This is the first in an ongoing series where I will be explaining how I achieved some of my personal favourite images. I will talk through the equipment, setup, software and processes I go through in obtaining my original vision.

Leonardo would be surprised to know he is called Renaissance Man and for a very good reason. He had never heard of the Renaissance. The French word meaning re-birth was not heard until 1855. When Jules Michelet wrote a history of France he talked about the French Renaissance.

The wonderful library was built by Charles Bedaux for his American wife Fern who was a voracious reader. Every balustrade on the gallery is hand carved with a different pattern. Some of Madame Bedaux’ books are still on the shelves. One is a biography of Queen Mary, Edward’s mother. He was heartbroken when this cold, unforgiving, woman refused to receive Wallis into the family.

The balcony at Château de Candé is surely one of the most famous in the world. This is where, on 3 June 1937, a groom and his bride posed for wedding photographs, the most scandalous wedding in history, it sparked a constitutional crisis which changed the British monarchy forever.

Just down the road from Amboise Station, next door to Aldi, is a fine old factory with fine old gates. In the forecourt are fine old machines which, when built, were things of engineering beauty, with age are works of art.