storm

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Haiti, land of ... I'll leave it blank -

We got a flat tire on the way back from Sceau D'eau and now come to think of it, the delay on our trip back coincided with a wonderful moment that was about to unfold. The rain had just started to tapper off when we began to drive up a steep road on one of the Rte National heading back to Port-Au-Prince. Some guy riding on a motorcycle in the opposite direction shouted at us "kaoutchou nou plat" you guys got a flat tire - so we pulled over on the side of the road, got out of the SUV and the right tire in the back was completely flat. I also noticed we were parked facing a beautiful mountain, night was falling, the clouds were rolling by and the sun was slowly sinking below the mountain - I was witnessing an evening of splendor that was mine to immortalize.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

La consolation de Puits-Blain

Every September the gastronomy festival < Goût et Saveurs lakay > taste and local flavor - is becoming a key event for food lovers. For one week the tables are set and well arranged in several venues in Petion Ville, well known for the quality and diversity of its restaurants. Jean Euphele Milcé - Complete article in french can be read Here. To read past stories click on Gouter Aux Voyages Facebook page

Friday, August 26, 2016

The other Jacmel - Gouter Aux Voyages

"Looks like everything is beautiful in Jacmel, on a Sunday morning, the sound of Chinese motorcycle wound closed, breaking the sudden intensity of customary agitation days of bésé levé, faithful indicators of small hassle and small joys of daily life" Jean Euphele Milcé - Complete article can be read here

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Taino Beach, Grand Goave, Haiti - Gouter Aux Voyages

For anyone staying in Grand Goave, it is inconceivable not to enjoy the charms of the area and its kilometers of white sand beach. At Taino beach, the scenery is even more impressive. Dolcius Verlo, a young man who basically lives on the beach, prepared bread fruit for lunch which he cooked over a fire from twigs he gathered nearby. Click on the link to read Jean Euphele's story published on our Facebook page

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Beach front, Grand Goave, Haiti

Like many cities southwest of Port-Au-Prince, Grand Goave is close to the sea and it is only located about 40kms from the Capital.The town is one of the oldest cities of the country, and was named Goâve by the Ameridians. Traveling south, which is my favorite part of the island, offer a much more beautiful scenery. Once you leave leogane behind, such a more enjoyable experience from a photographer's point of view.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

48 hrs in Saint-Marc - Shooting personal work in between assignments

One of the assignments this past weekend was to photograph the yearly Libéré La parole event organized by Pen Haiti which was held in Saint- Marc. Commonly called the City of Nissage Saget, it's undoubtedly one of the provinces throughout Haiti famous for its nightlife entertainment.

Friday, July 15, 2016

There's always something, waiting to be photographed

Thursday, June 30, 2016

The Prince of Haitian Roots Music

Erol Josué was born into the Vodou tradition and initiated at 17 years of age as a Houngan (Vodou priest). His natural talents and abilities as a singer and dancer were first realized within the religion hence the Vodou repertory that he draws a lot of his inspiration. Erol is also a prolific song writer among other things. He lived in Paris for thirteen years where he established Compagnie Shango, which had thirteen singers and dancers. Excerpt from the rockpaperscissors Archive - In addition to photographing Erol unforgettable performance at Dakoustik a couple of weeks ago, this past weekend Gouter Aux Voyages weekly story focused on manjé lwa, manjé kouzen. Click on the link to read Jean Euphel Milcé's story

Monday, June 27, 2016

Kenscoff in all its glory

Once you connect to this majestic place, you will be guided where the energy is strongest and it will show you what it wants to be shown.

Friday, June 24, 2016

I am inspired, again

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Amazing slam poet Beo Monteau and talented singer Jehyna Sahyier enjoy a quiet moment

"I always loved to read to the point I even started writing poems when I was a teenager" Beo Monteau who joined the collective Feu vert in 2007 was a guest a couple of weeks ago on the Television show Dakoustik and performed several of his well known intricate poems detailing life in Haiti together with singer Jehyna Sahyier.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Hide out in Gonaives, Hotel Room number four

Je te cherche - Je te cherche toi qui m'échappe encore sans que jamais tu n'es été mien Je te cherche dans les regards des inconnus qui me sourient, dans les regards durs de mépris Et même dans les yeux des enfants j'essaie de trouver ton reflet, un signe de toi Une ombre visiteuse dont la durée est sans importance J'essaie de me faire une idée de ton innocence je te cherche dans les bois je te cherche dans ma solitude, dans ma folie Avec mes peines, avec mes douleurs et cette passion qui s'incruste en moi Avec mes deboires, avec mes silences et mes mots, Je te cherche parce que c'est tout que j'ai de grand qui me reste... un peu de rien, et toute ma folie. Nice Eliazar

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

I know where this road leads ...

