Meet the Artist: Fabien Violeau
Where’d it all start?
With my mom’s and dad’s cameras when I was 16. Shooting turned into an obsession.
Favorite photo you've taken and why?
It is hard to choose, but I will say... It’s from my analogue dad’s camera, shot in 2015 in San Francisco. A location I used to dream about when I was a child. A simple picture with basic street construction. I’ve taken this photo very quickly when I noticed all the « whites » on the image (tee-shirt, cars, crosswalk, water terminal)
Where do you want to shoot next?
Texas / New Mexico are definitely on top of my list. I really want to go back to NYC as well. I will wait for the end of the US travel ban. I’m planning to go next month to explore the desert of Lanzarote Island (Spain). A very nice consolation, isn't it ?
Craziest moment you've had while shooting or traveling for a shoot?
It was in Australia for a surf shoot. I was quite far from the shore, around 6am, in the water. I was supposed to shoot with Wispy, a local free surfer legend. We arrived on the spot with Danny Wills. There were only the 3 of us in the water at sunrise. Wispy and Danni arrived at the line up before me. I was following them, swimming in about 3 meters deep water, with no surfboard. Danni took the first wave, I shot a few frames. When he came back to me, he told me with a typical Australian expression: "hey, I just rode on a shark you know". I’ve watch around me and asked him "what size?". He answered me before leaving: "Not too big. It’s fine stay in the water". I decided to stay put as he said. And I got one of the best picture series in the next 3 and a half hours.
Favorite photographer or artistic inspiration?
Jamie Hawkesworth, Christopher Anderson, Jack Davison. Everything in daily life could be a source of inspiration. Curiosity is the key.
Favorite book, TV show, or movie from the past year?
Book: Eloge de rien (a tiny French book)
Movies: the documentary My Octopus Teacher
Last meal on earth? (food, setting, people, etc.)
Probably a beer with my wife and my son Oscar.