boatporn: les-sept-couleurs: Phare de la Jument, Finistère,…
Phare de la Jument, Finistère, photographié par Jean Guichard
Finisterre seems like a very interesting place.
I’ve always loved this photo. From the Wikipedia article on the lighthouse, La Jument:
One of those infamous storms on the Iroise Sea happened on 21 December 1989. A front of low pressure coming from Ireland brought gale force winds and huge waves of 20 to 30 metres high which crashed spectacularly against the lighthouse.
The waves smashed through the lower windows of the lighthouse, ripped the front door, flooded the tower and washed away the furniture. Lighthouse keeper Théodore Malgorn decided to take refuge up in the lantern room while waiting to be rescued.
About the same time, photographer Jean Guichard was in Lorient hiring a helicopter to take aerial pictures of the storm. Guichard wanted to fly over the Iroise Sea despite extremely dangerous flying conditions.
The helicopter made it to La Jument and hovered around for Guichard to take shots of the waves pounding the lighthouse. Inside the tower, Théodore Malgorn heard what he thought was his rescue helicopter and hurried downstairs to open the door.
At that very moment, a giant wave rose over the rear of the lighthouse and Guichard took his world-famous shot as the wave smashed against the tower. Théodore Malgorn, suddenly realising that a giant wave was about to engulf the structure, rushed back inside just in time to save his life.
Jean Guichard’s 1989 dramatic storm photo shots became an instant hit and earned him the World Press Photo award. La Jument appeared on newspapers and magazines all around the world and Guichard went on to publish a best selling book about lighthouses and a collection of poster prints.
La Jument’s poster print has sold well over one million copies, making the Breton lighthouse the most famous lighthouse print in the world.
Reposted from http://ift.tt/1k0WMG6.
Tags: lighthouses, la jument, jean guichard, waves.
