Christmas

As an Australian I will never cease to be knocked out by an European Christmas. Christmas cards with images of falling snow and winter were as close as we ever came to a white Christmas as we frolicked in the pool on Christmas day. Though my eyes love the aesthetic of an European Christmas my heart wishes to bask in the Australian sunshine with my loved ones. These images were from my last white Christmas at Mas de Berard with the Archer family.  The top one is Vicki Archer's beautifully wrapped Christmas presents and the bottom one the decorations in Saint Remy De Provence both from French Essence.  Carla x

The Ones That Got Away

  

So many photos end up the cutting room floor when making a book. There are many different reasons why an image doesn't make it. Sometimes it is simply they can't find a home or jar with the rest of the images. These four images were taking during the making of French Essence and they all hit the cutting room floor.  I photographed them all on film (T64) and then cross processed them by developing the postive film in a negative developer instead of the usual positive or trannie developer. The result is always unpredictable but often makes for beautiful images. The contrast becomes dramatic and the colours are pushed to new levels. I have always been a fan of cross processing and love this effect for fashion. These guys didn't find a home because the colours jarred with the rest of the photography but I didnt' take it personally. After all you can't have them all. I famously sent 1000 images to my publisher when making Italian Joy and over 700 hit the cutting room floor. I just couldn't decide!! Carla x

French Essence - Photographing Ambient Candle light and Fires

I

I was away on a job during the American release of French Essence, kind of like missing out on your child's first day of school!! Thank-you everyone for your wonderful words of support..

This photo is the sitting room at Mas Berard and one of the photos in French Essence where we tried to capture ambience. 

Vicki and I waited till the sun was setting and then we lit everything, the candles and the fire. By the time the fire was under control the daylight outside was pure blue and the candelight warm and soft, all peachy.

Another day I was running late and we took a similar picture when it was truly night outside, the candlelight and fire produce a pure red light. It was impossible to control it the colour and the red overpowered all the colours in the room. My suggestion is to wait for the magic hour between sunset and night if you want to attempt a shot like this. Hope you enjoy it. Carla

French Essence

Copyright Carla Coulson

A sneak preview from French Essence, Vicki Archer's new book on Ambience and Beauty in Provence.

French Essence

As I am five thousand miles away, my mum and her private army of Sydney grannies hit the bookstores yesterday for the release of Vicki Archer's French Essence (the book not the blog). Unfortunately I couldn't be there in person to witness our second collaboration hit the bookstores but my enthusiastic replacements (Mum and her squad) were besides themselves with delight when they got their hands on a copy at 9.01 Sydney time!

You may know Vicki through her blog French Essence but the book is even more sumptuous, snaps of Vicki's beautiful home, artistic stylng and her favourite places in Provence. For all of you who loved My French Life Vicki's latest book will have you swooning, dreaming of la vie Francaise. and reaching for a chilled bottle of rosé. Ohh la la I can't wait to be in Sydney to see it in person. A big hug and thanks to mum and the girls.... Carla x

Vicarious Vacationing

Venice Daily Photo

Venice Daily Photo

Oia Santorini

Oia Santorini

My Castle in Spain

My Castle in Spain

French Essence

If you can't get out of the city this summer and you still feel like going on a holiday I suggest taking a Vicarious Vacation through some of my favourite blogs. If you feel like a little ouzo, blue sky, white churches and life on Santorini visit Michael at Oia Santorini, if you feel like floating down the grand Canal in Venice or sitting in a piazza and people watching zip over to Venice Daily Photo. If Spain is your thing, follow the lovely Lala at My Castle In Spain on her daily jaunts around Andalusia and if you have always dreamed of a house in Provence with cicadas clicking away in the background, you will love French Essence. I am off to Greece, my bags are packed, the fridge is defrosted (not my doing) and all the excitement of seeing new things is with me. I wish you a wonderful summer and look forward to chatting in September. Carla x