CHLOÉ BONNARD

• Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

Chloé Bonnard. Soon to be 32 years and I’ve still got all my own teeth! Swiss by origin, Parisian by adoption for nearly 10 years now. Always curious at heart, always with an insatiable need to create, I am inspired by the street, and by women, by my travels and by my surroundings in general. Paris is my playground and I never get tired of it!

• Where does your interest in photography come from?

From my father, who is a macro photographer: he has a whole world of his own, and he gave me my first camera, a Nikon FM2, when I was 16. So I started by photographing very small things, but then turned pretty quickly to photographing humans. Portraits are my thing, beyond the pure image; I love the contact, love to share an exclusive moment with someone and come out from it as a better person. Each encounter enriches me and feeds my creativity.

• What would you say is the guiding principle of your work?

I have a motto, a quote from a master of photography: Ansel Adams. It suits me:

You don’t take a photography, You make it

• • What are your inspirations?

  Above all it’s the things around me, small insignificant details, the street, but also the 1980s, which I worship, all the colors and differences. I like everything that is a bit off the wall (I think everyone knows this about me by now)!

  • Which of your pictures is your favorite? And why?

  I am totally unable to name one photo in particular: they all tell something so different. Every picture I’ve ever shot reminds me of a moment in my life, a discussion, an exchange. And then of course my style evolves over the years, so of course I’m fully focused on my latest pictures because I am right in the middle of doing them, like the one with my friend the diva Ylva Falk, which iI’m working on now.

  • What are your future projects?

  Exactly, it’s this project, in its pure and raw artistic direction and with an icon (editor’s note: see article about Ylva Falk and a snake). I wanted to do something totally different from Nanas d’Paname. So I’m in the middle of doing this project, and that’s the one to watch. Otherwise, the big project of Nanas d’Paname 2016 is also under way, but for now I’m going to leave you in suspense – come and ask me again at the start of 2016!