Petals and Mane

When I came to France, this wasn’t the kind of image I planned on making. Honestly, I was thinking I’d play it safe—shooting traditional, straightforward, predictable photographs. But after days of rain and overcast skies, my initial plans went right out the window (and into a muddy puddle), and I had to find another way.

While exploring the marshlands, hoping the clouds might break, I started noticing these bright red poppies scattered everywhere. They stood out sharply against the gloomy, muddy landscape. It hit me how similar they were to the Camargue horses: both beautiful, both quietly thriving in this tough environment. They shared a kind of poetic toughness.

That contrast stayed with me, and I decided to create a double exposure, blending the fragile beauty of the poppies with the ruggedness of a Camargue horse.

It’s funny how challenges push us toward creativity if we allow them to. They slow us down, make us really look around, and notice beauty we’d otherwise miss. In the end, the rain didn’t hold me back—it opened my eyes.