Provence Méditerranée

Photographer for the Provence Méditerranée tourism board

Since 2023, Laurent Parienti has photographed the area for the Provence Méditerranée tourism board: the twelve municipalities of the Toulon metropolitan area, through lively, sincere images.

An image library for a whole territory

The tourism board represents Toulon, Hyères, La Seyne-sur-Mer, Six-Fours-les-Plages, La Valette-du-Var, Le Pradet, La Garde, Carqueiranne, Le Revest-les-Eaux, La Crau, Ollioules and Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer. It entrusted me with an ambitious assignment: building a comprehensive image library to help people discover the area.

The challenges

The assignment given by Provence Méditerranée to L’Œil des Cyclopes involved several challenges:

• a wide range of subjects: landscapes, portraits, heritage, sport, culture, food, local life;
• a shared identity for twelve different municipalities;
• many uses: web, large-format print, advertising, social media;
• regular renewal of the provencemed.com website and materials.

My approach, between documentary and creation

Real life

Moments lived rather than staged: families on the beach at L’Almanarre, walkers on the coastal path, visitors in Toulon’s old town. Sincere images that make people want to come.

Mediterranean light

I know the light of the Var and how to choose the right moment: golden morning light on Porquerolles, the end of the day over Toulon harbour, the softness of winter skies.

Heritage

From the Fondation Carmignac to Toulon’s contemporary architecture, close attention to lines, volumes and light.

What I produced

The provencemed.com website: more than 2,000 of my photographs now illustrate it.
Campaigns: posters, leaflets, postcards, brochures on hiking, beaches, culture and food.
An institutional book on the area’s assets, given to partners.
Events: the area’s cultural and sporting events.

Places photographed

• Toulon and Le Mourillon: old town, harbour, market, beaches
• Hyères and its islands: Porquerolles, Port-Cros, the Giens peninsula, the salt marshes
• La Seyne-sur-Mer: seafront, industrial heritage, Fort Balaguier
• Saint-Mandrier and its picturesque harbour
• Six-Fours and the Île des Embiez
• Le Brusc, my favourite, with its cafés facing the traditional pointu boats
• Le Pradet and Carqueiranne: coastal path, coves, natural areas
• La Garde, La Valette, La Crau and Le Revest

What this assignment says about my work

Versatility: moving from landscape to portrait, from architecture to food, from events to lifestyle, while keeping a consistent style.
Local knowledge: knowing where to go and when, for images that truly capture the Var.
Consistency: quality images, year after year, on schedule.
Understanding institutions: translating a public body’s objectives into images, with a genuine creative contribution.

Over the years, I have become a trusted partner for the image of the Toulon area.

And for you?

Tourism board, local authority, tourism or hospitality business: I can carry out the same kind of project for you. I have also done so for the Fondation Carmignac, the Porquerolles Film Festival, the CCIFM (Italian Chamber of Commerce for France in Marseille), Château Sainte Marguerite and the hotel La Reine Jane.

See my photographs on the Provence Méditerranée website.

A project in the Var? Let’s talk.