15th Century Cannon Stands Guard Over Mt. St. Michel in Normandy, France
Mar, 2019Views
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Awards
Chatter Award
Contender in the Visual Poetry Project
Top Shot Award 22
Legendary Award
Summer 2020
2020 Choice Award
Elite
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Top Choice
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Top 20 rank week 1Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo atop Mont St. Michel in Normandy, France. The cannon you see is hundreds of years old, and overlooks a tidal zone that is swallowed up by the sea twice a day. The photo itself can't capture all of the grandeur of looking out over the vast expanse of quicksand as the water started to flow in that day.Time
This was taken a little before sundown. When the sun goes down on Mt. St. Michel, everything closes except for the few hotels that are on the small island. As the locals told me, "Once the sun sets, you're stuck here till morning."Lighting
My goal was to get as much as I could with the sun setting, as I was staying on the island for the night and leaving early in the morning. It just so happened that sunset was perfectly timed with the tide, giving me amazing reflections off the water.Equipment
This was just me with my Canon Rebel T6 and the standard kit lens.Inspiration
Everything about Mont Saint Michel is magical and mystic. An abbey sits at the very top of the island that has weathered time and multiple wars. I had read stories about this place, and this cannon stuck out to me as I reflected on one of those stories. On August 1st, 1944, Private Freeman Brougher, an American soldier with the 4th Armored Division liberated Mont Saint Michel alongside the priests and nuns who lived there. The Germans who had occupied the Mont surrendered and retreated without question, returning the magnificent location to the French. This is but one story of many throughout the Mont's 1300-year history.Editing
Only some white balance and contrast in Lightroom.In my camera bag
I keep my kit lens, a Nifty Fifty, and a zoom lens in my bag, along with spare batteries and some filters. Keep it simple!Feedback
Show what you feel. The gut feeling you get when you see something with your eye is the same moment you should aim your lens in that direction. When you say "whoa", you've got an opportunity to make everyone say it too! But also think outside the box. I've seen countless photos of Mont St. Michel - she's a famous landmark adored the world round and is a UNESCO site - but I haven't seen many of these cannons. I usually take a gander at what all the tourists are capturing for a moment, then I hunt for the truly special shots.
