Let’s kick off my 2023 season with nothing less than the WEC 2023 6H of Spa-Francorchamps! It’s been a very popular event with the renewal of the top prototype class with Ferrari, Cadillac, Porsche and Vanwall joining Toyota and Glickenhaus this year. The race has been once more epic, with the rain messing up the strategies from the very first lap. While Ferrari were fast in quali, Toyota took the first two positions in the race. But it was not an easy cruise! Something tells me it’ll be even more epic at Le Mans.
Back at Le Mans for my third participation, after an incredible 2023 edition! Well, congrats guys, you managed to have an even crazier race that remained a nail bitter until the very last meters. Ferrari wins again this time with the #50 499P, but it’s been quite a challenge to get there. Huge challenge also in LMP2 and in LMGT3, the new GT3-based class that replaces the old GTEs. McLaren, Lexus, Ford, BMW join the battle!
I can’t wait for next year, let’s top these 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans!
FERRARI AF CORSE (ITA), Antonio Fuoco (ITA), Miguel Molina (ESP), Nicklas Nielsen (DNK), Ferrari 499PHERTZ TEAM JOTA (GBR), Oliver Rasmussen (DNK), Philip Hanson (GBR), Jenson Button (GBR), Porsche 963PROTON COMPETITION (DEU), Christian Ried (DEU), Ben Tuck (GBR), Christopher Mies (DEU), Ford Mustang LMGT3PANIS RACING (FRA), Rodrigo Sales (USA), Mathias Beche (CHE), Scott Huffaker (USA), Oreca 07 GibsonPORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT (DEU), Kévin Estre (FRA), Andre Lotterer (DEU), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL)BMW M TEAM WRT (BEL), Sheldon van der Linde (ZAF), Robin Frijns (NLD), Rene Rast (DEU), BMW M Hybrid V8ALPINE ENDURANCE TEAM (FRA), Nicolas Lapierre (FRA), Mick Schumacher (DEU), Matthieu Vaxivière (FRA), Alpine A424UNITED AUTOSPORTS (GBR), Hiroshi Hamaguchi (JPN), Nicolas Pino (CHL), Marino Sato (JPN), McLaren 720S LMGT3 EvoAF CORSE (ITA), Robert Kubica (POL), Robert Shwartzman (ISR), Yifei Ye (CHN), Ferrari 499P24 Hours of Le Mans race startCOOL RACING (CHE), Naveen Rao (USA), Matthew Bell (GBR), Frederik Vesti (DNK), Oreca 07 GibsonPEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES (FRA), Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL), Paul Di Resta (GBR), Loic Duval (FRA), Peugeot 9X8PORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT (DEU), Kévin Estre (FRA), Andre Lotterer (DEU), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL), Porsche 963AF CORSE (ITA), François Perrodo (FRA), Ben Barnicoat (GBR), Nicolas Varrone (ARG), Oreca 07 Gibson
https://pierrepichot.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pierre-Pichot_24hdumans-2024-06-16-0708_Ferrari-AF-Corse-Hypercar.webp8001200Pierre Pichothttps://pierrepichot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/logo_2023.pngPierre Pichot2025-10-25 06:49:012025-10-25 16:00:592024 24 Hours of Le Mans
Such a privilege to be a part of the 100th years edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans! It’s been a fantastic race with Peugeot, Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac and Vanwall joining Toyota and Glickenhaus for the battle for the overall victory! It’s been a crazy, and rainy, race with non-stop action in the Hypercar, LMP2 and GTE categories. But in the end, the Ferrari 499P #51 gets an historical win 50 years after the last participation of the italian brand in the top category.
