Maho Beach

This photograph was taken in 2016 by Patrick Gérard, a French photographer and friend. Patrick was visiting Saint-Martin for the first time to capture images of La Samanna hotel for an upcoming book.

To photograph all the different locations and atmospheres of the hotel from sunrise to sunset, it took a total of 15 days. Nonetheless, we managed to find some free moments to introduce him to the Friendly Island.

Since his arrival, Patrick had been very interested in Maho Beach with its clear and soft sand, turquoise and transparent water, and the large commercial airplanes that skim the beach every 5 to 10 minutes. He had a specific image in mind that he wanted to create. He planned to use a wide-angle lens to add depth and grandeur to the scene, position the subjects with their backs to the camera, and use a few accessories to add touches of color.

We set up around noon, just before the arrival of the KLM flight from Amsterdam, which was a Boeing 747 at the time, the largest aircraft to land on the island. We donned our accessories, including colorful hats, caps, t-shirts, and surfboards to bring vibrancy to the image. Then, we held our poses for several minutes as the plane approached for landing. The hat and cap were blown away by the "monster."

Being within 10 meters of a 747 about to land is an unprecedented and unique experience. It only lasts for a few seconds, but it is very impressive. The mission was accomplished: Patrick managed to capture the image he had in mind before returning to France.

Even today, this photo and its creation remain an indelible memory for each of us three.