On the streets between Château d’Eau and Château Rouge, I often discover a place that echoes what Irving Penn described as a “neutral space” (cf. Irving Penn, *Worlds in a Small Room*, 1974). Even though we are in the midst of Paris's bustling energy, the scene transforms for a fleeting moment into an improvised studio: a space that belongs neither entirely to me nor to the person before me, yet is open to us both.
In this neutral space on the street, it’s not about elaborate staging or backdrops – only natural light matters and the quiet agreement to meet each other without distractions. For me, this brief pause is a gift, because it allows encounters: the fleeting facets of our personalities, often hidden in daily life, suddenly come to the forefront.
This is how portraits emerge that carry both chance and intention. The people I meet on the street bring their own stories and agree to a dialogue that takes place not in words, but in gestures and gazes. It is precisely in this small intersection that I find the fascination of photography: its ability to preserve moments that outlast us and remind us of how deeply connected we can be in our shared humanity.
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The photo project will take place between 6 January 2025 and 30 April 2025 and I can be found several times a week between Château d'Eau and Château Rouge with my photo trolley.
At the end of a photo session, I kindly ask the person being photographed to sign a model release form for my photography project. This serves to protect both the individual and myself through a clear agreement.
At the conclusion of the project, I will curate 30 selected images into a narrative series. This series will be evaluated by Magnum Photos on May 14th and 15th and subsequently exhibited on May 21st and 22nd at the Magnum Photos gallery in the 11th arrondissement of Paris.
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I would greatly appreciate broad support!