Le Chapelier works largely with digital cameras, but refuses to employ autofocus. This shrewd artistic decision forces him to anticipate situations and adjust his equipment before taking the shot, such that he can capture his subjects mid-movement, before atmospheric backdrops. Fascinated by the human condition, Le Chapelier’s work documents the lives of both country and city dwellers. His photographic series are constantly expanding, as he continually finds new ways to capture his subjects’ interaction with their respective environments. Alain Le Chapelier's photographs are individual testimonies: each image tells a story. His inspiration is sourced from the instantaneous compositions of Cartier Bresson, but also from Willy Ronnis’ cropped photographic frames, which suggest the entrance of a new element into the picture plane before its formal arrival.
Alain Le Chapelier
Photographer
Seaside
This series portrays various characters in a seaside setting. The images are connected by the common certainty of horizon and sea, which form the thematic framework. The works blur the boundaries between street photography, documentary photography and travel photography. All these shots are designed in such a way that the vanishing points within the landscape draw the viewer's eye to the pictorial surface. The human element provides an alternative focus to the natural setting, and allows the viewer to delve into the narrative possibilities of both the figure and their relationship with the landscape. These photographs capture specific moments during these individuals’ daily lives. They display their interactions with the world they live in, reflections of their innermost thoughts and the nature of the human condition.
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Chiaroscuro
In this series of portraits, the artist explores the theme of chiaroscuro in both dramatic and mundane settings and situations. The juxtaposition of shadow and light compose a unique and enigmatic environment within each shot. In these photographs, every detail is significant. The potential to evoke a feeling of intimacy and sensitivity around the human subject is thus heightened, encouraging a narrative interpretation. This allows the banal to transcend into something deeper, the mystery of which eludes the viewer.
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