Julien Dorol photos blog

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Late April, the rock band Chambery "Sober Sucks" asked me to take photos at a concert he was to give early May

My meeting with members of SoberSucks few years ago as part of a musical project. Several factors (including the photo) pushed me to put music aside and started to derail the project. However, the passion for music and my taste for rock have not tarnished and it is natural (even with some enthusiasm) that I produced images for this group. Knowing already members of the training, I knew what their expectations were. We briefly discussed the expected picture, but the musicians given me their trust.

Visit was therefore taken to Chambery in the early afternoon to take the road and go to Fayet near Chamonix. We were greeted very nicely by the team of "Landmark Bear" and after a few refreshments and discussions, everyone got to work to make the scales. When a group asks me to shoot images for a concert, I manage to be present at the scales. I also want to test a few frames, and assess the available light quality, light chat with the engineers to get an idea of the atmosphere they intend to create and define the settings I'll use for the set.

For this concert, the management of the light was perfect with a good dose of smoke to spread, which allows you to play with the beams and shapes in the composition of images. The scene was rather small, which allowed me a certain proximity to the musicians. Being the official photographer of the group for this concert, I had access to the sides of the stage to be able to change angles and not to limit myself to pictures taken in front.

What I find most difficult to photograph a scene, is the drummer. Often masked by guitarists and bassists other, or hidden behind the cymbal stands, the drummer is often little or no lighting. Access to side allowed me to make images somehow. The light is in general very low in this remote part of the scene, I asked a tripod to avoid blurred images. Even if the musician is fuzzy, I definitely want to be part of the picture clear to amplify the effect of motion.

Question equipment I worked with my two favorite targets (the only two that I have elsewhere and that gives me satisfaction), a 24mm f2, 8 to manual focus and my 50mm f1, 4. The duration of the set of Sober Suck was about 40 minutes. I needed to be fast and not waste time with changes in optical. So I used two boxes with each objective screwed over. For settings, the light is rather low, I opted for a maximum aperture and sensitivity to ISO 1600. Even if you lose sharpness because of the maximum opening and generate the high ISO noise, the goal is to have sharp images. The sound makes up for in post processing, not the sharpness.

At the end of the concert, I had to almost 400 images to provide a quarantine. After some discussions with the musicians, it was clear that black and white was the treatment that best suits the image and spirit of the group ... Click the image to see a small selection of photos.

A few words on SOBER SUCKS:

Sober Sucks is a rock band that is not encumbered or musical conventions "that will say it." The training is Savoyard-cons give a damn about her sobriety that would attract the praises of a docile audience and anxious to hear a sound formatted taking care of his attributes hearing. Sober offers a rather energetic rock, acidic, alcoholic with a little more than a riff four chords per song and a linear structure. Unpredictable, guitarist JB voltefaces surprised by these melodic compositions but whose effectiveness keeps you excited throughout the pieces. To deepen the cut edges of the scratch riffs, the singer Sab is in good spirits throughout his schizophrenia voice from a gentle voice and put into a state of hysteria as the title "Elouera" or sprinkling as sounding frankly blues rock 'Wheels on Fire' roars hoarse right out of Metal influences, like drummer sprawling triple bass drum, wall unit to the bottom and 7 string guitars with triangular shape. And to support it all, the couple Bass / Drums sends a heavy and slamming his story that the public, as wise as it is, take a good snap and comes out of a concert Sober Sucks with serious doubts on the notion of sobriety .

A ride on the MySpace , and FaceBook page.

On my last trip to Nepal, I was led to meet with Joyce Van Rijen and Krishna Khaitu which together manage a Non Governmental Organization in Bhaktapur. Their Association "Suvadra" aims to support disabled children and empower them to lead normal lives despite their disabilities. The situation of disabled children in Nepal is difficult and complicated. The families, lifestyle often modest, have difficulty accepting that disability does not understand and can not handle. Children are often treated badly and have virtually no future. It is certainly not a mark of cruelty or malice, but a reaction of impotence due to the low level of education, lack of specialized facilities and assistance to families. Added to this idea and received a few beliefs.

Joyce and Krishna have decided to create a structure to house a dozen children and give them the keys to access the autonomy and power to live independently in society or within their family. I was touched by their approach and how they work: No way to complain about the plight of children, but a real desire to move forward and bring them to a normal life, whatever the disability or incapacity.

After several discussions, we agreed a date for a photo shoot to illustrate the work of Suvadra. The goal was to make images that the association could use to its website or for brochures. It should make images corresponding to the mindset of the association, and Suvadra, bias was clear: to show children living in hope, not disabilities to sad to soften the crowds . This was fortunate, because I do not want to show people in a miserable appearance, but to underline what they give off better, whatever their condition.

