Provence Lavender Fields – The Finest Places to go to on the Valensole Plateau…
Need to skip via purple fields of Provence lavender as bees buzz fortunately round you and the nice and cozy summer season sunshine lights up the sky above?
The Provence area of France is glowing within the summertime so for those who’re planning a visit to Europe this summer season, you’ll want to embody slightly of this beautiful area in your itinerary.
From mid June to mid July, you’ll be able to witness the lavender at full bloom that means rows of purple so far as you’ll be able to see, rolling over hills and into the sundown.
Individuals flock from all corners of the world to expertise the magic of Provence throughout the summer season months with lavender being simply one of many many draw playing cards. You’ll discover recent meals markets in medieval villages, the crystal clear seas of the Mediterranean and a couple of 99% probability of sunny skies!
In case your sole want is to see the great thing about the lavender fields then, I’ve obtained you coated with this information to Valensole, the perfect space in my view to {photograph} the fields. So as to get a terrific {photograph} you’ll want a automobile to zip round as a result of there are lots of fields, some extra maintained than others. It’s additionally very heat in June and July so that you don’t need to be caught at a bus cease and strolling miles to get to every discipline. There’s lots of details about the place is greatest to see the lavender, images smart although, you have to take into consideration what kind of shot you need.
Are you after a pure blue sky, small cottage or single tree? Or do you favor a hotter gentle with sundown glowing above? You’ll have to take this into consideration in any other case you’ll be spending lots of time ready round for the sunshine to be good as a substitute of masking a bunch of areas and getting extra superb photographs.
eBook Announcement – When you’d choose to skip scrolling, ditch the advertisements and obtain a 48 web page PDF to take with you whereas exploring Provence, I’ve printed a Information to Photographing the Villages and Lavender Fields of Provence…hooray!! Full with picture suggestions, day journey concepts and itineraries of the place to {photograph} and when. Provence Villages + Lavender Fields eBOOK: For an in depth PDF information to the lavender fields + Provence area. Take a peek at my 48page eBOOK accessible now. Use it to plan your journey, then take it with you in your system for inspiration and picture suggestions!
I’ve additionally simply launched a Paris eBook, which suggests for those who’re visiting each areas of France, you should buy the ‘PARIS + PROVENCE eBook Bundle’ right here.
In any other case, proceed scrolling down for some recommendations on photographing the lavender fields this summer season!
Round Provence you’ll discover a set of areas with lavender fields, from the bottom of Mount Ventoux, the magnificent Abbaye de Senanque or the areas round Apt, Forcalquier, Mezel and Nyons.
My favorite up to now is the Plateau de Valensole. Wealthy in fields to decide on between with a terrific choice of areas to shoot throughout the daylight and at sundown dealing with west.
Under is a map sharing the precise location of my favorite fields…
Photographing Lavender in Provence
Finest gentle for lavender photographs: Between 6:30-10pm
In summer season the solar units round 9:20pm in Valensole so for those who’re after that glowing sparkle of sunshine, it’s greatest to search out your excellent spot earlier than 9pm. I might even counsel getting there at 8:30pm as a result of the solar can do some lovely issues previous to dipping beneath the horizon so why not be there to seize it? Perhaps I’m simply that annoying one who at all times must be in all places method too early!
Earlier than sundown you’ll have lovely blue sky to work with within the fields dealing with east so round 6-8pm is good. Any earlier and through summer season you’ll discover a light-weight haze within the distance brought on by the warmth so it’s greatest to keep away from the center of the day.
Now for the areas…
Lavender Location #1 D8 Valensole – Puimossion
Coordinates 43.89145N, 6.0668E
Finest For Distant Landscapes (Google Maps) : Travelling alongside the highway known as D8 from Valensole towards Puimoisson you’ll discover slightly lodge known as Gite le Petit Tele, simply earlier than although is a superb spot for images. Lavender fields sprawl east into the gap towards a row of bushes that works as a terrific linear perspective.
Finest For Tree + Cottage: For that quaint picture of Provence, right here a lavender discipline strains up fantastically with a cottage and tree that sit to the left on a wheat discipline. It makes a ravishing
Coordinates 43.85984N, 6.00298E
distinction to the purple colors and you may shoot this location in some ways, a terrific spot to get artistic!
Lavender Location #2 Route de Manosque D6, Lavandes Angelvin
Coordinates 43.82234N, 5.93658E
This highway from Valensole to only outdoors of Manosque is lined with fields to shoot at, my tip is to only drive alongside and cease whenever you see someplace you like! Simply after the flip off to Lavandes Anglevin is a ravishing discipline that leads over the hill high. Sundown at this discipline will be fairly the favored spot so it’s greatest to reach early and seize a spot…if it’s too busy, you’ll be able to at all times zoom to the horizon to chop out anybody within the foreground, it nonetheless affords a surprising panorama!
