Springtime on the Rhône valley

Springtime on the Rhône valley

 

When i went to Surjoux to make images of Pain de Sucre waterfall, i noticed a little place with a nice point of view on the Rhône valley.
I came back a few weeks later by a rainy afternoon with short appearances of sun.

Weather was really awful when i arrived, so i first spent a long time driving all around to explore this part of the valley i don't know well.
When the rain stopped to fall continually, i returned to this place overhanging the river where i could make a short serie of images under the warm light of a few sunrays making the green forests really beautiful.
The complete serie was published yesterday on my french website.

 

Note :
If you're interested in french geography, Rhône river is here the boundary between 2 departments, Ain on the right side of the image and Haute Savoie on the left side.

Bark

Bark

 

A detail recently caught in the forest near my home.
I'm not sure such bark is sign of good health for the tree but at least it makes beautiful images.

Exploring Fornant river at spring

Springtime waterfall in Fornant river

 

Rain had a short break yesterday. I decided to spend the afternoon with an explorative walk of the lower part of Fornant river.
My first idea was to go to its junction with the Usses river in Frangy.

Walking the forest path overhanging the river, i first made a few stops to make some images of all these lush greens. With all the recent springtime rains, every forest here looks to be a tropical one.
Then i just had to go on a little more to discover a kind of deep and green canyon were the river was running tumultuously.
The point of view "from above" was not very interesting so i started to search one way to reach the river. I finally found one scary but direct access to the other end of the canyon. The place was green wet and wild and filled with the noise of this small but powerful waterfall.

Springtime in pink

Springtime in pink

 

Another view of these lilac flowers.

White water in Vézéronce river

White water in Vézéronce river

 

I don't know the upper part of Vézéronce river but from Pain de Sucre waterfall to the junction with the Rhône, the river bed is large and the water runs on a kind of limestone rock.

On my first visit in April, i was surprised by the low water level despite the unstopping rain we have here for months.
The water was running quietly and sometimes falling in such little "cracks" in the tender rocks.
I thought this closeup composition could be interesting and just had to set up my tripod over the "crack". The limestone was very slippery and I wasn't in the most comfortable position while making this image but i'm very happy with the result.

It was very late in the afternonn and light was low enough to give this silky water effect without any ND filter.

Springtime in pink and green

Springtime in pink and green

 

Between two rain showers this morning i went for a short walk in the garden for a few images of the lilac flowers and ended by playing a little with may camera :)

Springtime around Chaumont village

Springtime around Chaumont village

 

I first noticed this view with the church framed by the trees of the beautiful hedgerow during a walk with my daughter. I just returned yesterday after the rain with a camera.

The blue shutters of Pyrimont castle

The blue shutters of Pyrimont castle

 

Pyrimont is a small hamlet of Chanay village in Ain department. This "castle" stands above the Rhône river where i was making images a few days ago.

I was actually on the other side of the valley, walking along a narrow country road when i first noticed this big house and its blue shutters.
I walked until finding a nice point of view on the river, made the photos i wanted to do and on the way back to my car, i stopped for 2 or 3 images of the "castle".

At this time, i didn't know anything about this house. Back home i looked at several maps and aerial views. Then, i was almost sure it was Pyrimont castle. I made more internet searches looking for images to confirm but the only one i found was a very old postcard. I also learned that although its name, this "castle" is more an aristocrat's house built at the beginning of 19th century.

Golden feathers

Golden feathers

 

I was under the trees, waiting for the rain to stop.
I spent a short time playing with a long lens and the yellow springtime flowers all around.

Franclens church illuminated at dusk

Franclens church illuminated at dusk

 

Yesterday, i spent a part of the afternoon exploring the Rhône valley between Ain and Haute-Savoie departments. I was lucky enough to be able to make a few images under a correct light between rain showers.

In the late dusk, i was driving back home and crossed Franclens village when i saw the church illuminated. I stopped for a few shots before the night became too dark.

Springtime greenery after the rain

Springtime greenery after the rain

 

When i woke up this morning, the rain had miraculously stopped and i went to the garden for a short coffee walk.
In the wet atmosphere and under the soft light filtered by the grey clouds, all the greens had a wonderful look. These leaves are protected by a big tree and were not damaged by the strong rain.

Long exposure around Pain de Sucre waterfall

Pain de Sucre waterfall on Vézéronce river

 

Still posting images from my last outing to this waterfall. This one was done in the very late afternoon but i needed my Hoya ND 400 filter to get a long enough exposure for this effect on the "lake".

As we have an awful weather almost every day, i spend a lot of time browsing the net and looking at maps, searching for some interesting places to photograph and i found yesterday another waterfall named Pain de Sucre in Ain department. Actually, like Jura, this department really has many and many rivers and falls and is a very good photographic destination at spring and autumn.

LINKS :
My photo gallery about waterfalls, rivers and streams.
All my images about Vézéronce river.

Vézéronce river running underwood

Vézéronce river

 

An image from last week done during my visit to Pain de Sucre waterfall.
Although the main goal was to make images of the waterfall i took a little time for a few photos of the river which was running nicely underwood before the junction with the Rhône river.

Springtime before winter

Springtime before winter

 

You may be surprised by the title but this image is from last week when we could beleive that spring was there ...
Today, snow is back !

Pain de Sucre waterfall on Vézéronce river

Pain de Sucre waterfall on Vézéronce river

 

An image from yesterday while i was exploring Vézéronce river near Surjoux in Ain department.

This river is a small one with just a few kilometers long but goes to the Rhône which is one of the main rivers in France (it starts in Switzerland and finishes the mediterranean sea)

This waterfall is just a few hundreds meters far from the junction between the two rivers. Access is really short and easy and i guess it's a famous place for family walks.

I know there is at least one more fall above this one but i couldn't find any path through the cliffs. I asked to someone living just near. He answered that he wasn't sure about the path and that it should be dangerous.
I think i need to have a closer look to my map.

They also beleive springtime would come

Primula Veris aka Coucou

 

About one week ago, after an endless winter, we thought springtime would come. We had sunny and hot weather and all the vegetation started to bloom. In the garden, iris propably grew of more than 20 cm in a few days.

But after a few days, cold and rain are back, we even had a little snow on the mountains all around ...

Menthon Saint Bernard castle

Menthon Saint Bernard Castle

 

Probably my favorite view of this monument.

LINKS :
The castle's website.
My photo gallery about french villages and monuments.
All my images about Menthon Saint Bernard.

Springtime flowers

Primroses

 

An image from a few days ago while it was not raining. Usually we have a lot of primroses here in march but the cold and rany springtime made them late and i just found a few of them during a long walk in the countryside.

Woodscape

Woodscape

 

Detail of an old and mossy tree stump in the forest surrounding the castle in Menthon Saint Bernard.

Menthon Saint Bernard castle in the dull light of a springtime dusk

Menthon Saint Bernard castle

 

About one year ago, i show you another side of this castle.
Yesterday, i spent the afternoon exploring the surroundings of this monument. I drove all around, hiked in the forest, walked through the park, ...
Even if the light was not at its best, i took e few images before driving back home. I plan to come back with more greenery on the forest and i hope the leaves won't hide the castle too much.