Photography in the Dordogne: Camera, action and food

Photography and food in the Dordogne (photo: Daniel Barnes)

Friday, 27, Jun 2008 03:40

"You are going to put on weight!" Jim told us. And with that, what was meant to be a photography course in the Dordogne quickly descended - or ascended - into a joyous week of gormandism.

Jim and Lucy Fisher first started running cookery courses from their magnificent converted farmhouse/barn in the Dordogne and these have now extended to digital photography, as well as painting courses.

It seems there were just not enough people to eat the marvellous food prepared by the team of chefs in training.

For a week we were treated to magnificent food using local ingredients and herbs from the garden as Jim - an Essex émigré and Masterchef finalist - trained up a group of novices in preparing the best of French and Mediterranean cuisine with his own twists.

But on to the photography.

The sandstone villages of the Dordogne are a joy to explore with a camera and the rolling hills and forest hold a myriad of surprises. The sheer calm and tranquillity was deafening to ears fresh out of London.

Driving from the airport to the hamlet of Bombel you are hit with views of great sites along the valley of the Vézère. It is a real taste of what is to come.

But like so many people, my digital camera always seemed to be set to Auto. What I needed was not just beautiful scenery but also tips on how to get the best out of my DSLR.

In a group of mixed abilities and cameras - but uniform enthusiasm - all learnt new skills and insight under the watchful gaze of our teacher.

Simple exercises on aperture settings - and what that actually means - led on to composition and the complexities and fun of Photoshop, as we practised around the farmhouse and in the surrounding countryside. Using professional lighting and reflectors for portraits was also an illumination.

Then as the week developed we headed out across local towns and villages with tasks in hand and eyes open for the perfect shot. And with the help of the tutor David Quinn everyone did find that perfect shot.

So we travelled in small parties to explore - and stop off at a café or two - and at the end of the day compared shots, spoke about what we missed, cleaned things up on the computer and learnt from each others' mistakes and successes.

Throughout the day we managed to mix the pleasures of enjoying the area - and having a holiday - with a full course in learning new photography skills.

And after a hard day behind the camera what better way than to sit back and enjoy first-class food.

Barbary duck, unfeasibly thick chocolate tarts, simple quiche, oven-dried tomato and goats' cheese tarts, the best ice cream I have ever eaten, deep fried pasta along with garlic and orange-studded haybox-roasted lamb.

The list of great food went on and on, and with lunches of the same quality, the waistline went on as well.

Meeting and chatting over dinner about the meal was like taking the cooking course without sweating it out in the kitchen.

In fact it felt like two holidays at once: One learning photography, the other enjoying the food and company.

I soon realised that the price of the course hardly compares with the experience of being in the Dordogne and eating food of such a high standard and variety - which is nigh on impossible - and enjoying such flowing wine every day.

As the course progressed the whole group really improved and with stops at cafés along the way, a week's holiday managed to seem so much longer as we were always busy with the course. But it never felt pressurised.

By the fourth day I started to dream about focusing and depth of field, and when awake I was looking for 'the picture'.

The end of the week saw a sudden interest in jogging - as the belt buckle needed a new notch thanks to the food - and 500 pictures taken but also the chance to show off with pride my dozen best shots.

Also I gained a greater understanding of how to not just take snaps, but to really start to get the best out of my camera and take great photographs.

Returning to London I felt I could see much more and was looking around me more widely - not just looking for a good photo but also enjoying the sights and sounds of the capital afresh.

My stay with the Fishers - and it really felt like staying with a family - was more than just a holiday and a chance to learn photography skills, it was a marvellous experience and makes me want to go back and enjoy more of the Dordogne.

See more about courses at Bombel at Dordogne Breaks photography courses.

Daniel Barnes