Lavender Location # 3 The Street to Mas St Andrieux
Coordinates 43.86022N, 5.99004
Now this little spot wasn’t on the primary highway. I needed to discover a location away from the group picture excursions, the site visitors and someplace that confronted west. After I got here throughout it I used to be leaping up and down with happiness. So I’ll allow you to in on the products… the highway to Mas St Andrieux.
I had it to myself one night however I’ve been again since and there have been a couple of others there so it’s greatest once more to reach early!
Down this little highway is the place the magic occurs. Sunflowers stand tall of their daring yellow hats beside a discipline of completely grown lavender. Additional alongside there’s an previous stone cottage with a tree department nestled amongst bunches of lavender that faces immediately west…hiya sundown photographs!
Lavender Location #4 The Street to Riez
Coordinates 43.83447N, 6.02433E
Beginning in Valensole, comply with the ‘Route de Riez’ often known as the D6. After exiting Valensole you’ll move wheat fields then after about 5-10minutes on the left aspect of the highway you’ll see a sprawling discipline of lavender veering into the gap. It’s rolling hills main in direction of the mountains and there’s additionally slightly home within the distance. When you’ve began to comply with a protracted winding highway you’ve gone too far. I’ve marked the precise location on the map above so take a peek and there’s a small place to park on the correct aspect of the highway to make sure you’re out of the way in which.
I truly photographed star trails in these fields and beloved that they had been away from the crowds of Valensole and a sky of stars appeared above because of the minimal gentle air pollution. Learn extra about ‘Photographing Star Trails within the Lavender fields‘.
Digital camera Settings: Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II | ISO 64 | 1/500sec | f/2.8 |
Location: Street to Riez
Lavender Location #5 Puimoisson to Moustiers Sainte Marie
Coordinates 43.84672N, 6.15327E
Following the D56 route from Puimoisson in direction of Moustiers Sainte Marie there’s so many fields to select from it’s virtually essential to spend a couple of hours targeted on this space alone. This previous 2017 season noticed the route additionally lined with actually tall sunflower fields that enhanced the wonder an additional notch and it positively rose in my checklist of areas to advocate.
The fields right here differ from Lavandes Angelvin and people nearer to Valensole as they’re surrounded by small forested areas, every appear to have their very own distinctive high quality and a few stand up and over hill in direction of the rugged ranges of the Gorge du Verdon.
Provence Lavender Images – Composition Suggestions
Add a component – Whether or not it’s an individual, a hat, a bouquet of lavender or one thing much more artistic, it may well improve your picture or give slightly distinctive contact.
Lengthy strains – The linear impact of the lavender rows is what I discover essentially the most spectacular, they’re so similar and neat it’s like photographing a set that’s been composed only for you. Use the horizon to work with the rows of lavender.
Gentle – The sturdy noon gentle will create a unique tone in opposition to the lavender than the nice and cozy night solar. Watch out to not overexpose throughout the day or you’ll lose out on the unbelievable color palette of the area. Within the night you’ll be able to play with the solar to create a beautiful glow in opposition to the fields or wait till nightfall for the purple to mix with the night sky.
Create Reflections – I lately wrote this submit about ‘Turning Trash into Images Tools‘ after spending a day photographing the lavender fields utilizing a chunk of espresso desk glass I discovered in a garbage bin. You need to use your cell phone display, mainly something tinted and glossy to create dreamy reflections of the lavender fields.
Learn extra – ‘Tips on how to Creatively Compose Journey Photographs‘ or ‘Suggestions for Extensive Angle Panorama Images‘
The place to Keep in Valensole
There are a variety of gorgeous lodges within the area, some slightly nearer to the lavender fields than others. Right here is my decide of the lodges and lodges positioned inside a 10-20minute drive of the lavender fields of Valensole.
Les Lavandes de la Fuste
Château du Grand Jardin
Resort des Deux Lions –
Situated within the beautiful city of Riez, about 20-30minutes drive from Valensole however the highway right here passes quite a few gorgeous lavender fields additionally!
Oh and just a bit aspect word…for those who’re allergic to bees, the lavender fields are in all probability not the perfect place so that you can be! Their buzzing makes for a ravishing soundtrack although and so they are likely to hold to themselves since they’re greater than content material.
Have enjoyable photographing limitless hues of purple!
Learn Extra – The Most Stunning Villages in Provence
When you’re round Provence this summer season and have a terrific shot of the lavender fields, you’ll want to use the hashtag #thewanderinglens on Instagram.
Whats up! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 19+yrs expertise as an expert journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this website is from my private expertise, or that of contributors, on the highway. I hope it’s helpful to your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences around the globe.
