“How are the hemorrhoids?”  A life spent on stilts is hard on some parts of the body.

When the palombes migrate through SW France, hunters climb up to their cabins in the top of the trees. Sometimes the ladders need repairing. This lazy hunter has strung up a trapeze instead and his fellow hunter is not happy!

When the wood pigeons migrate through SW France, some hunters become obsessed. It is sometimes called the 'Maladie bleue', or the blue sickness, due to the colour of the pigeons. This one has asked his wife to call his work to say that he won't be in for the next few days as he has the 'Maladie bleue'...

This wood pigeon hunter has obviously been distracted while preparing for a day in the ‘palombière'. He has everything required for a fine day of apéritifs, long lunch and digestives. Shame he forgot his gun ...

These Landais shepherds have put their stilts to good use.

In Course Landaise the art is to avoid the cow as it charges and to be as close to the horns as possible. This chap took it to the limit, but the crowd are in for a close encounter themselves!

The traditional shepherds of Les Landes wore stilts to see their flocks. This photographer doubles his stilts as a tripod.

Reproduced as giclée print in various sizes, some with mounts.