Hi Thibault, it's great talking to you! First of all, could you tell us a little bit about yourself? Who are you, where do you come from, where do you live now? Tell us a bit about your personal background!
Hi! I am Thibault Pageot. I was born in Paris, but I moved at a very young age to the hereditary enemy Marseille in the south of France facing the Mediterranean Sea. It was there that my passion for the sea first sprang up in me and made me a sailor for almost two decades. It is during these periods of sailing and discovering the world that my passion for photography was born! I absolutely had to capture all these new fascinating and wonderful horizons!
I trained as a photographer for many years while continuing to work as a mechanic on ships across the oceans. Traveling while working was not enough for me anymore… So, to satisfy my passion for photography, I also started to travel by myself during my free time to take pictures.
Finally, after almost 20 careers, I left my job last year to start photography full time. I also left my country France to settle in Denmark with my wife whom I met during a trip to Cuba.
For photography lovers, Denmark is just great for taking pictures as its incredibly photogenic and it’s also populated by talented photographers who are an incredible source of inspiration.
You specialized on urban landscapes and share some really interesting perspectives - how did you develop your style? What is the most challenging part in photographing those landscapes?
Indeed, I like the urban landscapes very much because I am attracted by the architecture, the lines, the forms which one can find there. Sometimes I also like to add a scene of life or a character in action for example. I like to play with all that and for me the most difficult thing is to find the composition that will make me say: this is the shot! To develop this, you have to walk a lot, explore, try different framings and not be afraid of waste. Don't hesitate to come back to a place if you can in order to have the light conditions you want.
But as you can see by looking at my Instagram account or on my website, I also like to photograph simple landscapes and portraits, even if I don’t publish so much of that, and even sometimes more original things straight out of my imagination (grins)
You seem to like travelling a lot! What is your favorite spot you have been to so far? Where would you like to go next (once it is possible to travel freely again)?
As a photo lover the list could be long.
Even though I know I'm not going to be very original here, two countries stand out for various reasons: Cuba and Iceland. Cuba for the life scenes, the colors that we can find there and Iceland for its breathtaking landscapes.
You will notice that they are two countries where there is almost no architecture and urban landscapes (laughs)
I also love the great spaces and nature, that's why my next trip is already planned for the Faroe Islands! Extremely excited to photograph these virgin spaces.
(By the time we have published the interview, Thibault actually went to the Faroe Islands and took some wonderful pictures: )
Could you tell us a bit about your creation process? How do you get your ideas and how do you edit your pictures? Do you plan a lot ahead or do you prefer taking pictures spontaneously?
I think I am using two different types of processes: A planned and a spontaneous one. Both are complementary. It can start with a place that I've previously identified and then quickly become something spontaneous, once I'm there or on the way. I might as well tell you that neither process has a guarantee of success (laughs)
I then try to follow a guideline in post-production. I play a lot on the colors, the saturation, and the contrasts of the image by working by zone. Depending on my inspiration, I sometimes create an image from several pictures, this is usually planned during the shooting in anticipation of this.
What inspires you and why?
What inspires me is the world around me. Some places, the architectural lines, the life scenes, the weather conditions are a pleasure for my eyes, and I try to capture the essence of it. I try to make an interesting visual that conveys certain emotions.
I also try to visualize how the photo would be edited at the time of shooting and it inspires me a lot.
How and why did you start using Instagram as a platform to share your photography?
I didn't share my work for many years. I wanted to train and enjoy myself independently. On the advice of my wife, I started using Instagram in 2018 to share some of my photos because they could be appreciated by a community, would allow me to get known and I could see other photographers' work. She knew how much I loved photography and how it could be useful to me.
It wasn't until late 2020 when I made the decision to pursue a second career and I started using Instagram more seriously and being active more regularly. I found a sense of community and the possibility for photographers like me to get commercial partnerships.
On your Instagram, you have a fair share of colored and black-and-white pictures. What makes each style special in your opinion?
Not all images are good for black and white, far from it. On the contrary, reading a black and white image is more uncompromising than reading a color image.
