The red umbrella, by the lake by Arjan Warmerdam

By the lake – Yvoire

On the shores of Lake Geneva lies the historic village of Yvoire, a charming medieval village in the French department of Haute-Savoie. In this image, you can almost walk alongside the natural-stone houses, the small harbour and the waters of Lake Geneva. On the left stands a woman with a bright red umbrella, whilst further on, Yvoire Castle towers above the old buildings. A few sailing boats and motorboats lie peacefully at anchor on the lake.

The flowers in the foreground create a colourful introduction to the scene. Shades of red, purple and white are subtly echoed in the surroundings, drawing the eye towards the walker, the green boat and the castle. The old stone façades, weathered paving and heavy, overcast sky lend the townscape a timeless quality. It is precisely the combination of water, historic architecture and the mountainous landscape surrounding Lake Geneva that makes Yvoire so distinctive.

The red umbrella was a deliberately added splash of colour. At the time of taking the photograph, it had briefly stopped raining, but the scene called for a bright element to tie the various parts of the composition together. The umbrella lends the tranquil harbour a human touch and creates a strong contrast with the grey stones, the green landscape and the cool tones of the water.

The photograph captures the atmosphere of a peaceful day’s travel in France: strolling through an old village, watching boats on the lake and getting lost amongst flowers, town walls and historic houses. It is not a perfectly polished tourist image, but a vibrant moment in which weather, architecture and chance come together.

As wall art, this photograph brings colour, depth and a Mediterranean French atmosphere into your home. The piece is ideal for lovers of France, Switzerland, Lake Geneva, historic villages, travel, castles, harbours and colourful street photography.