David Giral Photography Blog | France
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Explore France

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Exploring Catalunya: A Morning Walk in The Old Village of Dorres in Cerdanya

This specific post has a particular meaning to me because Dorres is the village I spent most of my holidays when I was a young kid and teenager. It's also where my family has been living for quite a long time after fleeing Spanish Catalunya in the 1930s. Established at the end of the 9th century, this lovely village is located in French Catalunya (Pyrenees Orientales). With an average elevation of 1450m (4760Ft), Dorres is usually nicknamed the "Balcony of Cerdanya", as it's exposed to the...

Exploring Catalunya: Portrait of a Potter in Villefranche-De-Conflent

Following this post covering my visit to Villefranche-de-Conflent, I wanted to share with you a few more photos from "La Poterie De La Citadelle". I'm always curious to know how things are made so when the owner, Pierre Saudin, gave me access to his workshop for a few minutes while he was working, I was thrilled to be able to document his process! I really liked the mood of the workshop and immediately found interesting details to photograph. As illustrated below by his son, on the first step,...

Exploring Catalunya: A day in Villefranche-De-Conflent – UNESCO World Heritage Site

Having spent most of my holidays in Catalunya when I was younger and with family living in the region, I was really looking forward to re-visiting  a few interesting locations during my stay there. I've always been fascinated by medieval architecture and old villages. Before leaving Montreal, I decided to contact the local tourism board of Villefranche-De-Conflent and inquire about things, places and people I should photograph during my time there. Villefranche is unlike any other towns of the area. Originally founded in the 1092, it was...

Exploring Catalunya – A short Pyrenean Hike in Enveitg, Cerdanya

As a travel photographer, a trip to France is the perfect excuse for some personal work. So on the last of my trip before leaving The Pyrenees, when my family suggested we go for a quick hike, I was more than happy to bring my camera along with me. Located in Cerdanya, a region of Pyrenees Orientales with a base elevation of 1.100m (3.600Ft), the hike we did was 8km+ long with an altitude starting at 1600m (5250Ft) and finishing at 2155m (7070Ft) Before leaving, I had...

Spectacular landscapes of Martinique Island

There is nothing like escaping the cold weather in Montreal in Winter and head off to the south. When I received the invitation to join a press trip in Martinique, it was the perfect opportunity to discover one of the two french islands of the Caribbean sea. There is nothing like a road trip to discover a country and this one was promising to be exciting. So, sit down and relax and enjoy those beautiful landscapes . Saint Pierre Located on the northern part of the Island, the...

Weekly Facebook Cover Photo: Beautiful Sunset on La Seine, Paris

This week's facebook cover photo needs no introduction, connoisseurs will recognize at the first glance Paris, the city of light and capital of France. This image  features a magnificent sunset over La Seine, the quai Saint Michel on the left side of the frame and the Palais de Justice on the right side. This specific picture was taken from Pont au double just a couple of blocks west of Notre Dame de Paris, at sunset using a D200 with a Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6. This particular picture is a blend...

Weekly Facebook Cover Photo: Blue Hour on Mont Boron Skyline, Nice, France

For this week's facebook cover photo, we are travelling all the way to south of France, in the French Riviera to one of the sunniest cities of Europe, Nice. Nice is the fifth largest city of France and became part of the country definitively only in 1860. It was known as Nicaea oppidum as early as the first century and is believed to be one of the earliest settlements of Europe. This specific picture was taken from quai Rauba-Capeu, at the blue hour 30min after sunset using a D700 with...

Weekly Facebook Cover Photo: Tour EDF, La Défense, Paris

So for this week's facebook cover picture we're going directly west of Paris at La Defense financial district in Puteaux. Built in 2001 by architects Pei Cobb Freed & Partners,Roger Saubot and Jean Rouit, EDF building iconic skyscraper of 24 stories one of the highest of La Defense at  a 165m high. To capture this scene, A Nikon D700 was used along with a Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 G IF-ED VR at 70mm.Regular curves and levels adjustments were performed in Adobe Photoshop CS5. Enjoy the cover photo below, right click to...

Weekly Facebook Cover Photo: Fontaine Medicis, Paris

A hidden gem located in the Luxembourg gardens in Paris, the unique perspective of the Medicis Fountain makes for a perfect facebook cover picture of the week. This landmark, previously known as the Luxembourg grotto, the Medicis Fountain was ordered by Marie de Medicis, widow of Henri IV around 1630 to engineer Thomas Francine. Since then, the fountain was displaced and Alphonse de Gisors created this water alley of more than 50m. To capture this scene, A Nikon D700 was used along with a Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm...

Exploring Paris: The romantic terraces of Montmartre at night

Even though I've lived in Paris for 3 years back in the 2000s, I take even more pleasure capturing the city now that I don't live there anymore. Maintaining a fresh eye and a unique perspective is easier that way. So, for this episode of Exploring Paris, we will spend a delightful evening in the district of Montmartre, the picturesque neighborhood of Paris known for its romantic ambiance and its famous terraces. So sit down and enjoy the nice walk. Restaurant "La Maison Rose" , located at the corner...

Cours du Commerce Saint-André, Paris, France - by David Giral

Exploring Paris: Cours du commerce Saint-André , Saint-Germain des Prés

This week article features the first of several "secret" places in Paris I want all of you to discover. Photos were taken in 2007 and 2010 with a Nikon D200 or a Nikon D300 and a Sigma 10-20mm F/4.5-5.6. Some photos are HDR or DRI, but not all of them, find out which ones! Located in the 6th district of Paris, close to Odeon Metro station in the Saint-Germain-Des-Prés neighbourhood, the passage "cours du commerce Saint-André" (Saint-Andre's Trade Courtyard in english) was opened in 1735. The...

photo de Locronan, Bretagne, France

Discover Brittany: A walk in the village of Locronan

It has been 3 years already that I visited what I think is one of the most beautiful little towns in the world, Locronan. This little jewel is located in the region of Brittany, Finistère, France and 15km to the north-east Quimper. Built at the foot of a hill, the village was granted town status in 1505 by Anne of Brittany, who went there on a pilgrimage. However, the location was already  occupied as soon as the 5th century before Christ. When I visited, it was a...

Blue Hour on Vancouver Skyline, Bristish Columbia, Canada

Landscape Photography :Top 10 Photos of 2009

Each year brings new challenges and 2009 was no exception. Here is the top 10 photos published on my photostream on Flickr in 2009: Ranked 10 | The hilly Streets of San-Francisco II | HDR/RAW Ranked 9 |  Classic Seattle Skyline,  Washington, USA Ranked 8 | Spooky Evening in Bodie, California, USA | RAW Ranked 7 | San Francisco at Night from Russian Hill, California, USA Ranked 6 | Rush Hour on Rue Royale, Paris, France Ranked 5 | Blue Hour on Hawthorne Bridge and Portland, Oregon | DRI Ranked 4 |...