Black and white reveals certain details and, by the same token, certain defects. For example, a viewer of a black and white image will more easily pay attention to framing and composition. The black and white brings a dramatic and mysterious connotation that I appreciate very much. It gives a different interpretation of reality. The eye will no longer be drawn to the colors, bright or pale, but to the shapes, silhouettes, and contours. Black and white photography allows to express a creative bias by restoring, for example, more textures, contrasts, or light.
On the other hand, colors offer a very broad panel of possibility. It allows to transmit so many emotions. The possibilities are infinite and the hardest thing, I think unfortunately in the choice to photograph in color instead of black and white, is to keep a constancy in the post-production because it is very easy to deviate from it.
Personally, I like the style commonly called Moody which plays a lot on the contrasts of the photos and plays on the sources of lights. The colors are often desaturated which I like. The monochrome style is also one of my favorites, a style that for me transmits a lot of emotions.
Do you have a favorite photograph of yours? Can you tell us the story behind it?
Yes, I have got one and it is for a simple reason. My personal memories behind it are strong.
The photograph represents a scene of life in La Havana, Cuba.
You can observe the young Cuban generation and the not so young sharing a convivial moment at the time of the sunset on the famous Malecón in front of the sea in the Gulf of Mexico.
I like very much the sun rays penetrating the people and the shadows of those on the foreground.
As always, my camera was with me but my presence at this precise place at this precise moment was not planned at all. We found ourselves there by chance in the company of Cubans to discuss. Once on the spot I seized the opportunity, it was an incredible moment.
How do you feel about your IG-Community? Do you connect with them a lot? Do they help you find new ideas?
I really like my IG community. I have made friends online that allow me to progress.
So many talented, fun and supportive people are part of my journey.
Yes, I like to log in regularly to discuss our work. I sometimes find ideas of places to photograph and for that it is sometimes very useful.
Could you name some of your favorite Instagrammers who inspire you?
Some of my favorite Instagrammers who inspire me are
@david_burdeny, @cimkedi, @pat_kay, @askejorgensen and finally, a compatriot @pierretlambert
Do you like putting photograhies or art posters on your wall?
Yes, indeed I like that! I offer on my website thibaultpageot.com fine art prints with a paper of excellent quality often named as the favorite paper of photographers. Before opting for this one with my partner, I made several tests, and it turns out that the most successful is currently on the walls of our home to the delight of my wife (smirks)
Did you know Pickmotion before we started our collaboration? If yes, how did you become aware of us?
I don't think so directly but I'm sure I've already seen your products on display in one of your many sales outlets across Europe.
Would you like to share a little anecdote or story with us? Please feel free to tell us anything!
Yes, absolutely.
Like many photographers, I plan my shots in advance. The goal is to capture the moment we would like to happen and sometimes ..... everything does not go as planned!
I went to Cambodia to photograph the sunrise on the really special day of the equinox – a specific time of the year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator and day and night are of equal length which only happens twice a year. The special interest of the sunrise on that day is to see it happen exactly in line with the top of an exceptional temple. The most magical and mysterious ever built on the entire Asian continent: Angkor Wat! It is hard to believe how people were able to build up such amazing events already in ancient times.
Archaeologists believe during ancient times kings wanted to connect the earth with the sky. Hence, they used to integrate sky events to temples, not just at Angkor but all over the world. The equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat is only one of those.
My whole trip was planned around that day! Of course, I came a few days before the event, the weather was incredibly sunny... The night before, I went to bed early, excited about the next day. Set the alarm around 3:30am guys! I got ready and took a tuk tuk straight to the temple... The sky was still very dark .... I set up my tripod, my cameras and I wait .... And I wait... And the sun never showed up all day ... It was a great experience and a very cloudy shoot that I prefer to keep to myself (laughs)
PICKMOTION Art Poster with a motif by @thibaultpageot.dk
Find our PICKMOTION Art Poster with a stunning picture by @thibaultpageot.dk in our online shop! You can also find matching picture frames in two colors that will match your poster perfectly! Feel also free to follow Thibault on Instagram to see more amazing works of his!