I was quite apprehensive before the photo shoot because I'm very uncomfortable with anything related to "medical" and which induces or could induce the "suffering". Even though Joyce and Krishna explained to me the case of each child, I had no idea what to expect and especially how would I feel. But going beyond these fears that progresses, and is anxious but determined that I went to the house Suvadra day shoot.

Before leaving my camera, I first spent time making contact with children. I was especially helped put me at ease, to go beyond my fears, identify each of them and what they release. I soon forgot my fears, because children are very direct and unprejudiced. After an hour and a half of making contact, I started to get my equipment and take photographs. I would have liked to take more time without the camera, but I only had one day to make the images.

I like more and more conduct such commands running on a very short time, conditions that do not control lights and often disastrous. That, I think, the best way forward and to be able to adapt to any situation.

As so often in such situations, the light was what could be worse: a bright sun in the middle of the day and environments not always photogenic. No question of waiting for the beautiful and soft evening light, I had to take the children in their daily lives and in full operation. To avoid shadows on faces too obvious, I sometimes used a reflector to bring light on the parties a little bite. Easier said than done when you have no assistant and we must keep the reflector, directing and photographing specific subjects that move .... A lot. These children have incredible energy and it was not very difficult to carry images of life, joy and energy.

As I work with fixed focal lengths and I had to be responsive, I used for this session, two cases simultaneously with two different objectives (24mm and 50mm). I use very rarely two boxes at the same time because I like to be discreet, but I was quite surprised by how quickly my subjects have "forgotten" devices. Initially, attention was turned a little to my gear, but I quickly felt "invisible" and I was able to capture spontaneous moments and expressions without any discomfort due to my presence.

This experience, beyond the aspect of photography, made me a lot. I was simply impressed by the work and results that getting the association Suvadra. Several children have made incredible progress in a short time and can now consider independent living and a real future. On the other encounter more difficulties and will never attain the independence of some, but they have at least one structure adapted to cope with their disability, as long and difficult this fight may be.

A wonderful experience that I will renew.

If you want to contribute to the work of the association SUVADRA, you can visit the official website , or send an email to Joyce or Krishna .

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I stayed for several days already in a Nepalese village and I stayed in a small Guest House (which was more of a homestay than a "hotel") held by two women, Loxmi 79 years old and daughter of Tiza a fifty year. I was incredibly received and stayed with them three weeks to observe and learn the lives of Nepalese farmers.

In the middle of my stay, I organized a little "photo shoot". I already had the picture in mind a few days before and I told my two models the day before that I like to make a picture of themselves in their kitchen during their "tea break" daily. Tiza Loxmi and seemed quite enthusiastic. Was an understatement.

The next morning, I left all my gear: The device, mounted on a tripod, remote control (not to keep an eye glued behind the case and communicate more easily with the models), and the ultimate, a reflector to "lead" the dark parts held by an assistant. It was enough for my two budding stars will take the game and work to readjust their dresses, their hair rearrange, hide unsightly fold, as models of real pros .

The meeting at length about ten minutes at most, in an atmosphere of jokes and laughter!

The portrait photography and "humanist" things are not easy. For me, it's never easy to get into people's privacy and their aim a camera under the nose. When I photograph a person, I still have that modesty brings me lots of questions: "Is what I did not bother with my pictures, I do not abusing its time, it must Tired of having all the time took pictures ....

It is recognized that in areas frequented by tourism, some people are highly sought after for portraits and not always the most sensitive (There are even many, many shocking behavior from some photographers but I think ... c is another matter) and become quite reluctant to the idea of being shot portrait of yet another again.

But sometimes, the picture may become a game and fun for the photographer and the (s) model (s). Taking his time, forging links, complicity, people gain confidence and become more relaxed. I think the quick installation of all equipment there is also a little, showing that we want to make a serious picture and the best possible conditions, the models feel honored by all this attention and ask without hesitation. In any case, what I felt in making this meeting and a few others. It goes without saying that in this case, send some prints to people photographed !!!!! If they play the game, he must play too.

Overall I am satisfied with the result because the photo is what I had in mind as soon as I saw the kitchen, but I'm especially pleased with how this session is held and the atmosphere there was.

As I said a little earlier, I am a bit "obsessed" with ethical issues and I sometimes have difficulties to overcome my shyness. This session gave me great motivation to repeat this kind of experience and made me realize that the photo could be a game and a source of good humor, without being experienced as a constraint or voyeurism. It depends (again) how it's done and how we approach people.