Early morning starts bring photographic opportunities for David Noton in this idylic square on the French Riveria
You can forget the showy opulence and posturing to be found along the South of France in Monte Carlo, Cannes and St Tropez; in my book Menton is far preferable on the Cote d’Azur. It’s a beautiful town by the sparkling Med, ringed by the protective Alpes-Martime, and with a discernible Italian feel. That’s no surprise really, as the town lies right on the border, and this region, once the Duchy of Savoy, and ruled by the Kings of Sardinia (in Turin, confusingly), only became part of France in 1860.
On a hot summer’s day I left Wendy perusing the shops (dangerous!) and wandered through the vieille ville looking for inspiration. I didn’t have to go far… The Parvis St Michel was a square with a stunning view over the Baie de Garavan. The combination of the baroque architecture of the Eglise St Michel, the attractive square, the shuttered windows, and the coast beyond, was irresistible. But making something of it photographically would be tricky. Looking due east I’d either be shooting straight into the sun in the morning, or lose it behind the buildings late afternoon. A night shot could work, but I couldn’t see any evidence of the square being illuminated. Nope, my only option was early in the morning, just as the sun rose over the first headland of the Italian Riviera. And to add a je ne sais quoi I’d need my very own supermodel.