AT THE CORNER OF THE STREET
The beginning of a life of adventure
First explorations: The neighboring mountains
Alongside the River of Las, to which a page and a film are dedicated, I grew up surrounded by mountains and trails that I began to explore even before the birth of Iggy & Dante.
And after years of exploring and refining my photography, I would like to tell you about these mountains that saw me grow up.
The underground tunnels of Provence
Introduced to caving for the first time in February 2022 , in the company of speleologist Philippe Maurel, a whole new perspective of Provence appeared before my eyes.
Beyond my love for photography, it was my desire to explore the world that was increased tenfold following these first underground explorations.
Coastal wanderings
Having grown up on the Mediterranean coast, I began in my teens to wander around and explore its every nook and cranny.
Growing up, it was this love for these coasts that drove me to take a camera with me to capture its beauty in pictures.
NEAR MOUNTAINS
Before wandering in the Norwegian Arctic, Sweden or even on the edge of the Sahara, it was in the mountains around my home that I began to explore and photograph.
Discover below the mountains where we grew up and years of photographs illustrating the evolution of our perspective on Provence.
2019-2024
MONT FARON
A childhood love turned playground
I only need to close my eyes to relive those memories of a hot chocolate at its summit with my parents or my first hike, alone at 13 years old.
Alongside Iggy & Dante, this mountain, which became our playground, has seen us grow and evolve over the years.
The moment I got my first camera, we headed towards Mount Faron to try our hand at an art that would become an integral part of our lives.
Over the years, Mount Faron became our home and our comfort zone, a place where we watched the city in the distance, lulled in our hammock to the sound of cicadas singing from the pine trees.
Loners, it was also a place we loved to cherish and protect, especially thanks to volunteer friends who came to help clean Fort Saint Antoine.
Time passed on these paths and I learned to lower my eyes to appreciate these details of Nature.
Our photography, like us, evolved over time, and I tried new photographic techniques such as tracing the nocturnal path of the stars while sleeping at the summit.
2019-2024
MONT CAUME
An old friend turned training ground
It was with Iggy that we first explored it, shortly before Dante was adopted.
If Mont Faron taught us to explore, Mont Caume and its powerful sea winds taught us to sleep outside and gave us the opportunity to learn to live outdoors while waiting for our future expeditions.
More difficult to access than Mont Faron, we would leave in the morning to sleep there before returning the following evening after two days of walking and exploration.
Every winter day, I would look at its summit from my apartment window hoping that a little snow would settle there.
From season to season, we rediscovered this mountain and its secrets, camera in hand, ready to capture its beauty.
Years after our first exploration of its trails, we were still just as fascinated and excited to photograph this ancient limestone that had taught us so much.
In May 2024, we took the Jean Gavot school on a hike with Iggy & Dante after having done a first intervention there a month earlier.
2019-2024
ZIGZAGS IN THE VAR
The Toulon countryside
Obviously, showing all these places explored over several years of wandering and photography would be endless.
However, I still have this desire to pay tribute to these small places that have marked me and seen me grow up just as much as these two mountains.
From Plan de la Garde to Evenos via Coudon, the Toulon region is full of gems that everyone should explore.
Overlooking the Revest Dam, Mont Combe was an interesting discovery, overlooking the splendid Domaine de Tourris.
Speaking of Tourris, it was the perfect place to sometimes pitch my tent or hammock and sleep with a splendid view at the entrance to the Plateau de Siou Blanc.
Beyond crossing it to reach Sainte Baume, the Plateau de Siou Blanc was a huge playground where we loved to go to disconnect from the world.
Being in an area without mobile network coverage at that time, I isolated myself for 4 days in his abandoned sheepfold to write the Prologue of my first book.
We returned there regularly, always with the aim of exploring and the secret desire to disappear from civilization for a few days.
And of course, the famous Las River, explored in a film. The Adventure page is accessible via the link below.
PROVENCE UNDERGROUND
2022-2025
It was by realizing the immensity of the underground cavities that I realized how little we actually know about our planet.
A discipline that may seem "obscure" to the uninitiated, I had the chance to accompany and photograph these caves in the company of experienced speleologists.
2022-2024
DARDENNES & SAINT ANTOINE
Two springs, one river
Sources near the Las river, they are featured in images in the film dedicated to this historic waterway in the Toulon region.
If you are interested in learning more about these caves, I have included below the links to the SpéléH2O website with absolutely everything you need to know about these springs .
In February 2022, the Var Departmental Museum put me in contact with Philippe Maurel who introduced me to caving during a first outing in the Baume de Dardennes and its underground river.
Returning regularly with Philippe to explore it and to accompany work as a photographer, I was fascinated to see them operating underground in search of bones or securing underground equipment and facilities.
This was also an opportunity to learn with Philippe the basics of a new kind of photography, in a world where light is only artificial and where one must learn to use it through flash and lamps.
It was also in January 2023 that I accompanied, as a photographer without diving, a diving expedition aimed at exploring the Saint Antoine spring, pushed back by divers to a depth of 124 meters.
I wanted to thank divers Rémi Bouchard , Didier Quartiano , Maxime Cabanel , Nicolas Visentin and Alexandre Flayols for these explorations and images, especially Maxime for his photos and Nicolas for filming the whole time.
