Alain Laboile Photography

 http://lab.carbonmade.com/

http://alain.laboile.free.fr/

 

What kind of equipment (camera body, lens, filters, flash, tripod, cleaning equipment other) do you use?

I use a Canon 5D Mark III and the only lens I use (and I have) is a Canon 35 mm  f 1.4

 

What do you like and dislike about your equipment, specially your camera, and how would you improve it?

It’s a minimalist equipment. I eliminated all the superfluous (flash, tripod). The camera, very technical, exceeds my requirements. I’m not focused on technique and  I am only using a small part part of multiple features.

The camera and the lens are a little bit too heavy.

 

What is your favourite lens, and why? 

I groped, tried several lenses. The fixed focal length 35mm suits me perfectly. It allows me to include my many and moving subjects and I know immediately what can be part of the frame.

 

When you travel, what is in your essential photographic kit bag?

It should be as light as possible.

 

What kind of software/tools do you use for post-processing, if any?

I shoot in RAW format. I use Camera raw included in Photoshop . I make my little finishing touches with Photoshop.

 

How long have you been taking photographs? How do you find inspiration? How do you take your pictures?

I’m a father of six. My children are my subject, It’s a limitless subject.
I just have to look, children are creative, you just need to be there waiting for things to happen up in the frame and “click”.
Today my children moving and playing in their own environment with their spontaneous behaviour are my privileged motives.
My photography looks like a kind of daily diary began in 2006.

My omnipresence with my camera made me invisible. I learned to anticipate the movements of children, cats, projections of water, moving objects. I place myself and I wait for things to put in place like a choreography.

I am extremely present with my children. I’m there when they play and this is often the game that introduces the photographic idea.
Sometimes of course you need a boost, a gesture may suffice, or a verbal indication such as “do that again to see! “Or” back a little, “or” wait … go there! ‘
These are most often indications of placing or time, without explanation of what I want to photograph.
I think they have become accustomed to these few words launched. The important thing is to do it in motion, do not stop the game for a briefing . All is in real time.

 

Which style of photography do you like the most, and why?

I do not prefer a particular style, but I like photography focused on people. I love when a picture arouses emotion, tells a story.

 

What goal are you working towards within your photography and when will you know you have reached it?

Every day I share my photos via internet. I totally recognized the universal and timeless dimension of my photographic work by reading testimonials from other people from around the world. It is fantastic to be able, without any artifice that removal of color, share daily days pieces of our family life, and find a positive response to this simple life close to nature. Immerse someone in their own childhood through photography is very rewarding. The use of black and white probably reinforces this feeling.
I cannot count the testimonies of people remembering them in the country with their grandparents, or finding the smell of summer vacation …
I like the idea that someone could delve into his own life by reading a picture of crossed random stranger on the web.

What is sure is that this “vein” of the family photo is not a calculation or a conscious decision on my part. However ,these universal comments necessarily influence my photographic production.

As long as I bring something to  people I will continue.

 

Looking at your own work, which piece is your favourite? Why? Please provide a link to the picture.

It’s “waiting for the postman” because this photo has initiated the series .it is not the most technically accomplished but it is dear to my heart.

 

Does your work fit into any one or more distinct genres  (nature, landscape, long-exposure, black-and-white,  infra-red, urban, artistic, macro, vintage, vernacular, social, street)? If other, please specify.

I take the expression of an internet people telling that my photos are “street family”.

I’m quite fascinated by the “street photography”  It isn’t something I can practice because I live in the countryside, but I find my work quite close to this spirit there.

There are similarities in the crude side and spontaneous situations photographed. These are pieces of life that transcribe a certain reality.

 

Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?

These are the social networks (Facebook,Flickr) that lead me to new photographic discoveries.

 

What is the one most important lesson that you have learned since you started taking photographs? 

Do not be trapped by the technique but let me flooded by my subject.

 

And finally, what other interesting photographers would you like to see in this blog?

 Joseph- Philippe Bevillard: http://www.joseph-philippebevillard.com/  I really love his work, fascinating!