Part 2
Combining his love of photography with his passion for travel, Jean-Patrick Mamet has created an intriguing and poignant account of his expeditions. He shares his impressions of his latest journey across Madagascar through both words and pictures...
The mystical landscape of Isalo
"Our late arrival in Isalo brought us many surprises, including rare rain and clouds gently caressing the canyons and plains around our hotel. The next day, we set off on a nine-hour hike that took us to nowhere. We camped above a giant canyon, in a place out of time, out of this world."
Ambositra, a life’s moment
"I think this photo was taken in Ambositra. We had decided to explore the town on foot. Our guide seemed to agree that we should take our time immersing ourselves in the bustle of the morning, the start of a day that was just taking off. This photo was taken on a street corner, where a lady was coming out of her house with a bucket to fetch water. I was immediately drawn to the light and the play of shadows, and in a fraction of a second I captured her passing between the buildings, revealing her typical hat."
The quest of precious stones
"As we left the village of Sapphires, leaving Isalo towards Tulear, very early in the morning, the surrounding rivers were invaded by a crowd looking for sapphires. We stopped briefly as we had an eight-hour drive ahead of us. We walked down the road towards the river to watch this man at work. As usual, the children were everywhere, always curious about what was going on. We didn't stay long, as the atmosphere was strange, and our presence attracted too many stares. One would have thought we were the morning gems and that perhaps the real reward was in our pockets. Nevertheless, it was a delightful experience by the river, watching all those people, early in the morning, digging the sand from the depths of the river."
The second-hand ballerina seller
"Still in Ambositra. This shoe shop had just opened. The arrangement of dusty ballerinas caught my attention. There was something artistic about these shelves, something orderly amidst the daily chaos of the streets. When he smiled at me after I showed him my camera to indicate my intention to photograph him, I took his nonchalance and his smile as a form of approval, a tacit permission to intrude on his world. In the photo, he continues to smile as he sweeps the floor”.
Two boys on the dunes
"On our way back from Ambatomilo towards Tulear, somewhere on the coast, we were told about the white dunes flowing into the sea. It’s a truly fantastic sight. We had never seen such pristine powdery dunes. Were the heat not so intense, it might have looked like snow. Luckily, we stopped in the right place. The children, as usual, had spotted us a long time ago. They had come from a fishing village on the other side of the dunes, by the water. These two boys were coming towards us to contemplate this unusual contrast of white on white. My moment was to capture the real contrast in a simple artistic composition”.
Last southern adventure
"Before getting back to Tana, we stopped off not far from Tulear to catch our flight home. We took advantage of our last day in the South to go down to St. Augustin, and then up the Onilahy river in a canoe. We had hired a guide who had organised this adventure with two of his local friends. They took us to a crystal-clear spot where we could wash. We were the only ones in the world. On the way, we came across a lone fisherman trying to catch eels along the banks of this river land."
Bright red baobabs forests
"On our way back, not far from the Bay of Assassins, a forest of bright red baobabs lay hidden. Although access was difficult, we gave it a go. Fearing that we would get bogged down, we finally continued on foot. Once again, the change of scenery was as promised. We were alone in the world. This picture was taken before we decided to walk towards the trees. These baobabs stood there, in the middle of nowhere, all alone. Marine even decided to climb one of them. We have a video taken from a drone”
The crusher
"We are in Fianarantsoa, in the old town. It’s a magnificent town, a citadel towering over rice paddies as far as the eye can see. I stopped in front of this lady who was crushing black pepper. I loved her radiant smile and her generous mouth, with its dazzling white teeth. We stood on the pavement and she agreed to let me take a picture. Passers-by, who were probably her acquaintances, teased her, or perhaps made fun of me, in Malagasy, which made her burst out laughing and reveal the brilliance of all her teeth. Click, and there went a photo of teeth”.
Follow Jean-Patrick on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jean_patrick_mamet/