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Aurelien Vivier
@aurels_travels
Photographer based in France
I’m Aurelien, I’m 35 and I am based in Lyon, France. I discovered photography by chance when my sister bought a DSLR camera, a few years ago now, and she lent it to me for a couple of days. I spent time exploring the different ways to use it and I really enjoyed the playful side of it. So I bought my own camera and I started to shoot anything and everything; soon enough I realised that landscape was what I wanted to shoot. I crossed the length and breadth of the region where I was living, on the lookout for new images to take. A simple field with a tree was enough for me as I liked to make minimalist images. While I really enjoyed getting to know my region from the inside out and through a new perspective, the curiosity to discover other horizons grew. This desire got stronger and as soon as I got the chance I went to Australia with a friend for a few months. That experience made me realize I wanted to travel more to discover the world and shoot a diversity of landscapes, each amazing in their unique way.
"I would say that my desire to take photos guided me in my travels and travel let me live my passion for photography."
After my time in Australia I arrived in Lyon, a city full of both ancient and modern architecture. It’s where I found another way to live my passion for photography. I started to walk through the city while taking some photos and I realized that I really liked to shoot architecture and the different approach. You have to play with lines and curves, you can make very graphic photos.
"The accuracy of the framing you have to deal with to get a good photo challenges me and motivates me at the same time."
Then, not sure if it’s destination or coincidence, Airbnb was launched in Lyon and they were looking for photographers; I got the opportunity to work for them. Quickly I got hooked on interior design and architecture photography. As there was an emerging market in Lyon, I decided to take the chance and start my own business. Although this is my specialization now, I haven’t let go of my love for landscape and travel photography.
Since my passion for photography started, I take time to observe what’s around me. I appreciate the beauty of the world, its natural architecture. My view has changed and therefore I have changed. I never knew I was someone that could ‘create’, I never knew that I actually liked to create. Photography made me discover that I had an artistic sense and a certain sensitivity that I had never felt before. Photography combined with the act of immersing myself in nature helped me to become more aware of and sensitive to the beauty of nature, and of all that surrounds me. It helped me to stop and really see what I was looking at.
"And it made me want to capture it and turn that into a piece of art."
To achieve creating this art I have been teaching myself as from the very beginning. Like many other photographers I have been surfing the internet, looking for knowledge and skills that I would need. My attempts have been numerous and still are. I try, fail, adjust, and try again, continuously improving and perfecting my photos. Working towards progression in my own work every day. I also draw inspiration from other photographers I admire and who have proven themselves. In architectural photography I am very inspired by Mike Kelley, I like his very clean and precise style. I believe he masters the technique to perfection and I used his training to improve my work in my business. For landscape photography, Luke Stackpoole and Kyle Vollaers would be my favorites. I love their work and the dramatic style they give to beautiful landscapes; I take inspiration from their work for my edits. Otherwise, I draw inspiration from what I see when I travel.
The edit is an important part of my work in both areas. For architecture, I try to be very natural and to transcribe the place as I see it with my own eyes to respect the work of the architect. For landscape I want to give an aesthetic appearance to my photos, an appearance that transmits the emotion and the atmosphere of the moment I was there. The most important thing in my photography is aesthetics, I don’t just want to show a place, I want to make a beautiful picture of it. I want people to look at my photos and say: ‘Wow, I really would love to go there!’
"I like to show my work, in the same way that I would exhibit it in a gallery. It’s rewarding to get other people's opinions and it pushes me to keep up."
"Looking at my profile, one can easily notice that I have shared lots of photos from Etretat. It’s one of my favorite places I have captured so far."
I had seen lots of photos of these cliffs before going there last summer and this place fascinated me. The unique cliffs shaped by water and time seemed magnificent to me. And when I saw them with my own eyes, I was not disappointed. I really loved these landscapes, and I felt good being there. I took a lot of photos during my stay and I never get tired of sharing them. I’m attracted by the coast in general… The immensity of the sea, the feeling of infinity mixed with the roughness of the cliffs adds something special to the photos. Though I love mountain shots too; the majesty of the landscapes, the power of the impressive rock formations and the feeling of being small in the middle of so many high peaks.
Each place I go to, provides me with a new feeling, an emotion that is triggered by the greatness of nature that never stops surprising me. My dream destination is Iceland, all the stories and photos about the landscapes and the vibes that they convey make me very curious. And whenever I get the chance, I would also like to visit South America, especially Patagonia. There is so much more to discover with my camera, and each experience will leave a mark. But I believe that the most important that I have discovered until now, thanks to the camera, is my passion. Photography is something I love and I am good at, which helped me develop a better and more healthy self esteem and self confidence.
"It’s thanks to photography that I found my way professionally and personally, and I am looking forward to what else is to be discovered on this road."
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