Pour Claude ...

It's always sad when you notice someone whose work you've admired and followed has stopped posting, considerably more so when you discover that the reason they've disappeared is because they've actually passed away - as was the case with Claude Rozier (Ganymede) who I've just discovered died on the 28th of June, at the age of 75.

I loved the eclectic mix of images on his photostream, but especially his automotive shots. There are very few of us petrol heads on ipernity and even fewer who took the quality of shot that Claude produced time and time again.

Then there are his breathtaking shots of French architecture in particular that to be found at Versailles.

He'll be sadly missed then by many who frequent the various websites he contributed to and my heart goes out to not only his widow, but his 3 sons: Philippe, Nicolas and Raphael.

He had, as I've already said, a great love of all things automotive, but I remember how in a comment on my photostream he told me of why he especially loved what he referred to as the "true Minis".

It was because Claude's first "brand new car" was a 1965 Austin Cooper, which he and his wife used for their honeymoon, travelling from Lyon to Barcelona without any problems.

Now I couldn't find a 1965 model in my archives to post as a tribute, but hopefully this one from 1967 will suffice ... I'd like to think if he were still here he'd appreciate this image, even though I have processed it somewhat.

RIP Claude!