You may know the Dombes in the department of Ain in France. It is a huge wetland area north-east of the city of Lyon in the middle of agricultural land. The landscape is studded with more than 1,000 ponds. The origin of these ponds goes back to the 10th century when Benedictine and Carthusian monks developed the Dombes to create the first man-made fishponds and tame the marshes. Over the centuries, the number of ponds has continued to increase to meet the growing demand for freshwater fish.

Today, these ponds form a real ecosystem. The Dombes is home to more than 131 species of breeding birds. It is a major area of biodiversity in Western Europe.

Each year, I spend six weeks photographing the birds of the Dombes whether they are migratory or sedentary. This annual pilgrimage allows me to recharge my batteries by getting closer to nature.

In this collection of art photos dedicated to the birds of the Dombes, I chose to propose them to you in my back to black style.

The backgrounds are black. The birds are photographed in close-up. I chose to show you striking reliefs with lights that highlight their plumage and the attitudes.

I wanted to function as a photographer magician making the birds appear from my magic hat. Even if all these wild birds are photographed in their natural biotope, I wanted to give the impression that they posed for me in a studio. They are proud, dignified. They give you the impression that they are posed right next to you. They are elegant and they seem to pose as if they want you to admire them.

It took me many weeks to get these pictures. The hardest part was probably the approach of capturing the tightest shot that would suit my black to black style. I also had to wait for the right light to highlight them. These photos sublimate each bird. No superfluous detail distracts your eyes. I wanted to create hypnotic wildlife photos that are different from all the ones you can see in magazines or on the internet. These are true art photos.

Besides the elegance of the attitudes, I also wanted to evoke the fragility and the delicacy of these wild birds of the Dombes. I hope that you will also be sensitive to it and appreciate their gentle spirit and elegant silhouette.

These animal art photos will find their place perfectly in your living room, your professional workspace or even in a child's room.