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| photo © patrice dougé All rights reserved |
What an exchange—with nature, children and a horse. I was out there for 5 days, about 6 hrs daily observing, walking around throughout the area called Fort Jacques up in Fermathe, and staying very alert. The Fort, which was built as a defensive system to prevent the return of the French after the revolution, wasn't a source of inspiration. I wanted to make some unique images but I didn't have anything specific in mind. The surrounding pine trees and wooden picnic tables by the Fort had potentials, it's a great locale and not too crowded during the week.
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| photo © patrice dougé All rights reserved |
Regardless of how visually boring a place maybe, there are always opportunities to create beautiful imagery. Patience is a virtue indeed, the ability to wait for an ordinary scene to unfold into something unexpected. Photographing Fort Jacques is part of a bigger project for a book. A book that will put emphasis on beauty, "intimate" places and people interacting.
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| photo © patrice dougé All rights reserved |
The challenge is to capture the essence of several destinations around Kenscoff and the mood that goes with it and be fully prepared when the moment comes. In so many ways, I am at the mercy of the environment where this particular project will be done. Fort Jacques was a bit difficult, careful observation was essential. I happen to be on the phone with a very good friend while on location and she just said flat out "there's nothing there to photograph". Indeed I felt that way on the first day of the shoot and completely changed my frame of mind very fast—the mundane and boring subjects have incredible beauty hidden, you just have to dig, wait, and have a keen eye to capture it.