Aix-en-Provence – Gypsy Siesta
In July 1983 as a young student of photography, armed with my portfolio and trusty old leica M2, I travelled to Arles in the south of France for the Rencontres d’ Arles photographie festival.
While travelling through Provence I also visited the ancient city of Aix-en-Provence, situated on the Rhone. My travelling companions and I decided to have a picnic on the river and discovered a family of Romanian gypsies doing the same.We shared food and played with the children in this idyllic of settings, and when it was time to rest from the searing heat the women sat quietly under the famous bridge, while the men slept in the cars. Despite having communication difficulties and a broken old Weston light meter that I had previously dropped in Arles Roman Amphitheatre, I managed to capture this beautiful, romantic scene. This image will remain with me forever and I wanted to share it with you today.
Tags: Aix-en-Provence, France, Gypsie Women, Siesta, Traditional Romanian Gypsies, Wayne Tippetts
January 8th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Really wonderful, thank you for posting this!
January 10th, 2012 at 2:48 am
so sweet…..is that a card she has in her hand? the Roma’s are having such a hard time in europe now……..
January 10th, 2012 at 3:13 am
That really is beautiful, thanks for sharing it.
January 10th, 2012 at 5:25 am
Really lovely image. Thanks for sharing!
January 10th, 2012 at 7:18 am
Yes that’s right, the mother is holding a pack of playing cards.