It was my second participation as an accredited photographer, I can’t wait to renew the experience again, and again…
FERRARI AF CORSE (ITA), Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA), James Calado (GBR), Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA), Ferrari 499PGLICKENHAUS RACING (USA), Franck Mailleux (FRA), Nathanaël Berthon (FRA), Esteban Gutierrez (MEX), Glickenhaus 007PORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT (DEU), Dane Cameron (USA), Michael Christensen (DNK), Frédéric Makowiecki (FRA), Porsche 963FERRARI AF CORSE (ITA), Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA), James Calado (GBR), Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA), Ferrari 499PPEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES (FRA), Loic Duval (FRA), Gustavo Menezes (USA), Nico Müller (CHE), Peugeot 9X8HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS (USA), Jimmie Johnson (USA), Mike Rockenfeller (DEU), Jenson Button (GBR), Chevrolet Camaro ZL1HERTZ TEAM JOTA (GBR), Antonio Felix Da Costa (PRT), William Stevens (GBR), Yifei Ye (CHN), Porsche 963ACTION EXPRESS RACING (USA), Luis Felipe Derani (BRA), Alexander Sims (GBR), Jack Aitken (GBR), Cadillac V-Series.RFERRARI AF CORSE (ITA), Antonio Fuoco (ITA), Miguel Molina (ESP), Nicklas Nielsen (DNK), Ferrari 499PORT BY TF (OMN), Ahmad Al Harthy (OMN), Michael Dinan (USA), Charlie Eastwood (IRL), Aston Martin Vantage AMRAF CORSE (ITA), François Perrodo (FRA), Ben Barnicoat (GBR), Norman Nato (FRA), Oreca 07 GibsonTOYOTA GAZOO RACING (JPN), Mike Conway (GBR), Kamui Kobayashi (JPN), Jose Maria Lopez (ARG), Toyota GR010 – HybridFERRARI AF CORSE (ITA), Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA), James Calado (GBR), Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA), Ferrari 499PPORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT (DEU), Dane Cameron (USA), Michael Christensen (DNK), Frédéric Makowiecki (FRA), Porsche 963
Thanks to FranceRacing.fr for trusting me for such an incredible event! See you at the 2024 24 Heures du Mans!
https://pierrepichot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Pierre-Pichot_2023-06-07-0153-_Ferrari-499P-Le-Mans-WEC.webp8001200Pierre Pichothttps://pierrepichot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/logo_2023.pngPierre Pichot2025-10-25 06:35:552025-10-25 15:54:272023 24 Hours of Le Mans
I’ve finally made it! I’ve obtained the media accreditation for the biggest race of the world, the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans! Everything is at a different scale of course from my previous experiences. Toyota took the crown with a pretty dominant win with a reduced opposition in the Hypercar category. Hopefully, the numerous newcomers next season will change this and give more headaches to Toyota!
CORVETTE RACING (USA), Antonio Garcia (ESP), Jordan Taylor (USA), Nicky Catsburg (NLD), Chevrolet Corvette C8.RALPINE ELF TEAM (FRA), André Negrão (BRA), Nicolas Lapierre (FRA), Matthieu Vaxiviere (FRA), Alpine A480 GibsonTOYOTA GAZOO RACING (JPN), Mike Conway (GBR), Kamui Kobayashi (JPN), Jose Maria Lopez (ARG), Toyota GR010 HybridGLICKENHAUS RACING (USA), Olivier Pla (FRA), Romain Dumas (FRA), Felipe Derani (BRA), Glickenhaus 007 LMHTEAM PROJECT 1 (DEU), Brendan Iribe (USA), Olliver Millroy (GBR), Ben Barnicoat (GBR), Porsche 911 RSR 19ALPINE ELF TEAM (FRA), André Negrão (BRA), Nicolas Lapierre (FRA), Matthieu Vaxiviere (FRA), Alpine A480 GibsonTOYOTA GAZOO RACING (JPN), Mike Conway (GBR), Kamui Kobayashi (JPN), Jose Maria Lopez (ARG), Toyota GR010 HybridIRON LYNX (ITA), Pierre Ehret (DEU), Christian Hook (BEL), Nicolas Varrone (ARG), Ferrari 488 GTE EVOPORSCHE GT TEAM (DEU), Gianmaria Bruni (ITA), Richard Lietz (AUT), Frederic Makowiecki (FRA), Porsche 911 RSR 19TOYOTA GAZOO RACING (JPN), Sébastien Buemi (CHE), Brendon Hartley (NZL), Ryo Hirakawa (JPN),T oyota GR010 HybridGLICKENHAUS RACING (USA), Ryan Briscoe (AUS), Richard Westbrook (GBR), Franck Mailleux (FRA), Glickenhaus 007 LMHJOTA (GBR), Roberto Gonzalez (MEX), Antonio Felix Da Costa (PRT), William Stevens (GBR), Oreca 07 GibsonGLICKENHAUS RACING (USA), Ryan Briscoe (AUS), Richard Westbrook (GBR), Franck Mailleux (FRA), Glickenhaus 007 LMHCORVETTE RACING (USA), Antonio Garcia (ESP), Jordan Taylor (USA), Nicky Catsburg (NLD), Chevrolet Corvette C8.RSébastien Buemi (CH), TOYOTA GAZOO RACING (JPN)
https://pierrepichot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Pierre-Pichot_wec-24hdumans_2022-06-12-4226_Corvette-GTE.webp8001200Pierre Pichothttps://pierrepichot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/logo_2023.pngPierre Pichot2025-10-25 06:22:012025-10-25 15:58:372022 24 Hours of Le Mans
Going to Japan has been a dream of mine for more than 15 years. It’s a dream I’ve been able to fulfil in 2015, spending almost 3 weeks over there. This is such an incredible country. So much to see, so much to visit, so much to taste. And so many friendly people. It was a blast for me, and I’m already planning the round 2 as soon as possible 😉
A smily dry fish seller in Ameyoko shopping street, Ueno, Tokyo.Doraemon. Hiroshima, Japan.A (bored) saleswomen in Tsukiji Market, Tokyo, Japan.A worker at Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo, Japan.Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan.Sake containers from different regions of Japan. Meiji-Jingu buddhist temple, Ueno ward, Tokyo, Japan.Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.Hozomon, Senso-ji buddhist temple, Asakusa district, Tokyo, Japan.The fan, Ameyoko shopping street, Ueno, Tokyo, Japan.Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.Motherhood. Ameyoko shopping street, Ueno, Tokyo.Workers salute the shinkansen entering the Osaka station. Osaka, Japan.Babyface. Hiroshima, Japan.Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto, Japan.Gion, the Geisha neighborhood, under the rain. Kyoto, Japan.Shibuya crossing, Tokyo, Japan. Arashiyama bamboo forest, Kyoto, Japan.Asakusa district, Tokyo, Japan.
