A new trial with Galerie no1 to try to be noticed.

To prepare 2016 and decide how I will proceed I needed  to feature the situation correctly. During my travel to Portugal in January I had the opportunity to show my works to the only « big » photo gallery of the country. During the appointment it appeared  clearly  that I lost a lot of credibility for the owner of the shop when I explained why I had no limited and numbered collection of photos. So it was completely necessary to have a stock of photos devoted to this market. Furthermore, the direct sales becoming scarce and requiring more investments I needed to have a pricing  for a group of photos that could allow to pay the commission and fees of a partner.

When I entered the AAB association one objective was to be able to find new distribution networks. After one year, it became clear that this structure was not adapted to generate sales.

So, I contacted again Galerie no. 1 in Paris and joined two small exhibitions in order to extend my connections.

 The pearl of the Tage (River of Lisbon- View of the Bridge 25th April)

My first participation was for a collective booth in the exhibition called « 4arts » that took place in the Marais in the center of Paris. As it took place mid February, Galerie No. 1 decided to collect works around a big subject that is « LOVE ». I presented two photos in 30x40cm: Planet Love 2 (see previous post of November 2015) and a new photo resulting from my Portuguese trip.

Last year the informations I had from this show where good.  That explains why I wanted to be present to have the feeling of the show. The results where globally bad, only few exhibitors managed to sell. Located in the Marais I expected to see a higher quality in the visitors, but it did not happen.  Last year the « Journées du Patrimoine » took place on the same day and this event attracted a better public. Nevertheless it appeared clearly that if I wanted to be noticed I needed to have bigger photos to catch directly the visitor's eyes. So it will be more profitable to exhibit a bigger size than two small.

 

The other small show I joined was called « Collage » (Pasting). I decided to present the panel realized for the COP 21 exhibition of the AAB (see the post in December 2015). The gallery partners found that the purpose of the work was interesting and that it could be worth to try to launch a petition with « change.org » web site.  We did it! If you consider that there is an urgency to promote « green  photography »  you can join my petition, which presently written in French.

Today the 9th May the industrials have no need to be afraid, I have only 13 signatures.


 

Liberty I picture your names. A folio to commemorate "Je suis Charlie".

The 4th work I presented was a folio of eight pages called « Liberty, I picture your names ». This is the biggest enterprise I undertook in photography and it takes its origin in the poem of Paul Eluard and its illustration by Fernand Leger in the 60s. It shows the complete basement of the statue of the Place de la République. The 21 panoramic bands present all the testimonies of the people. Each band corresponds to one strophe of the poem. The number of pages also reminds the numbers of illustrated pages by Leger. The background I illustrated with my "panoroïds" of foliage taken in Autumn 2015. Certain people have left flowers, drawings, poems,photos or candles. I leave my "panaroïds".

The job to build this folio was huge. I first needed to associate the photos using Photoshop to produce the merge and correct the circular lines. Then, I had to find a correct length for the bands. Each band is different in length like the verses of a poem which do not contain the same number of letters.  Once the panoramas were build I had to form the pages of the folio and select the two images that would illustrate the background.

Initially I intended to present the complete poem in one textile band like a « Kakemono » but the cost of it obliged to choose a more modest presentation as a folio to begin with.
I was not in Paris during the exhibition, but was present at the varnishing. Like always I had no comment about this work. The only comments I got were related to the poor presentation I had choosen for the 3 bands. Today the artist is confronted to a gap of culture in art from the public. It is no need to invest oneself too much in a message for the others, if you do something, you do it only for you. In my case it was a necessity to me to reply to the monstrousnesss of the terrorist acts with something out of the common. My response is similar to the actions of many people who to overcome their rage produced something to transform their pain or anger in something more positive in order to express that " they" had lost in their objective, and that our values are stronger.

I am certain that no one produced such a work. If you look at the messages deposited in the basement of the statue you will have the real meaning of liberty. Certain refer to the liberty of Love, other privilege the religion, and so on. Each contribution is an example of our public tolerance.  You might think that this is not special, but at the moment I write this text on 8th May, everything has disappeared. So this folio is history and memory now.

