The original
Title of "Sweet St-Martin"

The idea for the book "SWEET ST MARTIN" was born from a negative comment. An American tourist, who had purchased the book PHOTOGRAPHY from one of our retailers, returned to the shop a few days later to share his impressions. He found it rather "nice" and "pleasant," but not quite "WOW"!

While my ego was somewhat bruised, I immediately understood his point of view.

The bright yellow cover raised expectations of a "postcard" book about the Friendly Island. However, the PHOTOGRAPHY book was more than that; its objective was to showcase 14 photographers, both professional and amateur, who live, work, and love Saint-Martin. The only constraint we imposed on them was to present their photographs of Saint-Martin. This book was intended for a readership somewhat initiated in the art of photography.

Nevertheless, even though I understood his criticism, receiving negative comments after so much work is never pleasant. So, I chose to rise to the challenge by creating an entirely new photography book titled "WOW." Turning the negative into a positive!

My goal?

To ensure that every page, every image evoked a "WOW" in the minds of the readers.

Easy, right?

I had the title and the theme, and now I had to gather spectacular images of our beautiful island: landscapes, drones, helicopters, aquatic scenes, sports, portraits, Carnival... everything was possible!

After selecting the best of my own photographs, exploring the island in every direction with my longtime companion Donovane (@donosxm), I contacted and collaborated with 25 local photographers who provided me with images, some of which I purchased, and others that were offered. I began sorting, selecting, and assembling to obtain the best of the best.

I quickly realized that a series of "spectacular" photos could diminish the impact of some, even if they were beautiful.

Too much beauty can overshadow more beauty!

So, I opted for a rhythm that alternated "WOW" images with others that were equally beautiful, colorful, and moving, but which would serve to enhance the more sensational images. A bit like composing a melody... using silences (breaks) to give more impact to the song.

Unfortunately, I had to give up the title I loved so much, which was in line with the project. I was very enthusiastic about designing a highly graphical cover with this word and its symmetry of "W" at the beginning and end. I wanted to retain the palm tree from the PHOTOGRAPHY cover to establish a connection between the two volumes. WOW would have been like PHOTOGRAPHY #2, as the concept was quite similar: collaborating with contemporary photographers to present today's photos.

However, the idea that some images might not be considered "WOW" was unsatisfying to me. Of course, this depends largely on individual subjectivity. Some people might have found certain images "WOW," while others might not, and vice versa.

It was time to turn the page and explore other avenues. After a few days and weeks, while observing an old red silicone 45 record printed by Discover Magazine in the 1980s, which sits on my desk as a decorative item, the idea for the title came to me: "Oh Sweet St Maarten’s Land." I decided to keep only "Sweet St Martin." This song is a well-known anthem for the island's residents and represents the territory as a whole, which was perfect.

I felt we were on the right track!

Then, Alexandra called me to discuss the editorial she had been working on for weeks, searching for the right words to present our project in the best way possible. She had an additional idea and wanted my opinion. In addition to the text, she wanted to incorporate some of the lyrics from the song "Oh Sweet St Maarten’s Land"...

I smiled and told her it was a beautiful idea. Thanks to her, I confirmed the title in my mind.

The book will now be called SWEET ST MARTIN, as it is the most beautiful tribute we can offer to our beloved island.

I often think of that American tourist I don't know, and I hope he was able to acquire this book and find it "Wow"!