The splendour of decay

Where I was born there are no unmowed lawns, no overdue maintenance of paintwork and definitely no rotten fences. Neighbours watch each other closely to ensure everyone keeps their home tidy and clean. Everything is well-kept and perfect - perfectly boring. What's the fun in houses that all look the same? How can you see someone lives in a place that looks like an Ikea showroom?

I'm spending a week in the south of France, where imperfection doesn't seem to be feared but embraced. The gardens are unkempt and from cracks in the walls grow various plants. And yet it does not feel like I'm stuck in a landfill site. On the contrary, the surroundings are breathtaking. With these photos I tried to capture the beauty of this imperfection, because sometimes a rusty garage door looks more like an abstract painting.

The beautiful gowns, handbags and shoes that have been perfected by a team of renowned fashion designers take my breath away, but I must say I do enjoy a bit of imperfection from time to time. The autumn/winter collection of Saint Laurent felt very refreshing - I saw outfits that seemed to be designed for real, beautiful but imperfect women.

Apart from taking photographs I spend my days sipping Perrier on terraces watching people, canoeing and exploring little villages. The environment is amazing, but we'll leave for Spain in a bit. Hopefully the surroundings will be as picturesque as here.