This photographic report was made at the Grand Port Maritime de Saint-Nazaire, at the river mouth of the Loire, in western France. It’s been a long time since I wanted to make this photo report, because the industrial lights have always fascinated me.
At night, the industrial zone of Saint-Nazaire is like an unreal city : the sound vibes, the smells and especially the luminous environment create an exceptional atmosphere.
The architectures (iron structures, vats, refinery chimneys, sand terminals, pipes) support a multitude of punctual, tubular and linear points of light, which reveal structures in contrast and transparency. The clouds of smoke escaping from pipes and chimneys materialize the luminous flux while moving. Warm white, cold white, red, green, blue, the chromatic ambiences are multiple, mixed, and deliver a unique night landscape.
Jean-Baptiste Guerlesquin