The Albatros (1)

A word about the work

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The Albatros is Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines’ showcase golf course. In 2018 it will be the arena for the fight between the European and American teams for the Ryder Cup, the most important golf tournament in the world. From 2000 on, L’Équipe Magazine gave a different photographer every year the freedom to portray the French Open in any way they liked, with no rules or regulations. The mission : to portray the tournament through their own eyes. After such prestigious names as Luc Choquer and Eric Bouvet, Pierre-Emmanuel Rastoin was chosen in 2008. He was to be the last and his work was never published. Duly dusted off , it was published in Hobo by l’Equipe, a documentary photography feature magazine on sport. This image comes from the project.

I was over the moon to inherit the privilege in 2008, and to follow on from such prestigious names as Luc Choquer and Eric Bouvet. Even more so as it turned out to be the last time. I discovered both the sport and the tournament and was inspired by the magnificent location.

Jean-Denis’s choice

It is the portrait of a venue, a venue that was already superb and would become historic. I also love this place because I enjoyed listening to Henri Chesnot, the ex-director of the French federation and designer of the course, talk about it : « 400 truck loads of earth per day were required to create these vales, I chose grasses, gorse and broom in the spirit of Scottish links courses. » Man working on behalf of nature. The photo shows all of this.