Pascal Denis exhibits “vintage” photos of today’s Trouville traders

See my news
Follow Le Pays d’Auge

Until January 31, 2025, the town hall of Trouville-sur-Mer (Calvados) is hosting a photographic exhibition of Pascal Denisdedicated to city ​​traders. Forty-one photos of well-known personalities Trouvillais; thirty-nine merchants, the cemetery guardian – Gérard Chemin – and a couple of lovers on a public bench.

A photographer, known to the Trouville residents

Pascal Denis, Trouvillais « for six generations at least,” loved photography when he was young. And then, with the tumult of life, he no longer had the opportunity to take photos for years. He devoted himself to his family and his work. “I worked in the restoration for 42 years, including 20 years in Vapors », he says with a certain pride.

But in retirement, as he walks a lot, and walks around his city every day, he wanted to get back into photography. “It’s easy now with your phone. Every day we can take an unusual photo,” he says.

The commercial soul of the city

One day he had the idea of photograph the merchants of your city. He went to see them one after the other and asked them for permission to photograph them and publish the photos on the Facebook page “Trouville que j'aime” which he had just created and which has 1,200 members. “And I still have plenty more that will be published later,” he says.

Thus, in turn, among other professions, a butcher, a watchmaker, a fisherman, a florist, a cheese maker, a wine merchant, a pharmacist, a postman, a deliveryman, a restaurateur appeared on his page.

Forty-one photos in forty-one days between May and June. Men and women who make up a real picture of the local commercial fabric.

“Vintage” photos

But rather than publishing these photographs in color, he preferred a slightly yellowed tone to evoke the patina of passing time. “Actually, the idea came to me completely by chance. One day I took a photo of Vincent Bécasse, with his scooter. I didn't think it was great so I tried to use filters. In black and white it wasn't great either. But, with the vintage filter I liked it. It reminded me of photos from the past.”

Moreover, a lady who came to see the exhibition was surprised: “Oh well, these are today's traders, I thought they were old photos of former traders. That’s good, that’s a good idea.”

Photos offered to traders

After the publication on his Facebook page, he contacted the town hall services to find out if it was possible to exhibit his photos on the first floor of town hall. Today it is done thanks to in support of the traders' association Cap Trouvillewho offered all the frames; the Town Hall of Trouville having, for its part, financed the photographic prints.

At the end of the exhibition, the paintings will be offered to traders, knowing that on each of them, Pascal Denis wanted to add a comment illustrating the image or a character trait of the person photographed.

Until January 31, at the town hall of Trouville-sur-Mer. Free access during town hall opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.