Stilt huts of the Gironde

Whenever possible, I try to create separation by photographing an individual carrelet. As they tend to be clustered together or the access from the shoreline is difficult, this isn't always feasible. Shooting the carrelet at the end of a line is one solution or looking for ones that sit further apart.

My favourite carrelets sit on their own with a ladder for access, rather than a walkway. At high tide, they look fantastic, especially if the sea is rough and splashing around the wooden posts. They must also have nets attached. Often the nets have been taken off for maintenance and the shape is therefore less interesting.

As always, the quality of the light is important in order to create a successful image. Soft light around sunrise and sunset or a cloudy day are the best times to shoot. Try to avoid shooting when the sun is high in the sky, especially if there aren’t any clouds. When all the elements come together, you’ll take some fantastic images!

Join me on my next scheduled Atlantic Coast photo workshop which runs from 9-14 April 2022  On this workshop you'll get a chance to photograph carrelets on both sides of the Gironde estuary as well as the oyster beds and fishing villages around the bay of Arcachon.