In 1989 a tempest raged for days on the West coast of Brittany –one of the most dangerous seas in Europe with frequent violent storms, huge waves and strong currents. A photographer, Jean Guichard hired a helicopter to take aerial pictures of the storm despite extremely dangerous flying conditions. The helicopter made it to the lighthouse La Jument and hovered around to take shots of the waves pounding the lighthouse. Inside the tower, the keeper Théodore Malgorn heard the helicopter and went downstairs to see what was going on. At that very moment, a giant wave rose over the rear of the lighthouse and Guichard took his shots as the wave smashed against the tower. Théodore Malgorn, suddenly realising that a giant wave was about to engulf the structure, rushed back inside just in time to save his life. In an interview he said: “If I had been a little further away from the door, I would not have made it back into the tower. And I would be dead today. You cannot play with the sea.”
Jean Guichard’s 1989 dramatic storm photo shots became an instant hit and earned him the 2nd place in the 1991 World Press Photo award. (more)
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