Viens on y va Danser notre petite folie sous la pluie Suis-moi Mes traces sont la route peu fréquentée Mais celle qu'on aimerait tous emprunter ne regarde pas ailleurs Allons nous d'ici On va s'enivrer d'amour On va fermer les yeux sur ce monde Allons nous en avant que tout s'effondre Tu sais, on dit que c'est fragile ce qui nous arrive... #ForYou - Nice Eliazar

Friday, June 10, 2016

Tribute to our lives...

" Un Jour je m'en irai. Je m'en irai vers le chemin du vent. je m'en irai vers des terres de feuilles et d'eau. Douces ou salées, peu importe puisqu'elles ne couleront point mes souvenirs. Mais, mes blessures seront-elles des cueillettes d'amandes qui cachent des rêves emportés sur les bords d'un voilier errant sur un sable sauvage? D'harmonie et de feu, J'élèverai les mains vides vers le destin,vers des cieux ensoleillés. Et puis tout bas, peut-être que ce serait dans mon linceul, mais tout bas dans une de ces causeries avec la mort, je dirai à mon âme: je suis lá maintenant. Mes voix intérieures seront une petite colline prés d'un désert. Et il y aura des nuages... des nuages! " Nice Eliazar

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Saut-D'Eau, Ville Bonheur

I didn't know what I was going to find in Saut-D'Eau that hasn't already been shown. This very popular place attracts thousands of Haitian visitors yearly who come on a religious pilgrimage, and over the years has been widely photographed by both local and foreign photographers. On the way up to the water fall, we drove past the woman I photographed bathing in the water. When I saw her again, about an hour later, she was climbing to the fall holding a wooden dish of leaves and flowers. There was something about her composure, definitely not a first-timer, she gracefully and with a lot of ease carefully walked on the wet rocks to get closer to the water. She took off her bra and let the water of the fall wash over her body, then turned and before covering herself she gestured toward another pilgrim in the water. Whatever her favors from the Virgin Mary or Ezulie, I hope they were granted. [ Click on the link to read Jean Euphele Milcé s Gouter Aux Voyages article ]

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Carrefour, this agglomération and its two faces - Gouter Aux Voyages

To get to Thor 65, we entered the "heart" of Carrefour by driving on the main road. Traffic was very slow because of potholes, too many cars, tataps and people driving erratically. We sort of envy motorcycles backfiring on the worndown road passing smoothly between vehicles, pedestrians and some animals in the wild. (translated from Jean Euphle Milcé's article)

Monday, May 23, 2016

Empty open market in Vallue, outside of Petit Goave

Tuesdays is when farmers from the area come to the market to sell their products. Abner Septembre, the owner of Hotel Villa Ban-Yen, took us on a tour of the area this past Sunday and the market was completely deserted.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Another road, a new place, the journey continues...

Amazing what one can find without traveling too far. I always head out knowing things will unfold and I will be guided to places where there are plenty of interesting and great photo-opportunities, right in my backyard— Obléon is just a mile from kenscoff, beside being a perfect location to escape the monotony of everyday life—it's where we needed to be for the assignment. The rain had finally tapered off, the sun peeked through the dark clouds just long enough to bring a soft golden light illuminating the Auberge, scheduled to be the next Goûter Aux Voyages story. The fog moved in and inundated the landscape, by the time we drove out on the cobblestone driveway. Even the most unanticipated subject can become very captivating in the mist and create a thought-provoking image.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Simplicity and Innocence ...

"Une sensation de bien-être inattendue s'imprègne dans la douce lumière du soleil mourant. À l'ombre du rouge vif des pétales, je suis éblouie par la grace de l'ambiance... Comment as-tu su que cette photo m'aurait donné l'envie de me perdre dans une åme en flamme, comme la mienne, qui partage mon existence? Souvent, c'est dans la simplicité que la nature harmonise bien des choses." Nice Eliazar

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Romel and Manouchka tied the knot, personal friends of mine

Just a few selected photographs from the wedding celebration held at the newlyweds home. A very small ceremony attended by a few close friends of the now Mr and Mrs Célestin.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Collaborating with a writer, she is such a beautiful soul...

