In pictures. Farmers, floods, snow… The year 2024 seen by our photographer

The start of 2024 is marked by a major agricultural crisis. From January 25, a large part of the highways which cross the department are empty, with blockades in particular on the A6 near Beaune.

After spending part of the evening in Pouilly-en-Auxois (also blocked by countless tractors), I went to Beaune the next day. I, who thought I was doing a report on the highway, embarked with a tractor parade in the city. My journey begins aboard a dumpster filled with used tires. I continue the journey on a plateau alongside farmers sitting on bales of straw installed for the occasion.

An unusual report to say the least and one of which I kept some memories, in the evening, when I returned home, with straw all over my clothes and in my hair.

April Fools’ Day was really not in good taste this year for the inhabitants of Haute Côte-d’Or. As a result of heavy rains, many residents saw an impressive rise in water levels leading to flooding, particularly in Semur-en-Auxois, where the Armançon burst its banks.

The day after the bad weather, we went to this town to report the extent of the damage. How sad to see these people, like this resident of Quai Baudon, forced to clean their homes after this disaster.

Do you know the profession of cooper? More precisely foudrier. This is what I went to discover during a day with Lucas, at the Tonnellerie Rousseau. The opportunity to immerse myself in artisanal production and take the time to understand, little by little, a typical day.

This report is part of a series “A day with”, established to highlight the diversity of our professional lives. While my daily reports generally follow one another quite quickly, here is an opportunity for me to spend more time with my interlocutor and to immerse myself in their daily life more than ever.

It is June 30. Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly two weeks earlier, leading to early legislative elections. It’s 8 p.m. at the prefecture, in Dijon. The results of the first round are imminent. From left or right, many politicians came.

I decide to stand right next to the television installed for the occasion, seeking, at that moment, to capture in images the reactions of the different parties to the results. The numbers are falling. The National Rally comes first.

I then witness, stunned, the joy of the extreme right, and the disgust and concern of the left. An evening which continues in a heavy atmosphere, where most of the politicians left very quickly following the announcements.

Three days in Côte-d’Or this year for the Tour de France. The first stage, leaving from Mâcon, arrived at the end of the park paths, on the Place Wilson side, in Dijon.

For the many photographers present, a whole protocol is put in place. One place is reserved for agencies and those following the entire race route, another for those arriving by motorbike. And, right behind, are placed those who only follow the local stage. So I find myself in this place.

Having the other brothers and sisters in front of me, I move as far to the left as possible from our authorized location. But I quickly realize that I am, really, right in the finish line of the runners who mostly finish in a final sprint. A little fright I had when I saw the first ones arriving at full speed right in front of me, relatively close. But the organizers warned me: they are professionals, they are used to it. No collisions with me or my camera. Phew!

How can we talk about the year 2024 without talking about the Olympic Games? Some time before the start of these, the Bulgarian weightlifting team is based at CREPS in Burgundy to prepare for the competition before traveling to the capital.

We are invited to attend one of their training sessions. Between concentration, taking ammonia (to increase performance) and protruding muscles, I discovered a sport that is completely unknown to me. And it’s really special since it’s not uncommon for coaches and athletes to smoke a cigarette outside between two exercises! Quite original!

This year Dijon hosted the first major French rap festival. The Golden Coast brought together thousands of people at Combe à la Serpent. I look, on the second day, for an image of the big stage with a crowd in front.

So I arrive just before the SCH concert (knowing that the crowd would be there). After taking a few photos from a high point, I go back down to the ground at the start of the concert. And then the magic happens… A backlight, a few smokers and I capture an image with an atmosphere that represents the moment experienced…

If you live in Côte-d’Or you have surely noticed the snow falling at the end of November. On the 21st to be exact, a white coat began to cover the department. After a few images in Dijon, I decide to go to the vineyards where the snow cover offers a unique spectacle.

In the distance, the Clos de Vougeot castle. I approach. When getting out of the car, the sound-absorbing snow gives way to a religious silence. Only the sound of my footsteps and a few birds hanging around are perceptible. And then there is this building, solemn, in front of me which allows me to capture this timeless moment.

A military training course for forward air support controllers (those who, in times of conflict, are on the ground and direct the machines in the air) took place at the end of November near Meloisey in the south of the department.

We spend almost 3 hours observing the work of the military, and waiting for what we were promised in images: Mirages 2000. After a rather impressive first pass, the second was carried out with two planes at the same time.

Two Mirages shave our heads at incredible speed. And the most astonishing thing is undoubtedly the enormous noise that comes out of time with the passing of the planes, because they go so quickly.