Gwénola Chaudon
Gwénola Chaudon is a teacher from Southern France, she comes from a « pure » family of artists , Art has always been part of her life, a passion she had since childhood.
Gwénola has always loved Photography , visiting museums and exhibitions ( especially photographers as Saul Leiter, Levitt, Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson, Vivian Maier, Kertesz, but also Sarah Moon … ). For a very long time, she did not dare to try photography, it was like a hidden desire...
After an amazing trip to USA, and in front of her very poor photographic memories, she decided to buy her first Camera, to face fears and started shooting . Gwénola is a self taught photographer.
Gwénola’s style : Soul photography
« (When I found this word or category in photography , I said : « That’s it ! » I could finally put a name on my photography, or at least, what I would like it to be ! )
One quote I love from Levitt
« There, unaware and unnoticed, every human being is a poet, a masker, a warrior, a dancer : and in his innocent artistry he projects, against the turmoil of the street, an image of human existence. »
These words are about street photography of course but can be used really for much more! For me, every portrait should reveal the hidden poetry of human existence !
I like poetry in photography, I like simplicity and authenticity. I like to catch natural lighting ( even when shooting inside),but most of all I like to capture the inner light in people , the soul rather than just physical beauty!… I often ask my models to be as natural as possible ( without too much make-up or accessories …), I like natural beauty. Not too sophisticated or with too many accessories! Just people in their daily life, and their natural environnement.
When I started Photography, it was rather to shoot architecture and cities… However when I discovered portrait photography, I fell in love with shooting people, revealing their inner world, and beauty. People around me motivate me a lot with portraiture.
My aim is really to show delicately and respectfully the richness of the inner world of my models, to adapt to their personality, not to use them to do what I would like, but approach the soul with modesty. Someone once told me
« We don’t take a picture, we receive a picture » ! The diffrence is so important to me ! We do not take someone’s image, we receive it like a beautilful present the person wants to give us.
When I shoot , it’s always like a team project ; we take time to prepare, I listen to my model’s desires, the mood of the day… I like to give space to the people I photograph ! I like to stimulate them, and to express their ideas… I love when people feel comfortable and at the end have spent a very nice and joyful time!
I love people, and I am always so admirative of their qualities and talents ! I am quite optimistic and sensitive... I like to encourage everyone around me and I have a quite happy and spontaneous personality ! Photography is for me the way to show the beauty in the world and to keep looking at it ! »
What being featured means to Gwénola :
« I just started a few months ago to show my photos on Instagram, and I am so happy to find so much inspiration here and there and to find partnerships … To be featured is a great encouragement and honour to me and it gives me the motivation to keep going, and explore other things and opportunities.. I am thrilled To share my work and also to discover other people’s work !
I have some exhibition projects ready for when Covid will be behind us ! »
You can see more of Gwénola’s work on her instagram profile: @gwenolaphoto and on her EyeEm profile https://www.eyeem.com/u/gwenolach
Freak, out!