When you start a conversation with Patrick Gauthey about one of his favorite subjects, photography, his gentle and friendly face lights up. At 49, he is able to express his love for photography in one go: “once I start, I can’t stop.” Moreover, he feels a certain fascination for women, whom he wanted to honor in his exhibition “Ladies Jazz.” He claims to be more sensitive to the music of women than that of men: “There has never been photography applied solely to women and jazz.” He began taking exhibition photographs at the age of 14, after winning a contest in Avignon. Ten years passed without him dedicating himself to exhibition photography. But during this time, he took the opportunity to train in communication methods and media. He then pursued training in computer science. Today, photography is his passion. And if he had to sum it up, it would be: “I give you the images and you make the music, and above all, enjoy yourself by listening to the artists.”
In black and white
The exhibition offered by Patrick Gauthey is unique: the photographs were taken with a digital camera and processed like analog photos. The originality lies in the “blend of the old and modern.” By creating black and white shots, Patrick Gauthey believes it allows for all the accuracy and subtlety of the image to be captured. To restore the image’s authenticity, he also uses photo editing software. But technology isn’t everything: “if you don’t have the eye to process a black and white photo, and if the photo you take is blurry, it will remain blurry even with photo software.” For him, most people devote more time to black and white photography than to color photography. But why this fascination with black and white? It remains a mystery to Patrick Gauthey. Photographs allow memories to be revived. Moreover, when he looks at his portraits, he automatically associates music with the women he sees.
How is a photo chosen?
In photography, everything is a matter of personal emotion, framing, and light. It is important for a photographer to provide a moment of emotion to the person who will view the image. For Patrick Gauthey, it is crucial that the audience hears music when viewing “his women.” For this exhibition, Patrick Gauthey had to make a selection, which was not the easiest task. With much enthusiasm, he reminisces about the times he spent photographing Grace Kelly, Nicole Henry, and so many others. It took Patrick Gauthey three years to gather these photographs. But with ideas buzzing in his mind, he hopes his next exhibition will be dedicated to men and jazz, for the great pleasure of our eyes.
