Anne-Claude Thébault [Beyond Words]

What inspires you ?

Urban landscapes have inspired me for a long time, when I lived in Paris. Most often blasted places or districts under construction behind the scenes. Now that I live in the countryside, the landscape has changed but desolated places still attract me.

Describe your photography style

Trick question ! In the past, I used to emphasize the composition and the mood with high contrasted B&W photographs, in a realistic way. But digital technology offers so many new possibilities to experiment. Now I could say my style is in constant evolution.

What are your influences ?

Many well known or anonymous photographers (thanks to internet)… Movies too, especially Wenders films. I’m very fond of Raymond Depardon’s work, whom New York diary, in the early 80’s, has been a revelation to me. All his work, from the african desert to the night police station, talks to me. It expresses the loneliness and the wandering, always with modesty and sincerity, while staying close to people.

How did you get into photography ?

During my architecture studies, I had the chance to be friend with Bruno Morandi, who is a famous reporter and globe-trotter now. He has been a very patient and kind teacher. The school had a dark room where I was allowed to stay all the night… I think I spent more time in the dark than on my drawing table.

What does photography mean to you ?

For me photography is the place where your inner world and the outer world are in contact. It’s a fabulous way to explore our own mind and communicate with others. And probably it is somehow a way to leave traces and ward off death. With a touch of self-derision even so…

<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/raoule/“>Anne-Claude Thébault</a>