WHO?
I’m Yannis, 47 years old. I live and work as an archivist in Carcassonne, in the south of France. Dad of a 3-year-old boy.
I always had a camera in my hand, but I’d say I make photography since I discovered street photography in 2012-2013. I’ve been a member of the French collective, Fragment, since 2019.
WHAT?
Mainly candid photo and focusing on humans: most of all street photography but also photos of my family or documentary photos.
I’ve always observed my contemporaries (whether I have a camera with me or not), always curious about people around me, with an amused and I hope benevolent outlook. I like to see and capture funny moments, moving scenes, sometimes absurd situations or poetic ones.
I’m more focused on characters and scenes than light or urban settings. I’m looking for when something “happens”, a turning point, an “accident” and I’m more interested in capturing these fleeting moments than in composing a scene (well, maybe it’s because I’m lazy and well, sometimes I try to compose). I also like when nothing or not much happens, the mundane routine and then it’s more about an atmosphere and trying to find some interest where there seems to be none, to find something extraordinary in the ordinary. Also, as with other photographers, I like to take a step back, for instance, focusing more in the spectators than in the event itself.
At least, I don’t really work on my photography at the moment : I’m more on single shots than series (or only retrospectively), I don’t go in the streets with a precise purpose except to be surprised by people, I don’t plan projects (just have one, a long-term look on my hometown Carcassonne, which led to the publication of a zine).
WHERE?
Living in a small provincial town where nothing really happens, I tend to do street photography when I travel and even, from time to time, I plan some travels only for that, in big cities, where I can find more opportunities. It’s true that curiosity is heightened when traveling, when you are far away from home and your habits.
But it turns out that candid photography is most of all a state of mind, so, it can be anywhere : at home, at work, on the road, in the streets of a small town, in the countryside, on the sidelines of a demonstration. I try to keep my eyes open everywhere I am.
WHEN?
Any time. But we could say : when the desire to go on the street takes me, when inspiration is there, when I’m not expecting anything, or (less frequently) when I have a goal.
Since the birth of my little boy, I’d say it’s more ‘when I can get some time’ instead of ‘anytime’… hope I’ll have some more time as he grows up. In any case, as a photo may occur at any time, even when I don’t specifically plan to take photo, I try to stay aware and if possible to have a camera with me.
WHY?
Hard and complex question.
Why do I take photos of strangers in the street without asking with a kind of artistic idea? Is there a rational explanation for this?
By play and pleasure: it’s quite a fun activity to walk the street and try to catch some good moments, meet interesting characters without knowing if the fishing will be good. If we add that street photography allows us to travel, walk a lot, and meet people (other photographers or those you photograph), it’s a rather rich activity.
By the desire for telling stories, true or not. And photography is the artistic medium I I feel most at ease with for that. I’ve always been fascinated by the narrative power of images, as an exhibitions viewer or photo books reader… a photograph can says so much!
By curiosity and a desire to see and show what is not immediately seen.
By the desire to interact with people. I was shy and street photography helped me to be less so.
And on a more intimate side, it’s a fact that photography (I mean making photography) appeared in my life in some hard moments: the first one I met street photography some months later, the second I started a 3 years ‘daily routine’ project. In a way, photographing the people around you, also says something about yourself. Somewhat familiar strangers.