I produced two samples of the folio one was exhibited in the « Je suis Artist » show of the A.A.B. Gallery. The second has been given to an auction organized to support the victims of the November events. Today I have no news of the second sample. This folio will be presented in the other events. It is priced 150 €.

Happy new year 2016.

Here is my wishing photo-card for 2016.

Explanation for those who might need one. 

Traditionally January is a month for adopting resolutions that in 84% of the cases are not followed by real results.  We are the 4th of January  and not even a month before the COP21 Conference managed an historical agreement.

Anyone who thought about these issues is convinced : we will have to adapt our behaviours and  change our way of living. The photo picture the inside of the Parisian store Galeries Lafayette on the 26th of December. The posters are my designs and recall the objectives of COP 21, the one in the right is less readable and is a pray to think green. The lights express the power of business and past traditions. Today we live a period in which form and emotion (lights and decoration) takes the control of the essence.

Paris, Friday, 13th of November 2015: Dark Night.

Charlie's events were not forgotten. On the 15th October I was at the memorial site of Charlie Hebdo and walked all along the Boulevard Richard Lenoir, where the last and the only one place with  several testimonies remained.

I was surprised by that, and wondered : Have they forgotten, are they conscious of the situation we are involved in? Is my personnal commitment useless?

Photo from my Charlie's Days collection January 2015.



Today of course its different. Now it's time for sorrow. I am concerned: I live in Paris, in the 11th arrondissement. I obeyed the government order to stay home. It's 14H00 on Sunday the 15th, I'am going out for the fisrt time since...for a memorial walk again.

A new initiative and experience with the AAB, Ateliers des Artistes de Belleville : the Portes Ouvertes (Open Doors 2015), 29th May-1st June.

Even if this post is written in October 2015 I felt the need to enter an artist association in 2014, and made unsuccessful trials that year. In 2015 I subscribed to the AAB the nearest association from my apartment. I did not want an association based on photography because my customers are not photographers, the latter being generally only interested in informations about my shooting technique and forget everything about emotion and the finality of my work.

Their objective is to reproduce it, not for money, but for narcissistic reasons. So after a private presentation to a member of the association I was admitted.   

 Panoroïde without Photoshop. Mestissages, 2014. This suite of photos were presented during the Open Doors 2015 at the Régie de Quartier, 4 rue Robert Houdin, Paris 11ème. 

This association is among the oldest in Paris and became famous in the 70s when they were very active against the architectural projects of that period, which aimed to destroy many old buildings symptomatic of the Old Paris.

Thank you for the local association "Régie de Quartier Fontaine au Roi" for having given me the opportunity to participate to the Open Doors.

To welcome to the new members, we were invited to participate in a small exhibition, called Mini Mix,  that took place in the gallery of the association.  The major event of this association is their Open Doors that take place each year during one week-end  end of May or beginning of June. To participate you need to have a workshop, or a place to exhibit your work alone or collectively. I managed to find quickly a local association that supported this initiative and offered a larger space to present my photos  that I shared with another artist.

Photo from the inside.

The Open Doors took place on the   and globally were positive, even if the space is located south–west from the centre where most workshops are.  Sharing the space with Françoise Gasser also member of the AAB, was a real pleasure and there was no competition between our personalities or works. Globally I sold mostly cheap photos and some large framed ones. The amount of the sale was not very big, but as there was no rent, it paid at least for the printing and framing of the photos.

Beside this event I decided to become active in the association and entered the commission responsible for the agenda of the gallery.

As we say: A bad news never comes alone….

After the previous project I remained no active regarding photography.  As I had participated in an exhibition in October last year,  I planned to reproduce the same initiative this year. 

 A relaxing French landscape along a lake.

That show was interesting  for me as it took place near the Invalides in a part of Paris where I am usually not represented.  Last year we were many amateurs and only few galleries participated in the event. It was organized by an independent photographer and consultant.

I eared that it would take place again in 2015, but it was difficult to subscribe to it. In fact everything had changed: the name of the event, the duration, the organization and the price. Mid July I finally managed to obtain the subscription form and send my participation fee. End August without no news, I sent two emails to confirm the acceptance of my participation.