https://pierrepichot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-05-29_Hozomon-2.jpg8691280Pierre Pichothttps://pierrepichot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/logo_2023.pngPierre Pichot2025-10-16 16:27:572025-10-16 16:30:24A few weeks in Japan
The M4 line is the newest metro line opened in Budapest, Hungary. Also known as the Green Line, it has opened in March 2014. The first section is 10 stations long, from the North-East of the city to the South-West, having to go under the Danube.
The most interesting about this metro line remains the impressive architecture of the stations. As the line goes under the Danube, the stations have been constructed quite deep in the ground, and interesting architectural solution have been found.
Fővám Tér station
The Fővám Tér station is where I’ve started my trip beneath Budapest. I must admit I remained quite in shock when I saw this great architecture under the city. Electric stairs take you way underneath the ground, with a complex mix of lines via beams and girders.
Fovam Ter station 01. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Fovam Ter station 02. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Fovam Ter station 03. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Fovam Ter station 04. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Fovam Ter station 05. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Fovam Ter station 06. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.
Szent Gellért tér station
Second stop of my trip, the Szent Gellért Tér station is situated on the Buda side of the Danube. It is also the deepest station on the M4 line. It looks like Fővám Tér: same global architecture, same long electric stairs to come down but… with a twist 😉
Szent Gellert Ter station 01. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Szent Gellert Ter station 02. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Szent Gellert Ter station 03. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Szent Gellert Ter station 04. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Szent Gellert Ter station 05. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.
Kálvin tér
Last stop for me, and unlike the two previous stations, the Kálvin tér is not (totally) a new station. The newest part on the M4 stick to a more modern look, but now with its own style. The platform is way higher, with rounder forms instead of the strict lines of the two other stations. However, when you quit this grey cathedral, a colourful corridor takes you to the older M3 platform, which brings us back to a more communist style.
Kalvin Ter station 01. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Kalvin Ter station 02. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Kalvin Ter station 03. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.Kalvin Ter station 04. Budapest, Hungary, 2016.
This way an incredible journey. Even if it was quite a short trip between 3 metro stations, it has been a real treat for my eyes, and my camera. I know that during my next trip to Budapest, I’ll be back there.
As always, all the photos in this essay are available as signed, limited edition prints with certificate of authenticity, printed on high quality photo paper. Go to the shop, or contact me for a quote!
In Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Saturday morning means flea market. Be it summer or winter, hot or cold, sun or snow, thousands of people roam every Saturday morning to the Oser flea market. During the communist era, Oser was the place to buy imported goods from Turkey or the former Yougoslavia. Blue jeans, snickers, perfumes could be found there, as well as other black market goods from here and there. It became the flea market in the form we know today a few years after the collapse of the communist regime.
The first thing you see, actually, smell, when arriving is… food.
At the queue for some mititei. Oser flea market 01. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.Mititei from Someseni. Discover their unique taste! Oser flea market 02. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.A few mititei stands one next to another. Oser flea market 03. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.
The mititei, the signature food at Oser, is a traditional Romanian dish of grilled ground meat rolls made from a mixture of beef, lamb and pork with spices. A must taste for anyone visiting the country!
Oser covers a surface of about 37000 square meters. Way enough for the hundreds of sellers to expose what they have to sell. And trust me, there is a lot to sell. From new or second hand clothes to electronics, tyres, tools, toys, kitchen appliances, any kind of tablewares or bikes… You want something, you’ll find it.