2022-2025
PROVENCE CAVES
Underground wanderings
Still underground in Provence, I had the opportunity to discover several caves in the Var region, mostly in the company of Philippe Maurel and other speleologists such as Paul Courbon or Thierry Lamarque.
Since caving is sometimes a complex discipline, I was not able to take photographs in all the caves explored.
On the north face of Mont Faron lies a splendid cave, the Grotte du Duc . Accompanied by his son, we set off to explore it with a speleologist friend.
The second cave that I explored most alongside Philippe, the Regay de Néoules , whose relatively sporting route rivals and far surpasses the Rampins cave.
The Cymar , a very discreet chasm opening onto a very large chamber. The place where you can see me playing the gong on a drapery in the film about Las.
La Foux de Sainte Anne d'Evenos , discovered during a France 3 interview, was once again an opportunity for me to train in underground photography, this time with moving targets.
COASTAL WANDERINGS
2019-2025
Born in the Tunisian desert and raised on the coast
Provençal coves were one of the places that made me want to explore the rest of the world.
On foot, by kayak or aboard a boat, discover the wonders of this part of the French Riviera.
2019-2025
FRENCH RIVIERA
Wanderings on the French Riviera
Although I couldn't take Iggy and Dante there, I've always had a love for the Mediterranean coast that drove me to return between land and subterranean explorations.
After walking on the fjords of the Norwegian Arctic where I saw my first orca, I am proud to say that the French Riviera has nothing to envy in the rest of the world, and that it is up to us to learn to appreciate its beauty as it should be.
As a solitary teenager, I frequented the coves along the coast in search of quiet places where I could sleep, swim, read, and even eat alone.
A cetacean observation on the coast with the association Regard du Vivant, marine biology students and the Var Departmental Museum on the occasion of its temporary exhibition.
The temporary exhibition at the Departmental Museum , "Sound Diving with Cetaceans ," allows visitors to learn more about these marine giants and their means of communication.
The Var Departmental Museum also supports the preservation of these coasts, in particular this management of an exotic species on Pampelonne with the National Mediterranean Botanical Conservatory and the Coastal Conservatory.
In any case, the coves and beaches of the French Riviera are full of wonders, and I recommend that anyone living there take the time to appreciate their beauty before going off to look for others elsewhere.
As a kayak enthusiast, I acquired one, then another later, with the aim of exploring the coasts with a friend to whom I would like to pay tribute in my own way.
2021
CAPTAIN & LIEUTENANT
Conquering the islands off the coast
During the summer of 2021, with Mehdi Ouadfel , my best friend who has now passed away, we went to explore the local coasts aboard an inflatable kayak that we transported on a cart.
Regretting that I will no longer be going on other adventures with him, I would like to keep this section as a tribute to our adventures.
THE ISLAND OF THE GREAT RIBAUD
Aboard their proud vessel, Captain Bacem and Mehdi, the intrepid Lieutenant, set out to assault the island of the Great Ribaud
in search of treasures and adventures.
Having set sail (without sails) towards the Giens Peninsula, our privateers landed on this land of all mysteries .
After exploring the island and finding many treasures (we didn't find anything, I just hurt my feet), Captain Bacem and his lieutenant Mehdi rested before setting sail again.
With the exploration over, it was time for our young sailors to return home. Sailing by night, they had a rather unusual encounter.
- Mehdi, I think I see a black triangle there.
- Oh yeah, me too, wait, what is it?!
Wow, it's huge! Come on, let's go see!
- Dude, I'm going crazy, I feel like he's walking on water!
- No, it looks like a fin, come on, let's go see!!
It was actually the silhouette of a simple buoy that was floating.
THE ISLAND OF THE GREAT ROUVEAU
This time, our freshwater sailors were tackling another island, boasting a magnificent lighthouse near Le Brusc.
Shouting this phrase while forgetting that they are still in a kayak which by definition has no sail, our Captain set course for the Île du Grand Rouveau.
This island in the Embiez archipelago being invaded at this time of year by galleons of all kinds, our ship had to dock in the South of the Island.
Having explored the lighthouse, it was time to return to port to moor the boat in a safe place. However, our captain had one last idea before heading back.
- Mehdi?
- What ?
- Are you up for crossing those two big rocks there?
- You mean the Two Brothers?
- Those very same ones.
- Well, I mean, I don't really have a choice since I can't paddle, but the thing is, it doesn't seem very professional-
- Okay, great, let's go!
After many adventures, our adventurers returned safely to port before accidentally puncturing their boat while carrying it.
THANKS
To those who supported the adventure
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who supported this adventure, whether through your encouraging messages, your contributions to keeping this project alive, and to those who gave me a helping hand when I was in need.
To everyone, I would like to dedicate this section in memory of the kindness you have shown me towards my foolishness.
VAR DEPARTMENTAL MUSEUM
To the Museum for giving me the opportunity to share my passion for exploration through a conference and for connecting me
with the speleologist Philippe Maurel.
PHILIPPE MAUREL
To the speleologist Philippe Maurel for sharing his passion for speleology with me and introduced to the discipline with the utmost kindness, and to his son Sowane Maurel for helping me get my latest camera.
PLONGÉESOUT
To the PlongéeSout association and its divers for their exploration of Sainte Antoine and its images: Rémi Bouchar d ; Didier Quartiano ; Nicolas Visentin ; Alexandre Flayols and Maxime Cabanel .
IGGY & DANTE
To my faithful companions, for following me everywhere I go for years now.
