Our coffee date with Valentin DONATO

Interview with photographer Valentin DONATO on the French Riviera

Hello, Valentine,

Thank you for accepting the invitation. I came across your photos of the French Riviera on your Instagram account and I loved the shots and the atmosphere that emanated from them, as well as your blog on which you share a real passion for the French Riviera. I wanted to know more about your work.

V. Donato Paloma beach in Cap d'Ail

First of all, why did you become an ambassador for the French Riviera?

Passionate about communication and social networks, thanks to the influence I'm starting to have and my growing community of followers, I meet French Riviera enthusiasts like me and the CRT then contacted me to ask me if I wanted to be an ambassador for the French Riviera.

What does it involve?

The aim of the ambassadors is to enhance the Côte d'Azur, in particular through the photos I take. In all, there are around 70-80 ambassadors. Every year, the CRT organizes a meeting between all the #CotedAzurFrance ambassadors, and this year it was at the Grand Hôtel in Saint-Jean cap Ferrat: magnificent!

How did you get into photography and why did you choose the Côte d'Azur as your theme?

Photography has always been a passion of mine; I've always had a phone or a camera with me. Originally from Corsica, I've been living in Nice for 3 years for my studies. The Côte d'Azur means discovering landscapes, places and panoramas.

Saint jean cap ferrat Photo by Donato

What do you find to photograph in this region that you can't find anywhere else?

The sea, the sun: always sunny landscapes! I've decided to sublimate what's already sublime; and the sun is what makes the Côte d'Azur so sublime. Then, I also want people to get away from clichés and see more remote places. I want them to discover. I want them to get away from the pebbles and deckchairs 😉

You've selected 4 photos that you love: why these ones?

La Vieille Ville d'Antibes: this photo is one year old. It's all about the Côte d'Azur, with its history, Old Antibes culture, snow and turquoise blue.

The second is where all you can see from Cap d'Antibes is the sea: a plane, the airport you can guess, the town... that's it too: a land of diversity, of variations... You can also escape from the urban hustle and bustle for a few minutes. It's a metaphor for travelling to the same place.

My third favorite is Villefranche: for me, it's the soul of a village, far removed from the hustle and bustle of Nice : its citadel, its Dolce Vita.

Photo by V.DONATO : villefranche-sur-mer

Last but not least, the^4th photo was taken at a Red Bull event for which I was accredited... I had a privileged experience of the day on the private seafront terrace right next to the Palais des Festivals. That's what the Côte d'Azur is all about: festivities, events and festivals. In fact, it's the subject that has been the most popular with my community.

Photo by V. Donato Festival Cannes Red bull

To talk about the Côte d'Azur more generally, if you had to give us :

• What's the name of your favourite local dish?
• Farcis and pissaladière!

• The place you'd advise everyone to visit?
• The Cap d'Antibes coastal path: magical.

• The landscape you'll never tire of looking at here:
• The view on the Promenade des Anglais from the Castle.

And finally, a word for the Côte d'Azur:

SUBLIME!

Anything you want to add for our readers?

Really try to get away from the cliché associated with the Côte d'Azur: it's a land steeped in culture, history and vestiges, bathed in Italian influences: get off the beaten track by asking bloggers and influencers to give you tips for visits and discoveries.

Thanks for the interview.

If you want to find Valentin's work : 

The blog : https://fromcorsicatonizza.com/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/fromcorsicatonizza/

Instagram: @fromcorsicatonizza

Twitter: @corsicatonizza

https://www.marque-cotedazurfrance.com/valentin-donato-blogueur-et-ambassadeur-cote-dazur-france/