"Des yeux écarquillés libèrerent mes pensées et me donnent souvent des désirs incontrôlables. Une chambre impéccablement tenue avec un lit à couverture blanche... J'imagine la rencontre de nos bouches avides qui s'entrelacent, des murmures rauques scellent une promesse de rage contenue avec des doigts qui frôlent et éveillent nos sensibilités." Nice Eliazar

Thursday, April 28, 2016

—Léogane de toutes les promesses— Latest story from Gouter Aux Voyages


photo © patrice dougé All rights reserved

Just a short, colorful ride of about an hour and half from Port-Au-Prince and we were on the outskirts of Léogane. We didn't drive into the city—half a mile past the Momance river bridge, we took a left turn in front of a billboard for a nightclub as stated in the directions we had printed on our schedule. We rolled down the car windows once we began riding on a narrow dirt road off the highway, and the rain from the night before gave off that fresh Earthy smell and a faint odor of sugarcane filled the car as we drove further inland. George Valmé, whom I have been friends with on social media for a number of years, was our first assignment of the day. Since he is very well known in the area, finding his location in Haut Macombe wasn't too hard. In spite of the heat and humidity for this time of the year it was awesome to be in the countryside again. The following are excerpts from the article written by Jean Euphele Milcé : ''Combien de fois avons-nous tenté la traversée de Leogane, porte d’entrée du Grand Sud, sans oser un arrêt, un détour pour emprunter une de ses dizaines de culs-de-sac qui, en général, se meurent dans un lakou , dans une guildive ou dans un champ infini de canne?— Le restaurant d’Au Bon Café n’a qu’une table longue d’une vingtaine de couverts dans une salle ouverte sur la cuisine. La présence de Miguerline, Wilna et Lovely tantôt cuisinières tantôt serveuses relève de ces petits détails qui ne peuvent que renforcer l’originalité de l’expérience.''

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Little girl in the river

When I saw this little girl playing in the water, it was already late, the sun had already gone down, I was leaving— After an hour or so of walking up and down on loose rocks by the side of the river there wasn't much going on that inspired me. People were washing their clothes, some came with their motorcycles to wash off the dirt—most objected when I attempted to make photos. Then a sweet little voice behind me said ; Ou pap pran foto'm - you're not going to take my picture? She was determined to be photographed and I was desperate to go home with a good image, just one. It was very easy to photograph her, the setting was perfect and she basically did her own posing, I just made sure there weren't anything distracting in the background—and just a few frames, I selected the one above.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Woman wearing a red tshirt, carrying a red pocketbook and her goats

You know it's Friday when you hear the continuing bleat of goats in Thomassin, and I imagine elsewhere since Saturday is market day—varies depending on the location. Up in Fermathe it's usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The lady with the red tshirt said she had just purchased a bunch of goats in Kenscoff and was taking them home. Quite a scene when she got off the pickup truck with her newly purchased goats, they were running all over the place. She managed to get them all together with the help of some passersby.

Monday, April 18, 2016

At 4,825 feet above sea level, Furcy is unforgettable...

It took me a few days to select the photograph above for this post, the other images I shot to illustrate the story, Le restaurant dans les arbres, were priority and had to be filed the following day. I had to go back to that particular image several times, so I could edit and designed it a way that reflected the unexpected exchange with nature that forced me to wait around at this particular spot—which untainted energy triggered a tremendous feeling of well being. All five of us, the Gouter Aux Voyages crew, were following down a narrow steep path, Bob Siffal, a native of the region, assigned to take us to 3 different locations around Furcy. The cascade we were headed to was the last place scheduled to explore. I could hear the cascade falling as we were getting closer, but I instinctively sensed what I needed to capture wasn't there—so I quit hiking and stayed behind. At 1,600 feet in altitude, in a special place like Haiti, up in the mountains of Furcy, the energy switch once you get there is quite remarkable. From where I was standing, right below, about 15 feet down the slope, there is a very narrow trail that also leads to the water fall. The two boys carrying empty gallons, on their way to fetch water, emerged from a nearby hill half hour later and walked right inside the frame.