WHO?
A wanderer. A traveller. A beer drinker. A music fan. A FC Nantes football fan. A humble photobook collector. A French man but most people believe I’m British till they hear my accent. A European. And I guess a photographer. Sometimes a street photographer. Sometimes a documentary photographer. And most of the times a bit of both at the same time.
WHAT?
It is about the pleasure of wandering. As a teenager, when I was not listening to music in my bedroom, I used to wander the street endlessly. No matter the area, it was really about wandering, emptying my mind or leaving my mind alone.
It is about observing. This is a big part of my character. I do observe a lot. Anything but when it comes to photography, mostly urban life as I have been living in urban places all my life. But I do like natural environments too. Listening to silence is great. Truly relaxing.
It is about history, culture and life. I have always been interested in history and old images. In my childhood, at my godmother’s house, I used to open some very old historical dictionaries and to look at every illustration and images. These images were telling me a lot about people, their behaviours, their fashions, their places and any other details that could give me some information about their everyday life, environment and culture. Today, time (and history) are very much part of the reasons I do take photographs. I am also interested in how time can affect the content of a photograph and give us some historical information that was not relevant at the time. All these things that seem very ordinary and that are part of our culture today. They might be gone or be different in the future. Only time will tell.
So it is all about wandering the street with my camera, observing our everyday life, witnessing our time, documenting our cultures and our changing environments. It is also about building through photo series, a very humble photography archive that may be telling us a bit of our history.
WHEN?
When my parents bought me my first film dslr camera at the age of 18.
When I broke it in 2003 during a trip in Nepal. Back at home, I bought my first digital camera and since never stopped taking photographs.
When I discovered the work of Henry Cartier Bresson, the French Humanists and then later the social works of some British photographers and the ones of American photographers. These are my three main influences.
When life and composition come together.
When the unexpected unfolds in front of your camera.
When the sun is out, the light is beautiful and the colours pop up. I am a spring and summer photographer.
When I feel good in a place and when that place gives me the opportunity of a project. This is how 99% of my series start.
When I am walking by the sea or a river. I like the relaxing feeling of walking by a river or by the sea. I am actually working on three projects. Two of them are rivers related and the other one is by the sea. It is probably my biggest theme after documenting our urban life.
WHERE?
Wherever I feel good. That is an important one to start with.
Wherever is the sunlight. I just need it.
In Paris where I am currently living. Paris is a good city for photography. It has its own soul and identity. It is very recognisable among other cities. Even though I like wandering Paris, I usually focus on some areas in order to make series. I have been working on various areas to document some cultural and social aspects of Parisian Life. The three current main series are Les Grands Magasins, Paris Fashion Week and Le Bois de Vincennes (one of the biggest parks in Paris).
In India where I have an on-going series. India is also the country that I have travelled the most in the last decade. I love the people. I love the organised chaos. I love the food. I love its energy. India also brings me anything I need about photography. Busy life. Sunlight. Beautiful colours. And sometimes quietness (yes!!). It is a big emerging country and an endless source of subjects
In Portugal, in Lisbon, when I have been working for a few years on a photo project along the Tagus River.
In the United Kingdom where I have relatives and where I lived seven years. I really like British photography (and British culture too). The social approach of some of his most famous photographers had definitely an influence on my work. I made one of my very first series in England. From England with Love was about documenting the English social class contrasts through its various environments.
WHY?
To witness our time and to tell people’s stories.
