Copyright Laurent Nicourt
Why we liked it: this image captures with a unique style the joy and light-heartedness of children playing in the streets of Varanasi. The viewer is drawn into the picture following the stare of the smaller child and feels compelled into following their happy march out of the frame.
Laurent, a few words about yourself.
I’m French, I live in Paris, and I’ve been interested in photography since I was a teenager. Before making photography, I developed a passion for photobooks of all sorts. I bought a lot of them and now I have a lot of rare publications.
I think I found the inspiration for my style by melting of all those books together. I tried to understand the composition, why a certain photo was better than another one. I remember, when I was a kid, I didn’t read my father’s newspaper but I stared closely at all the pictures.
When I started making pictures I never took many of them. I loved the feeling of big cameras like the Linhof and that forced me to take a lot fewer shots.
Now with digital I like to photograph with a casual attitude. Not unlike my eye: I cross, I capture. All my last pictures have been made with a “snap eye”. I m always near my subject, because I photograph the subject I cross. If you want to see more you can check www.laurentnicourt.fr.
What about this picture?
It was taken in the streets of Varanasi, I was walking and these two kids overtook me. Click.
What I like about this picture is that it could have been taken anywhere in the world but as soon as you look at it you understand it comes from India. Also, I think it is quite fascinating shooting such a colourful country in black and white.
Have you been to India many times?
It was my first time in India last year. I’ve spent there just ten days and I ended up staying… in Varanasi only! I’m fascinated by this town and by the people who live there. I’m not a mystique, I’m not looking for spirituality, but I love the city: the agitation, the quietness, death, life, the smell of cow dung and the perfume of incense, the chaste women and the cunning children. I love all these contrasts brought together.
Your style is very peculiar, what are your influences?
I have no specially influence. All photographs in a way or another influence me. For instance, all my photographs are black and withe but every colour photographer has influenced me. If you really want me to name names I can say it starts with Philip Blenkinsop and finish with Mitch Epstein.
What is your next planned destination?
I will go back to Vananasi in March. I’ll stay there for another ten days, just my camera and myself.
What is your long-term goal with photography?
I would like to keep making the photography I love with the same passion, the same sincerity, with a small dose of nonchalance and without having to deal with clients or curators. Being able to live with my photography would be a dream, which would be completely different from living through photography. Even though photography is always on top of my thoughts, I hope it will remain there without becoming a burden.
1000for1’s International Photography Competition is open until the 29th of December, join Nicolas in his journey by creating a profile and submitting your pictures!