As a reply I received a gentle text explaining that they had chosen a theme for this year (the body) and that after having looked at my work, they considered that it would be better for my health not to be accepted. My work was not in relation to the theme and of course I would have been very troubled among the other photographer, I even think there might have been a risk for a heart attack! So they would send me back my check.

Of course they never paid for the stamp..., and I still wait for the check.  For the information of the reader, there was nothing in July in the form stipulating the theme. When they received my appliance they did not bother to reply and specify that there were conditions to participate. The only possibilities to see my work are a personal meeting, the booth at La Bastille when I go there, some exhibitions and of course the present blog.

The fact that I might have photos beside related to the objective never occurred to them. The deciders are mature enough to have omniscience and answer any question with their own means without consulting the authors, I suppose. The new organization is a company specialized in communication, they are so good that on the Web the event was almost not promoted….

Another landscape from the same site.

This could just be a comical fact, but in reality it is dramatic because this event was affordable for photographers like me, and initiatives like these are counted on one hand and are disappearing in Paris. I exhibited some photos with the Cercle des Artistes de Paris in Vincennes in 2014 and 2015, but here they will also change in 2016 the system of renting the hall, it will be controlled by a private company.

As a result the present fee of about 200 € for four photos for me  will not be able to remain at this level and the owners of the event are not sure to be able to renew it in 2016. Another comparable event that takes place in Place Saint Sulpice in June is not sure to be renewed next year as the town hall has other projects. I also followed some exhibitions organized by Gallerie #1, and their prices were very correct, they to have increased their conditions and fees.

Photo taken by Karen from G#1 , Business Art Show 2014 Paris October.

 So the accumulation of the three following trends ( the negative evolution of the Parisian market, the behaviour of public authorities and certain associations and the means of the Parisian photographic galleries) will lead to the impossibility to exhibit in Paris at affordable prices. As an artist either you break the law and invade the street and other public spaces without authorization at your own risk or you enter an artist or photographic associations to multiply the possibilities to collaborate in collective or single exhibitions.

I am aged 55, have grey hair and some weight, so guess which choice I have done…. ?

I entered an association of artists, the A.A.B., Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville (Belleville Artists’ Workshops association).  Is it an art or civilian choice?

My conviction is that if the art Parisian market  remains as it is today, art associations will sooner or later suffer from the same problem: a lack of means and many will cease their activity.

So finally our future, fantastic and business-organized society  will transform the status of the artist into the one of a potentially public outlaw, and any budding artist  will have to be a Street Artist, a stealer of public open spaces,  before obtaining recognition. Of course, if you have money that world is welcome to you and without talent you will be with no difficulty recognize as an artist. But once ruined or without financial support the street will become also your location.

I know I am a permanent pessimist…Wait and see…3 to 5 years and we will discuss this subject again.

Epilogue for « My Charlie’s Days » project.

It is important when an initiative is taken to follow it completely before investing oneself in new projects.  So being very « proud » of me « Charlie’s Days » collection of photos I worked to promote them by professionals and the public.  I produced a flyer to look for an editor and present some photos from the Saturday’s  March to the public in my booth of the « Marché de la Création » of La Bastille in June and July. Of course, none of these initiatives were successful. 

Image taken in October 2015 from what was the Charlie's memorial site in Paris. It has become completely normal as if nothing had happened.

The number of the French editors interested in photography and this thematic is reduced and I do not belong to the circles that would help to find the best contacts. Secondly, I expected that the impact of the January events would produce a need to share and show the attachment to certain values.

 In fact, this was a wrong thinking the event being a national and dramatic event the French public will not support any commercial activity related to the event. It is a position that French consider as a question of principle, in reality they are completely upset with their money and want everything for free in such cases, when they look at the images on TV or in the press they forget that journalists, reporters and photographers are paid to produce them. 

 Only remaining memorial site from the Charlie's events remaining in October 2015 located Boulevard Richard Lenoir .

Why should an independent photographer be paid for his work, it is such a silly question? It is a French character to be completely unable to associate principles and reality, this contradictory position can be found in many fields. So for photos like mine, they expect them to be given for free to the Charlie Hebdo newspaper or any other non profitable initiative. Of course the payment for the printing of the photos is not to be taken into consideration, especially when the images are offered at a rate of 5 and 15 € each.

