This is an image of a stone tower pigeon coup in the Lot River valley in the southwest of France. I photographed it while staying at the Mas de Garrigue on a foggy morning, through a screen window for even more diffusion. Pigeons were esteemed in rural French farming for their ability to fertilize, and their value was signified by the elaborate structures built for them, such as this elaborate pigeon-home tower.

I’ll be leading another small group of photographers to the southwest of France in April, 2017 (click here for more info). While we won’t be visiting this precise location, we will find many interesting and unique ancient structures in rural villages and small towns.