Ocean Journey Photographer of the Yr, Ben Thouard

OCEANOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE: Well, you might have the award win underneath your belt and the launch of a brand new e book supported by the gallery exhibition in Paris… You’ve been busy! What’s subsequent for you?

BEN THOUARD: Yes, I really feel like these three books are making a complete sequence – a triptych in Surface, Turbulences, and Aqua Obscura… so I feel I must discover a new method to reinvent myself. I need to maintain taking pictures for books and exhibitions as a result of that’s what I like essentially the most. But I’ll have to discover a new topic. That’s why I really like pictures, as a result of I don’t actually take pleasure in taking pictures issues twice or time and again. I feel this may be one thing of a energy as a result of it forces you to be curious and dig even deeper to create one thing new. 

OCEANOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE: That’s actually fascinating. So what’s it that retains you inventive or re-energises you creatively? Are there different photographers, different artists that affect you?

BEN THOUARD: I actually look as much as different photographers usually. I’ve just a few that I actually admire. And I actually like to purchase lots books. I actually take pleasure in being impressed by another person’s work. I feel it recharges your energy of making. 

But simply as necessary is being curious and at all times going deeper or pushing the boundaries of pictures; utilizing totally different lenses, totally different strategies, and totally different approaches. At least, that how these final three books got here to be created. 

OCEANOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE: And are there any names that you just’d wish to drop now, as these sources of creativity in you? 

BEN THOUARD: There are lots, however I’ve been actually amazed by Ernst Haas – a photographer from the Fifties and ‘60s. He labored with numerous black and white pictures, with sluggish shutters and transmitting numerous motion into his work. He has a physique of labor that’s all about colors – which is sort of superb. His topics are at all times fascinating. But the strategies he was utilizing, again within the ‘60s earlier than digital – I’ve at all times been in awe of that. 

But there are numerous proficient younger photographers as we speak. And just about every single day of my life I’m taking a look at somebody’s work on social media and feeling very impressed by it. 

OCEANOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE: Okay, so two questions off the again of that. Is it more durable or simpler as we speak to do one thing new – to discover a new edge to one thing? And the second query is, what actually captures your consideration as we speak?

BEN THOUARD: I get numerous questions from younger photographers asking me how I bought began? What can they do? Asking me for recommendation, and truthfully… it’s onerous to present them a response. It was very totally different once I began. When I began, it was the very starting of digital; I used to be nonetheless taking pictures on movie for a powerful journal business. I’d exit, shoot my picture after which current my ten finest to magazines. Then I’d get cowl, or one unfold, or one single web page – and you’ll receives a commission for that. 

It doesn’t occur like this anymore. I feel it’s more durable to start out as an expert as a result of the way in which the panorama has modified so dramatically. But then once more, there are numerous new instruments to make use of to place your work on the market and attain out to firms, athletes, or artists. So, I really feel it’s simpler to indicate your work, however more durable as a result of there are such a lot of folks doing precisely that. 

Also, earlier than you used to have artwork galleries and magazines with picture editors and artwork administrators who would curate photographers and works. Now, this sort of job appears to have disappeared. It’s for everybody now to make their very own judgment. Which is nice for accessibility… however the panorama may be very totally different as we speak.