STEPHANE FEDOROWSKY: Man in the moon

Stéphane Fedorowsky is a French photographer. His black and white photographs are intricately imagined and directed. Shot with classic film and developed via his meticulous darkroom technique making each image, unique. Surrealism, philosophy and poetry all come together to create an experience reminiscent of silent film. Stéphane’s photographs invite the viewer to set off on a journey to explore their subconscious mind and inner world.

His first book: Ille était une fois Soi… a photographic fable in which he blends his images and texts, was published in 2010. Images from the book were  featured in an exhibition in Paris’ MK2 cinema. To view a video of this event, click: here.

His new book of words and photographs L’Emouvantail will be out later this year. An exhibition featuring photographs from the book will take place from June 6-22, 2012 at 11 rue Chapon in Paris.

To see more of Stéphane’s work, visit: www.stephanefedorowsky.com

 

Interview by Melissa Unger.

 

YOUR WORK IS VERY IMAGINATIVE AND WHIMSICAL. WERE YOU CREATIVE AS A CHILD?

As a child, I was more ” dans la lune” than I was creative. I always tried to escape reality by living in dreams.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS:

My main subject has always been ‘the human being’.  I try to unearth what I perceive as a  form of ‘truth’ that I feel is hidden within us all.

I began by making portraits whose goal was to capture something unexpected, an essence perhaps…to reveal something that would surprise the even the model his or herself.  I attempted to unveil something deep within them via my photographs, something that even they weren’t aware of within themselves.

I then went a step further and created characters which reflected the model’s hidden personality. Then I began thinking of the narratives. Every one of my fables initially begins with a main character that I have imagined, then the story  flows out all around him.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO INCORPORATE TEXT IN YOUR WORK?

A photograph always tells a story by itself, but I wanted to guide the viewer along a more specific ‘path’. To help him to travel into a world that I had created. So I began thinking more like a filmmaker, more closely intertwining words and images to create a real narrative experience.

DO YOUR DREAMS PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR WORK?

Yes, dreams and emotions are a very important component of my work.  I can also be inspired by the smallest day to day things… a person that I meet, or a symbol, something random that moves me deeply, unexpectedly.

 

 

 

 

HOW DOES USING TRADITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS IMPACT YOUR CREATIVITY?

I discovered the world of photography not by shooting images, but by developing them. I immediately  loved  the feeling of being a ‘mad genius’  in his laboratory. The darkroom became a sanctuary where loneliness became something productive; face to face with myself, I stopped time to explore my imagination and discover new techniques.

WHOSE WORK INSPIRES YOU?

I really like Surrealism from the 1930’s & 40’s. Man Ray of course, and Herbert Bayer. Early 1970’s Pierre Molinier too, and more recently Robert and Shana ParkeHarrisson …it is impossible for me to choose one.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST REWARDING THING TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR OWN WORK?

Your images are alive.  Each time I look at them they seem to reveal something more…

 

 

M.U. 2012