Hermione, Freedom’s Frigate, Redefining Past and Future

Replica of French frigate l'Hermione docked in the Port of Cherbourg, Normandy, France during the Normandy Liberty tour May 2019.

Hermione, Freedom’s Frigate, Redefining Past and Future In 1778, the Corderie Royale in Rochefort, France, undertook the 11-month construction of a 26 cannon light frigate measuring 210 feet from stern to bow. Part of a group of four (along with the Concorde, the Courageuse and the Fée), the Hermione was built according to plans by Chevillard Aîné and commanded by major general La Fayette who boarded the ship on March 21, 1780 to meet General Washington in Boston and give help to American insurgents. In 1997, the Hermione-La Fayette Association undertook the daunting project of a 17-year construction of a replica of the 18th century Concorde class frigate, Hermione, at the restored arsenal the Corderie Royale in Rochefort, France. American born and raised, married to a Frenchman passionate about frigates and naval engineering, the Hermione reconstruction project and ambitious plan to retrace the steps of General La Fayette by sailing to America was of great interest to us. My husband and I planned a trip to Rochefort in 2009 to visit the construction site. We were amazed by this courageous endeavor to rebuild a warship that existed more than 200 years previously in it’s identical form and structure. While my … Read More

Pinhole workshop Granville Photo Club, France

Biography of Elise Prudhomme Photographer - Education and Life Achievements

One thing leads to another… My appearance on January 1, 2014, in waders with an 8×10″ pinhole camera and tripod slung behind my back, on the Grand Grève of Granville solicited curiosity by a gentleman stroller-by.  An enthusiastic member of the Granville Photo Club, he asked if I might be interested in demonstrating use of this particular pinhole camera (the Harman Titan 8×10). Pinhole workshop at the Granville Photo Club, France In April 2014, I made a presentation of large format pinhole photography to the interested members of the club, followed by a portrait session using color slide film (result above).  Working with an 8×10″ camera has always tempted me, however the weight and unwieldiness has not.  I have found an adequate compromise in the large format pinhole camera which is lighter weight and easy to carry on my back if I am trekking.  The negatives can be made into contact prints or scanned and enlarged.  I am currently testing cyanotypes with these pinhole negatives and love the result.