For almost 30 years, Sam has been first and foremost a world-renowned climbing photographer. As his assignments evolve, he increasingly focuses on landscape photography, outdoor activities, and tourism in general, as you can see in many pages of our magazines.
What do you like to photograph the most and why?
A climber since my teens, a competitor, climbing and canyoning instructor, and rope access technician, when I started photography, it was only natural that I gravitated towards my favorite sport, the activity I knew best. So, vertical perspectives, heights, rock—I love it. And all these years later, I never tire of it. A large majority of my jobs take me traveling, allowing me to discover exceptional cliffs in equally exceptional environments, often with athletes possessing extraordinary abilities. What more could I ask for?!
Heights, rope work, danger, difficult access, physical demands—my specialty is a field that requires high standards and exceptional skill, going far beyond simply knowing how to take photos. This expertise has become a valuable asset for photographing other activities and subjects, offering a different approach and perspective, as seen in my tourism assignments, which I increasingly enjoy.
Why do you like photographing the South Cévennes destination?
In the Southern Cévennes, even more so than in the Cévennes region as a whole, there is a single river and a multitude of smaller streams and brooks. Here, you'll find several types of rock with distinct characteristics and aesthetics, such as limestone, dolomite, granite, and schist, shaping landscapes and architectures that are completely different and unique. The Southern Cévennes offers incredible variety, with light changing daily and a vast palette of colors throughout the seasons.
I travel a little less for climbing than I did in my younger days, but day trips close to home are often just as surprising as some places on the other side of the world. I love wandering around here, scouting locations, and taking the time to find the perfect shot I have in mind.
When you travel a lot, at some point you realize that it's your own backyard that you know the least. Being able to work for the South Cévennes destination allowed me to begin exploring my home region.
What would be your little corner of paradise in the South Cévennes?
It's hard to say, to choose… But the first one that comes to mind is Machu Picchu! Well, that's what I call it because I find it very similar to the topography of the famous Peruvian citadel, depending on the angle from which you look at it. Then there's Pic d'Anjeau. I love climbing it, especially the little paths from the Gorges de la Vis. Its summit and the Rochers de la Tude ridge offer, for me, the most beautiful 360° view in the Southern Cévennes. After that, it's very difficult to have a favorite, as each place can be so different depending on the season, the weather in general, the time of day, who you're with, who you want to show a place to…
To complete my top three, I'd say the descent from Cap de Côte coming from the Col de la Lusette, preferably in the late afternoon. A "plunge" towards the most beautiful view in the Cévennes in general! If you also hike up there via the GR 62C from Val d'Aigoual, it's exceptional.
Finally, I would say the Borgne Valley as a whole, in the autumn, which has its own identity, its small roads typical of the Cévennes in chestnut forests and its surprising architecture like that of the church of Saint Marcel de Fontfouillouse above the village of Les Plantiers.
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