More Valensole Lavender
We spent three nights in Valensole in late June 2026, chasing good light among the lavender fields. I had visited Provence nearly a decade earlier, and just missed peak lavender, finding that many fields had been harvested just before we arrived. This time, we planned our arrival for several weeks earlier in the year and found the timing to be perfect. There were fields in bloom all around Valensole, with many presenting wonderful photographic opportunities.
I tend to try and avoid the crowds, so I spent time driving around and looking for fields that had elements I wanted to photograph that were off the beaten path. For a morning photo, I wanted to be pointed toward the sunrise. I also like having a focal point — a tree, building, or something else in the photo. Lastly, I didn’t want to trespass, so I sought out locations that I could photograph from the side of the road.
I found one location that met those needs — a beautiful field with rows running east/west with mountains in the background, and a brick structure in the distance. The next morning, I arrived well before sunrise and set up my camera on a tripod and waited for dawn.
It was very hot while we were in Provence, with temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees. Fortunately, the morning was cool. It was also quiet, although I kept hearing a buzzing noise. The buzzing got louder as the sky brightened. At first I thought it was farm equipment, or a distant road. Then I realized it was bees — thousands and thousands of bees warming up their wings and getting ready for the day.
As the sun crept higher, I decided to wait for it to crest over the mountain and catch some of its rays peaking over the mountain. This is the photo I took:
I’m very happy with this composition and photo. The fields around Valensole are rife with photographers, but I can’t say I’ve seen this composition before.
