Communication, it is probably the lack of it we felt when leaving Shangai on the way to the Xinjiang. It was like falling into a strange world along the ancient Silk Road: being in China without feeling like it and to catch a glimpse of Middle-East without reaching it. These pictures transcribe some signs we still have to decode and some exchanges we would like to understand. (Pictures from Xinjiang – China – 2004)
Author: Arnaud Rivière
Initially, there was probably no specific reason for me to go for photography. I imagine there is some kind of paternal influence behind the first move towards film cameras. Some vague recollections from my childhood, where I see him manipulating a strange magic box and some pictures coming out from a bathroom few hours later.
But then after the first try, it appears that the box was not magic at all but just complicated. This is the point where I ve been hooked: trying to get something out of the box and then something meaningful. Now, I begin to understand why I enjoy it. It forces you to look at things differently as you discover new angles, take profit of colours shades and try to understand lights. The game is then to find out the RIGHT compositions to reveal some kind of personal feelings.
With film cameras, time becomes a challenging player in this game, as there might be only one chance to take THE picture and quite a while before judging the results.
Most of my pictures can be considered as opportunistic as I just try to grasp these feelings on the fly with my cameras rather than to stick to pre-defined rules that might lead to a real photographic work. Some might call that laziness, but this is where I get some pleasure…
Most of the pictures, you ll find in the different galleries try to communicate this very first feelings. I hope you ll enjoy.
Orange
Once you passed the crowdy Angkor Wat and Bayon temples, you follow some dusty trails into the jungle. Depending of the light, trees are going through different kind of green and the grey stones of temples ruins seem to be parts of this vegetal world.
Strolling
To stroll: To walk along or through at a leisurely pace… … but trying to capture the signs that make a place or a moment so specific. (Pictures from Toulouse and Chine – 2004)