Les Hommes Dans les Dunes: Finding Beauty in the Ordinary
A windy November day on the Belgian coastline might not be everyone’s idea of beauty. The North Sea is often associated with cold gusts, gray skies, and a rugged terrain that lacks the postcard-perfect appeal of other shorelines. Yet, in this understated setting, I found the perfect backdrop for a portrait series that celebrates friendship, simplicity, and the unexpected charm of the ordinary.
Les Hommes Dans les Dunes is a series of portraits featuring my good friend JD and his partner, captured among the windswept dunes of the North Sea. There was no grand occasion, no elaborate reason to be there — just friends spending a day together, savoring the raw beauty of the natural world around them. Sometimes, it’s in these unscripted moments that the most authentic stories unfold.
A Palette of Greens, Blues, and Yellows
What struck me most during this shoot were the colors — the way JD’s and his partner’s clothing harmonized with the landscape in a way that felt both deliberate and completely organic. Deep greens and muted blues from their attire contrasted yet complemented the soft yellows of the dunes. Together, these tones created a warm, earthy palette that felt almost painterly against the backdrop of the rugged coast.
Capturing the Cold and the Connection
It was a cold day. The kind of cold that seeps through layers, carried relentlessly by the wind. But they embraced it with ease. This is what I love most about portrait photography: the chance to freeze not just an image, but a moment of genuine human connection.
The Belgian coastline is not famous for its beauty. It doesn’t demand admiration; it invites you to look closer, to appreciate its subtle allure. Similarly, Les Hommes Dans les Dunes isn’t about grand gestures or dramatic backdrops.
It’s a love letter to the ordinary — to friends spending time together, to the windswept dunes, and to finding beauty in the everyday.
This series reminds me that sometimes, the simplest moments hold the most magic. You don’t need a special reason to create something beautiful. All you need is a little time, good company, and an openness to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alizée CCM is an adventure junkie who loves to drive to new and familiar places in the spirit of learning and discovery. She's a editorial and documentary photographer based in Antwerp, with a love for humans, jewelry, tea, fashion, psychology, and so much more... Besides photography, she writes and delves in the world of film.
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