Honfleur 2, a photo from Basse-Normandie, North

Photographer's Note

Honfleur in Calvados, in 1974. Even back then, the car in the foreground was an unusual vintage machine. It's a Talbot AV 105 Super Speed Sports-Tourer, according to my research, and was built between 1931 and 1935. The car behind was contemporary with the scene however: it's a Daf Daffodil, which itself looks quirky and old-fashioned now. We are on the Quai Sainte-Catherine by the inner harbour in Honfleur. This photograph was made on Boots colour transparency film, and was taken at the same time as this earlier posting. Vintage shot of a vintage car.

Click here for the larger Beta TrekEarth version.

janjan1897, ikeharel, macjake, bukitgolfb301, annjackman, danos, tyro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dta (98848) 2015-03-22 7:20

Hello Will ,
What an iteresting view of Honfleur ! The large version is so full of details . Great opportunity with the old cars on the quay . The light provides a pleasant "painting effect" .
Regards

janjan1897 (2301) 2015-03-22 8:20

Hello Will,
I thought there was a meeting of old cars when I saw these old timers parked around the harbour. Then I read your note indicating that the picture had been taken 40 years ago. I guess nothing much has changed since 1974 as Honfleur has managed to preserve the charm and character of its rich historical past. Your scan is remarkably good and the colours came out very well. The cars from another era add to the overall pleasant mood of this image. Well done.
Jean

No_One (4) 2015-03-22 8:31

Hi Will
Cool photo from back in the day, I wond if this place has changed much since then? I would love to have some photos from older times, but I've only been into photography for about 6 years now, so my vintage shots are not too vintage!
I like that little daffodil car, strange name and strange looking car. A very quirky looking little thing, it looks like its smiling. The. Big old classic in front is a beauty too. I love the rich colors of this photo, ery impressive.
Cheers
Noel

jemaflor (147248) 2015-03-22 9:39

Hi Will,
A nice town, well presented with this old car in the Fg, pleasant ligt on houses, tfs.

lousat (139342) 2015-03-22 10:21

Hi Will,a very old pic but a great memory to me too,this village was in my first trip far by Italy 25 years ago,magnificent piece by your archive and done with a great work in PP,i like it! Have a nice week and thanks,Luciano

macjake (98456) 2015-03-22 11:24

Hi Will
now this is a blast from the past!
what a small collection of cars!
beautiful, rustic, charming, historic, even a hint of romanticism too.
love this old feel photo
cheers
craig

GyurMaster (24840) 2015-03-22 12:17

Dear Will,

Welcome on board again!

Just like Jean I thought you took this at a vintage car meeting. Nice scenery,

Best Regards,
Gygy

Gerrit (62042) 2015-03-22 14:13

Hello Will,
Two classical cars, but one very come in those days. Magical view with great warm light. Great quality and excellent composition.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

Matyas (0) 2015-03-22 14:56

Hello Will! Amazing cars. Wonderful architecture. in the background. Nice colours. Good exposure and capture. Fine effect. Regards!

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2015-03-22 17:11

Hi dear Will

Well, very very masterful image, presenting European image and atmosphere. There are so many components but no noisy but well contaminated by your high skills and technique.

All the best and have a good new week! Takero

annjackman (23019) 2015-03-23 2:02

Hi Will,
This is a place that I would love to visit as it looks so beautiful. Have you returned since 1974? The old cars make the quay-side scene even more interesting. A very good quality scan.
Kind Regards, Ann

Royaldevon (85932) 2015-03-23 15:03

Hello Will,

I have seen many beautiful photographs of Honfleur.
I must visit the place myself!
It is unexpected to see this vintage car on the quayside, where you would only expect to see views of boats.
It makes a distinctly quirky shot but still interesting. The two cars create a good line that is completed by the what looks like a fishing boat; the textured cobbles in front and the tall, distinctive buildings behind, in an attractive composition.
Maybe the cropped car should be a little more in frame, otherwise, a fine scan.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

mesutilgim (0) 2015-03-24 12:33

Hello Will,
Nice capture from Honfleur's harbour with those two oldies in the foreground. The White Daf at backpart was also one of the beloved family cars in the sixties if I'm not wrong.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

danos (110407) 2015-03-25 3:36

Hello Will,
nice the view as the presentation of the very old cars that are the eye catchers of the image.The briĺiant light of the day enhance the clarity as the details of the image.

Regards,Danos
PS i was in the area of Amvrakicos golf on August,so i spent some hours taking very beuatiful and unique photos.Your shot from the area during the sunset is very nice.

tyro (30513) 2015-04-01 13:22

Hello Will,

This is a splendid photograph with lovely colours and even more remarkable that it is the result of a scan from a Boots colour transparency: we are used to seeing very reasonable scans from Kodachrome but this one is excellent!

Of course, the presence of the magnificent Talbot on the quayside really makes it all the more appealing to me - that is a stunning motor car. In fact, just to check that you were right in your research (which, of course, you were!) I had a little look myself and discovered that a very similar Talbot of same model and age sold in November at auction in London for over ｣1.3 million! Needless to say, I've never had the privilege to ride in a Talbot like that but I can confess to having had a drive of a Daf Daffodil - a very cute little car which was blessed with a strange automatic transmission which worked by having the drive transmitted to the rear wheels via a V-belt running between two pulleys whose diameters were variable - a rather ingenious "stepless" ratio change - but just a little unnerving to drive.

So, yes, Will, I enjoy the foreground very much! But the remainder of this photograph is also a beauty too with splendid buildings seen across the harbour and through a lovely maze of masts and rigging. Fine light and colours, excellent sharpness and bang-on exposure.

Beautiful!

Kind Regards,

John.

Hanssie (11022) 2016-03-05 3:20

Well, here I've been:-))
A nice photogenic place this and a nice photo with
some fine detailes in the foreground, that's for you:-))
Love the old dutch DAF:-))