Le Cimetière de Bateaux

Le Cimetière de Bateaux is an incredible hidden gem! This collection of old fishing boats have been left to decay a small sandbank that extends into the harbour. These abandoned boats are former sardine, lobster, crab, and tuna vessels that were beached here over the years as the local fishing industry collapsed, first with sardines and then with lobster. They sit right in the harbour, fully visible from the waterfront, and just begging to be photographed. The hulls are in various stages of falling apart. Peeling paint, exposed timber ribs, rusting metal, and weathered rope all give you rich detail up close. Each boat has its own colours and textures depending on how long its been sitting abandoned. You can walk right up to them and shoot details or step back for wider compositions. The active marina sits behind the boat cemetery giving an amazing contrast between the working boats and the abandoned ones. The tide completely changes this shooting location. At low tide more of the hulls and the surrounding sandbank are exposed. Overcast skies suit the mood of theses boats and keep the tones in the peeling paint and rusted metal even. The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Rocamadour, dating back to the 17th century, and the Tour Vauban, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are nearby and worth exploring as part of your shooting adventure. (Camaret-sur-Mer, Finistère, France)