Much too expensive to support an artist and his action to support freedom. So to anyone who thought I might have earned any money with this work just make your calculation: I spend a lot of time to produce the project, I invested about 600€ to retouch some photos and 150€ for the printing. I sold one for 5 € to a Canadian woman, three photos for 45 € to a private Italian customer living in Paris.  Thank you for their support and no comment!

It  has been a new experience for a certain photographer by accident that  I know. For sure if I do not become a photographer, I already am a philosopher!

My Charlie Hebdo's Days. Mes Journées Charlie. (Charlie Hebdo -2/2)

As an artist I could not remain aside. Many people in France even if they where not artist felt the need to react, contribute to our society by acting. Personal initiatives were numerous. My reaction began on saturday the 10th of january, when I began with some photos at Place de la République. I discovered the numerous commemorative sites gathering candles, flowers and all sorts of writing and design tools. On Sunday before working I was there too. It is on the 11th that I decided to apply my technique in the middle of the crowd, normally journalist shoot their photos using a high speed and a wide angle lens. Here the challenge was to try fix  this historical moment with panoramic photos. Here distortion is not the subject. How could I be creative and simultaneously report that day? that was the question. I was not in the march due to my work.

After that week end I discovered other commemorative sites of different importance between La République and Bastille. The most impressive one was in the street of Charlie Hebdo. So during 3 months I followed and photographed these sites. Some where vandalysed and I registered that too.

Today Charlie Hebdo is reprinted and publication is saved for 2 years. History is sometimes produced by stupid and dramatic acts. If nothing had happened on the 7th the newspaper was going bankrupt and today it would be unpublished and an object for collectors.

Regarding photography what is the result with the photos obtained :

- first it is possible to produce panoramics in such a context and have real expressive photos

- secondly it is possible to have in the same photo a detail and the context. This is what I call "INCREASED REALITY". Instead of having two photos and a text to connect them, you present every thing in one picture. The viewer is completely "informed" by the image.

-thirdly creativity can be found in the framing and the subject. The purpose of my photos was not to compete with journalists but have a personal approach of the subject.

-Retouching is necessary to save images that are expressive. In the present context of informative photos retouching just corresponds to what is made in the press today. It does not affect the meaning of the image. It reinforces the impact of the image. I managed to make certain in one shot, but it is a real challenge.

- The panoramic angle is really near the normal human view, as a result you are in the event.

-In France due to the regulation these photos are delicate, but in this historical moment I accepted to cross the line and present the people. Every one, including myself, could not avoid to be photographed that day, all wanted to have moments of that event, with cameras or Iphone shooting was every where. You can spot it in the photos.

Finally I have produced over 100 photos, pictured about 9 commemorative sites during 3 months. Now I am looking for an editor. The titel of the publication is : Mes Journées Charlie. My Charlie Days.

mail: denoronhapanoramic@gmail.com

Charlie Hebdo Dramatic Events of January 2015 (Charlie Hebdo 1/2)

The January events of Charlie Hebdo were dramatic. For the French they are our 11th September. Like many persons, artist or not, I could not stand without reacting. Like many French people I was not a reader of the magazine, but the chock was grate. So this was my personal contribution and reply to the events. There are many other through out France. The work produced just show how I was affected. These days where History and the first time that I saw the French people united about some value that are considered as the foundation of French identity and republic. They had forgotten their indifference and went out to claim their credo and express where the limit were: freedom of  the press, separation of the religious and public domain, brotherhood between different religious communities.

As an artist I could not remain aside. Many people in France even if they where not artist felt the need to react, contribute to our society by acting. Personal initiatives are numerous. My reaction began on saturday the 10th of january, when I began with some photos at Place de la République. I discovered the numerous commemorative sites gathering candels, flowers and all sorts of writing and design tools. On Sunday before working I was there too. It is on the 11th that I decided to apply my technique in the middle of the crowd, normally journalist shoot their photos using a high speed and a wide angle lens. Here the challenge was to try fix  this historical moment with panoramic photos. Here distorsion is not the subject. How could I be creative and simultaneously report that day? that was the question. I was not in the march due to my work.

email : denoronhapanoramic@gmail.com