Photo tips!

Meet… Philippe Roques, a landscape photography enthusiast.

Passionate about mountains and the Couserans, Philippe lives in Paris and returns to the Couserans regularly, to his childhood home in Seix, and to “his valley”, his life-size photo studio!

How long have you been taking photos?

It's been a long time and a short time at the same time. Before, I mainly took vacation and travel photos, I left the camera in auto mode, and I focused on composition and framing. It's only been 4 years since I started to learn the technique, and the camera is no longer in auto mode. I learned a lot, and in particular that there are many different types of photos: cityscape, woodland, astro… many interesting niches.

What I really enjoy is landscape photography. Definitely. And I even claim to take landscape photos in Paris!

How do you compose a landscape photo?

Light. That's the first thing I look at. Then it's the sky. I like it when there are clouds... a completely blue sky is boring. Then I look at the different shots and try to create a link between each one... smoke, a cloud, a tree... elements to guide the eye. It's an art! We don't always succeed. For every outing with successful photos, there are 10 outings with failed photos. In fact, I also use apps to minimize my chances of having failed photos.

That is to say… what apps do you use?

I use two in particular. An app that gives the position of the sun and moon at any time of day (PhotoPills). I program my photos with it. I imagine combinations between a place (a mountain, a building) and the sun or the moon, and I can see where and when I need to go to take the photo I imagine. I couldn't live without it!

The other app is ClearOutside. It gives me the structure of the clouds: high altitude clouds (the ones that give magical colors to the sky); low altitude clouds (the ones that give the seas of clouds, there must be 100% low altitude, and 0% of the others); and medium altitude clouds: there, it's random, it can be good, or bad... if you're lucky, you come across lenticular clouds. They are spectacular!

Is it hiking or photography that motivates you?

Photography is an excuse. It's like going mushroom picking. I'm happy to go miles looking for mushrooms, even if I don't find anything. It's the same with photography. It's what gets me out of bed at 4 a.m. in the rain! But it doesn't matter if I come home without having taken any good ones.

What are you looking for with your photos?

Evoke emotion. People don't necessarily remember your photo, but they remember the emotion it made them feel. I also like photos that capture a fleeting moment. Two seconds later, it would have been a different photo.

What equipment do you use?

I have two cameras of the same brand, with compatible lenses, so I can interchange them (one APSC and one full frame). For hiking, I often take the APSC because it's light. It's great.

I also have a good tripod. If there's one thing you shouldn't skimp on, it's the tripod, even if it's a bit heavy. It's essential to have a stable base to avoid camera motion blur, if it's windy, for example. But it also forces you to take your time before shooting. You put your tripod down and think about your composition, the frame.

What are the ingredients of a successful sunset or sunrise photo?

I would say it's before or after... during the blue hour or the golden hour. When it's subtle, and the colors diffuse. It's just before sunrise, and just after sunset. But here it's more the sunrise that's magical. The sunset isn't great if you're not on top of a peak. There's always a mountain that gets in the way.

Any places in Couserans that you particularly recommend for photography?

My two favorite places for sunrises are the Col de Pause or the Col de la Core and all the hikes that start from there. Sometimes you have to go off the beaten track... you explore... a beautiful photo is something you have to earn! But there, it's guaranteed, every time, you can get some photographic gems.

And then the Estours Valley. It's a photographer's laboratory. You can take slow exposures, play with wide angles. There are so many different landscapes, views, waterfalls, undergrowth. It's magical...

A secret place off the beaten track?

The alternative route to the Ars waterfall, which starts from the war memorial in Aulus. It's a short path, but it's extraordinary. There are few people, and the undergrowth is remarkable, with magnificent compositions to be created. Aleu is also sumptuous. A little-known village with the Valier in the background, it's truly exceptional.

We truly have an incredible region, and I love showcasing it, via Instagram, for example. The skies and views are spectacular, in all seasons: the green of spring, the colors of autumn, the snow in winter. The light and the landscapes here are fantastic. It's inexhaustible.

To see his magical photos of Couserans (and Paris!) follow him on Instagram! @garyphr.