A bit of digging is sometimes required. Oser flea market 04. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.Getting ready for the winter season! Oser flea market 05. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.He has pretty much everything. Oser flea market 06. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.Old cameras, unfortunately often in bad shape. Oser flea market 07. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.
Until 2016 the flea market took place on an open field. Cluj-Napoca has started to build halls on concrete floor in order to avoid walking in the mud when the weather is not that great. It makes some unreal scenes during those works in progress.
Let’s use the new hall’s foundations. Oser flea market 08. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.One needs to be a bit acrobat sometimes. Oser flea market 09. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.Second hand clothes next to tractors and materials. Oser flea market 10. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.
The Oser flea market in an interesting social experience. Every single social classes of Romania is present there. From the poor country side man which tries to sell his vegetable jars on the sidewalk outside the market, to the rich guy who just wants to show off is big expensive car to everyone. The whole social ladder is there, with every single step.
You usually come in group to Oser. It’s another tradition. Oser flea market 11. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.Not sure they’ll sell a lot this way. Oser flea market 12. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.Le sexy pose. Oser flea market 13. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.And sometimes, there are also crazy photographers taking shots of themselves in a TV. Oser flea market 14. Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016.
The Oser flea market is slowly but surely becoming an anachronism in Cluj-Napoca. The city is getting more and more modern, but this flea market kind of remains as a reminder of older times which are now over. The ongoing infrastructure works will surely help transiting to something more close to the present time. But it will be more of a cosmetic change. Oser is Oser, with its codes and traditions. This is its core, this is why I like to go there. It won’t change, and I think it’s good this way.
This factory has been created in 1970, during the most prolific years of the communist regime in Romania. It put the basis for a then state of the art factory producing energy oriented equipment: household boilers, industrial boilers, equipment for thermal centrals…
From 1976 it was extended its domain to metallurgic tools for iron casting foundries, shortly followed by steel foundries and the production of tools allowing hot steel manipulation and casting. Meanwhile, the whole site kept being modernized with internal railways, production of pure oxygen, laboratories for mechanical and chemical tests, mechanical presses for car parts casting, hydraulics engineering…
In 1985 around 8000 employees were working in this factory. After the fall of the communist regime, the needs of heavy machinery felt down dramatically, the plants started to close one after another and the factory got split in 8 different companies. In 2002, only 617 employees were still working there, leaving a big part of the site totally empty.
Of course, the whole site is not empty, there are still companies running their business there. But if has become a highly recommended spot for urban exploration. Even if it has been abandoned quite a long time ago, and despite the obvious traces of decay, the building has been kept quite clean. I can’t wait to come back, and explore the remaining factory that are waiting to have some activity again, even if it’s just photography 😉
That’s it for this first urban exploration photo essay. Keep in touch for more updates if you love old abandoned buildings, rust and decay!
All the photos in this essay are available as signed, limited edition prints with certificate of authenticity, printed on high quality photo paper. Go to the shop, or contact me for a quote!
The Ghost project started during an urbex session in April 2017. I found this abandoned heavy machinery plant from the communist era that was just waiting for me to be the main character of a new project! I’ve always wanted to make a project with a dark, disturbing ambiance, and the plant made the perfect context. The idea came to bring life back in this dead place, but life from another place…
It has been quite an adventure for me. It took a dozen trips, a few battles with stray dogs, a definite increase of my ninja skills, 1 dead memory card with a full day of shooting, 5 models (including yours truly), almost a thousand photos, a complete overhaul at mid project and a bunch of “I’ll never finish that damn project”.
But in the end, I did it, here the final form of the Ghost project.
All these photos are available as original, signed fine art prints in limited edition.
A selection of my best photos from the streets. Moody urban landscapes and unexpected situations.
All are available as signed, original, fine art prints in limited edition. Get yours now!
Strangers in the Dark XXIV.Book shop.Strangers in the dark VII.Ameyoko shopping street, Taito ward, Tokyo, Japan.Commuting IV.Exit lightStrangers in the dark III. Gion, Kyoto, Japan.Strangers in the dark VII. Little girl. Dutch angle.Long legs.Airport stairs.The kiss. Bubbles. Stairway to… Electric stairs.Surprise! 2nd place at the 2017 National Awards of the Sony World Photography Awards.Reflection.Run!Night call.Thumb up!Kalvin Ter station. Budapest, Hungary.Baker Street Underground station. London, Great Britain.Exit.An unexpected duo.Down the well. Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal.Inside the Initiation Well at Quita da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal.Ghost in the stairs.Negative.A glimpse of light.Noir.Strangers in the Dark XXVII.The girl and the black cathedral. Clermont-Ferrand, France.
