STEVEN R. TABOR
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Racetrack in France

Gil Scott-Heron's song "Racetrack in France" was on his album with Brian Jackson and the Midnight Band entitled "Bridges". Released in 1977, the song was a wonderful bridge between rock and jazz music. While Gil Scott-Heron is most famous for his poetic protest songs, this was a hip, upbeat, feel-good tune. Listening to it in the 1970s, I wondered what it was about France that inspired Gil Scott Heron in this way. Later in life, I was fortunate to find out.

To me, the song "Racetrack in France" is about the French vibe. The French are different, and they relish that. There is an artistic sense in just about everything they do---in the way people dress, speak and behave; in their cuisine, in the architecture, in the way they hang out on the beach, and even in the summertime games they play. And their flag, the Tricolore, is so simple that is like a Rothko painting. Ask a Frenchman a simple question, and probably they'll respond with a long-winding tale of the history of France, and then finally they'll come to the point. Being in France is an exercise in letting-go, relaxing and enjoying the hipness that surrounds you. And I think it was this "vibe" that Gil Scott-Heron was describing in his fusion-infused masterpiece, Racetrack in France.

For this series, I've drawn on photos that I've taken in my travels in France over the past thirty years. These were taken in many different parts of France---from the royal boulevards of Paris to the sunny beaches of the far South, and with plenty in between. Most are street scenes and several are drawn from the markets, which are themselves a site to behold.


If you'd like to see the full series, download the PDF catalog here.                                                                

Next series
  • Home
  • Environmental Portraiture
  • Conceptual Photography
  • Projection Portraiture
  • Art Nude
  • Songs
  • Project Listing
    • Petanque
    • Les Joutes
    • Joy
    • We live here
    • Photos of others
    • Jazz now
    • Dancing the night away
    • Kampung
    • On Safari
    • 3 October
    • Fun Swim Run
    • Forbidden Pleasures
    • Garden variety
    • Outsiders Painting Large
    • Streetvew Weddings
    • Hanging out
    • Marching to prosperity
    • I was there
    • Groovin
    • Pokémon GO
    • Fooled me
    • Markets
    • In the bathroom
    • I am Sri Lankan
    • The haunting of Rogers Forge
    • My early years
    • Conflict
    • Let their voices be heard
    • Pure light abstracted
    • Chap Go Mei Zumba
    • Wild Tales of Serendib
    • HONfest
    • Homage to the Anatomy Lesson
    • Celebrating Rembrandt
    • Pride
    • Painting bodies
    • Landings
    • Mia
    • Less is More
    • Inked
    • Noir et Blanc en Couleur
    • Girl and a cane
    • Poses
    • The bird people
    • Send in the Clowns
    • Picture Frames for People
    • Hold the Line
    • The Waking Hours Before Dawn
    • Bathing
    • 'Scapes
    • Ode to the Vegans
    • M in the House
    • Sofa Sofa
    • Big Fish
    • Lekker Lezen
    • Hands Off
    • Guitar Muse
    • Tulip Twins
    • Reflections
    • Bars
    • Bear Necessities
    • Sanity
    • Corona Spring
    • The Long Kiss Goodbye
    • Anahí: In the Wind
    • Sunset Beach
    • Projections
    • Anahí: Recumbent
    • Projections Volume 2
    • Projecting Malevich
    • Projecting Escher
    • Projecting Skin Deep
    • Projecting Léger, Miró & Pollock
    • Projecting Decorations
    • Projecting Mondrian
    • Projecting Mandala
    • Projecting Illusions
    • Projecting Words and Bodies
    • Projecting Kandinsky and Rothko
    • Projecting Mondrian on Zoi
    • Projecting Real People
    • Endurance
    • Unsuitable
    • Stairs
    • Veiled
    • Veiled II
    • Fall Colors
    • Pulp Fictioned
    • Lakeside
    • Creation
    • Bed, Boots & Bath
    • Mask in the Mirror
    • Relaxing
    • Freestyle
    • Natural Light Portraits
    • Showerscapes
    • Unwrapped
    • Mirror, Mirror
    • Pieces
    • Projecting Nature
    • Projecting Origami
    • O'Keeffe Reimagined
    • The Rolling Stones' Tongue
    • Repetition
    • Minding the Store
    • Lovebirds
    • Greece 1973
    • Bouzigues Remembered
    • Murals
    • Blond on Blond
    • Splatter
    • Hot & Cold
    • Stay-at-Home
    • That Scene
    • Dafne in the Mirror
    • Dafne on the Vine
    • Outtakes
    • Headshots
    • 3-6-9
    • Underground
    • Wild Thing
    • Eye of the Beholder
    • Tulip Arrangements
    • Projecting Kate Ri
    • Expressions
    • Ghosts
    • Carrot-top
    • Camouflage
    • Digital Waves
    • The English Sailor
    • Windy Beach Night
    • Quiet Hours
    • Cloud Illusions
    • Big Fish Selfies
    • Dreamcards
    • After
    • Burlesque
    • Unmute Us
    • Natural Beauties
    • Backlit
    • Ankie
    • Joiners
    • Projecting Van Gogh
    • Covering up
    • Lines and Curves
    • Lobster Time
    • Home Decorations
    • Clawin' to the Top
    • A Helping Hand
    • Fireworks
    • Lockdown
    • Meshed Up
    • Cheaper by the Dozen
    • Dubai Colorscrapers
    • Dubai Colorscrapers
    • Sparkle
    • Parking Lot
    • Lounging
    • Me and Me
    • Projecting Impressionism
    • Projecting Dubuffet
    • Portraits of Manya
    • Amsterdam in 2 Minutes
    • Trio
    • Ankie Doubled
    • Ankie B&W&R
    • Projecting Shunga
    • Portraits in Ten
    • Chained
    • The Bollenstreek Flower Parade
    • The Muse
    • Jumpin' at the Lido
    • Sliced
    • Horror Story
    • Nadia
    • Highlights
    • Baking
    • Life Is
    • Both Sides Now
    • Is There Anybody Here
    • Amie
    • Rock N Roll Nigger
    • Tight Rope
    • Big Yellow Taxi
    • Graceland
    • Racetrack in France
    • Bloody Motherfucking Asshole
    • Naima
    • Found Me Somebody
    • Angel from Montgomery
    • Moondance
    • Sammy's Song
    • Into the Mystic
    • Bertha
    • Baltimore
    • No Other Love
    • Cantaloupe Island
    • You Can Leave Your Hat On
    • Don't Smoke in Bed
  • Stories
  • Contact