Pascale Peyret > June 2011 CK Pinhole Photographer Feature

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Pascale Peyret is a pinhole (sténopé) photographer currently living in France and it's a pleasure to have her as the June 2011 CK pinhole photographer feature.

Portrait of French pinhole photographer Pascale Peyret

"I became involved in photography later in my life and it served as an exorcism from an illness. This touches every aspect of my work, although it is often unsaid.

When I lost my father at the age of 17, I realized the most rich moments we shared together were probably those we spent in the obscurity of his photographic laboratory, his “dark room.” I realized much later that photography was deeply rooted in the history of my family, with more than a century of amateur photographers. During my years as an art history student, I became passionate about the quattrocento and the representation of space through a perspective. My first trip to Florence was a revelation.

Then, for more than ten years, I collaborated with numerous still-life photographers. I trained my eye, my critical sense, and participated in the slow construction of the image, the organization of the space, the set-up of the scene and its objects. I am moved by the memory charged objects of Christian Boltanski and the poetic play on spatial dimensions of Georges Rousse, but also by the works of Land Art which relate life and art. I wished to create my own themes and I chose the pinhole camera to photograph them.

Like Alice, it's a shift into wonderland. I adjust the points of reference, change the scales, and envision new spaces. Since my first photographs, I have been capturing the world of plants. The light filters through the pinhole during the slow exposure process. The subtle palpitations of life animate the shot. I am creating models of futuristic cities where nature regains its proper role. In my work, I not only photograph, film, record, and explore, but am actively involved in the process of mother nature.

I also shot “China / the little red something” with a small 6/6 pinehole camera. This work in project has already been presented in Guangzhou Photo Biennal (China), in Fotonoviembre in Tenerife (Spain) “Boutographies” in Montpellier (France) and next july in Aix-en-Provence (France) for a solo exhibition at “fontaine obscure” gallery."

CK → When I first saw Pascale's pinhole photos I remember thinking "wow, that's really great". She definitely took advantage of a pinhole camera's depth of field. Creatively arranging small figures in natural and constructed diaramas to create interesting pinhole photographs. It's a pleasure and an honor to have her text and photos part of this ongoing series. Merci Pacale -Chris