WHO?
My name is Gisele Duprez, and I am a native New Yorker, currently splitting time between Brooklyn and upstate New York.
I started teaching myself photography ten years ago, when recovering from an injury. When my body forced me to slow down, I started looking for creative ways to pass my time while recovering. I did a 365-day photo challenge and surprised myself by making it all the way through. I realized that the photos I had been taking while traveling didn’t really capture what I was feeling or match my memories, so I set out to learn how to improve in advance of my next trip.
My work has been exhibited internationally, has been featured in major magazines, and has been a winner or finalist in several photography festivals.
WHAT?
I frequently find myself attracted to making photos of children, animals, and joyful situations. I am the one running after a dog on the beach to get a shot, or in the water watching children brave the waves. I can often be found squatting or on the ground, to get eye level with my subjects.
WHERE?
I have several long-term projects focused on Coney Island/Brighton Beach and Cuba.
As I am of both Cuban and French heritage, the last few years I have been focusing on learning more about my roots via multiple trips to Cuba. I’ve formed a relationship with a nursery school that has generously allowed me access to photograph their children. The schoolkids play with broken toys, have little access to supplies, and yet they often seem happier than kids the same age in the U.S. Cuba is so much more than the cliches of cigars and old cars. You’ll rarely see either of those in my Cuban work.
At Coney Island, I have a multi-year project titled “A Day at the Beach”, focusing on the diversity of public beaches that are accessible to everyone. The beach is a source of joy for me and many others – kids jumping waves, adults teaching kids how to swim, friends hanging out laughing. A selection of this work is currently on display at Coney Island via Photoville through Spring 2022.
WHEN?
Many photographers say they shoot every day – I am not one of them. My shooting goes in cycles, and my corporate job takes up a lot of my free time. The pandemic has also changed my shooting frequency – between isolating frequently and not being inspired to take photos of people wearing masks.
These days I have been shooting in the water at Coney Island. I’ve been photographing the Coney Island Polar Bears for ten years now – first starting with the New Year’s Day plunge, and then progressing to forming friendships with many of the Bears. I am honored to have been invited to become an official Polar Bear this year. I have been documenting my journey along the way – it’s a completely different experience shooting while in the water!
WHY?
Photography combines many things I really love – observing people, travel, walking, meeting strangers and exploring other cultures. It has helped my stress levels enormously and brought me much happiness. It helps me notice people and places that I may not pay attention to without a camera in hand. A camera is a great way to connect with people while traveling – you don’t need to speak the same language to get a smile and form a friendship.
