Worth a thousand words…

I have now been playing pétanque regularly for the last 12 years.
Thanks to the game I have met a lot of people.
But I am the first to admit that I am not good at remembering names; I go around this shortcoming by using cheat-sheets.
Since I am a photographer, I frequently use people’s snapshots to jog my memory and put a name on a face.

I don’t think I am alone in this respect. Out of sight, out of mind goes the saying.
If you don’t see people on a regular basis, their faces tend to fade away.

It is for this reason that I decided to put together a book featuring various Bay Area pétanque players. To keep memories alive.

This album is also a paean to pétanque. One of its purposes is to display exciting pictures of the game and incite undecided individuals to join our brotherhood.

I chose the books’ pictures according to certain criteria.
First and foremost, I wanted to feature “action shots”.
I wanted to showcase the excitement of the game by focusing on players in action, and by showing “boules” standing dramatically still in the air for a fraction of a second before streaking towards their targets.

Next, I wanted to feature people displaying a “good form”, an elegant demonstration of athletic ability.
I think that an elegant stance is easier on the eye than an awkward one.

Finally, I wanted the pictures to be well focused and devoid of annoying shadows.
Not as easy as you might think.

With advancing age, older players start coming to the field less frequently until one day they completely stop coming.
And then they trek to the great pétanque field in the sky.

With each passing day, their memory becomes fuzzier and fuzzier until one day we struggle to remember them at all.
This colorful book makes it is easier to identify and reminisce about the present and the sometimes forgotten players of yesteryear.

Winston Churchill said, “History is written by the victors”.

Personally I believe that it is photographers who report history most accurately and through their pictures, make the most lasting impression.
Hence, this collection of images.

Alain

PS: To look at photos of people included in this book, click on “My Photos“.

PS2: If you would like to obtain a copy of this book please let me know.