New York’s Lobster Roll Restaurant on Montauk Highway
Spiaggia Grande in Positano, Italy
Lido Beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida
Vacation snapshot in Sarasota, Florida
In keeping the spirit of barbecues and beaches going, we turn to Brooklyn-based photographer Juliette Charvet, who’s known for her breathtaking landscapes — from the sandy scene on the Amalfi Coast to vacation haunts in Florida and Amagansett, New York. Here, she chats about her work and inspirations.
My photography is about…
Travel, escape and individuals captured in immensity.
I wanted to be a photographer when…
I traveled for the first time in the U.S. as a young teenager. I spent a whole rainy week stuck in a cabin in the Adirondacks with not much to do. I remember reading an article about Italian opera in The New York Times. There were some beautiful black and white pictures illustrating the article, and I then realized this was how I wanted to express myself. I wanted to freeze, frame and capture some moments, emotions, beautiful lights and landscapes that were dear to me. When I got back, I bought my first camera and I think I’ve never gotten bored ever since.
My camera of choice…
It doesn’t really matter to me as long as it is not too heavy and can generate high resolution photographs. I mostly use a 35 mm, both digital and film. I particularly like Nikon cameras, but it might just be habit. I also like to shoot in medium format. But most importantly, I can’t leave home without my iPhone!
My influences are…
Movies, books, art and, of course, travel inspire me. My favorite photographers, to name a few, include Raymond Depardon, Martine Franck, Elliott Erwitt, Martin Parr, Massimo Vitali, Peter Beard and Joel Sternfeld. I also love to discover the work of young photographers. Instagram can sometimes be a fantastic photo gallery.
Subjects I’m most drawn to…
I am naturally drawn to the quietness and peacefulness of wide and unlimited landscapes: beaches, deserts, horizons… and I am particularly attracted by the graphic feel and geometric aspect of unoccupied, empty places. It gets even more exciting when I’m able to catch individuals or even just a silhouette, which gives a scale to the whole picture.
Most memorable shoot…
It’s not easy for me to narrow this down to a single experience. There are so many. To me, a good shoot is usually associated with a great trip. So if I had to name only one: I spent the week of my 30th birthday cruising on the back of a big motorcycle, shooting the roads of California. Unforgettable!
I received a very good tip from a photographer I particularly admire. I am very impatient by nature and always like to go fast. He told me once that there is no need to rush in photography. There is plenty of time to accomplish the projects you are working on. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. So learn to be patient: a photography project can take 10, 20, 30 years and sometimes more… life is long.
Favorite photography books…
I can’t stop myself from buying new ones. What I love about them is that they make you travel, even for five minutes. To name a few of my all-time favorites: Early Color by Saul Leiter, South Southeast by Steve McCurry, Depardon Voyages by Raymond Depardon, In the American West by Richard Avedon. I am lucky as Clic Gallery, which represents my work, is also a fabulous bookstore with rare signed collector’s editions, and I could spend hours digging through their library.