"Greetings from Mars" - by Julien Mauve
An interview with Julien Mauve, an imaging ambassador for Sony Europe, about the background to his project "Greetings from Mars". You can find even more photos from the series and other exciting projects by Julien Mauve on his website www.julienmauve.com
Julien's story:
How did you get into photography?
Mainly because of the aspect of being able to express myself artistically and communicate, and not least because I wanted to perfect my technique. I always try to develop an idea through images. I've been doing this for four years, using series of about ten photos each. I've been involved in photography for many years, but since my first project in 2012 I've been doing it on a more professional level. Before that, it was more of a hobby. I did my first exhibition in the same year. It's a pleasant way of expressing myself and it motivates me to continue on this path.
Why are landscapes of foreign planets and the exploration of outer space attractive motifs for you?
Outer space has fascinated me since I was little. In this respect, it's a kind of return to childhood for me. I used to read books and encyclopedias on the subject and wrote essays about it at school, so it's a return to that feeling and a little trip back in time. I then wrote a book that deals with exploration. It also explores humanity - where we come from, who we are. It opens up a lot of new fields in terms of exploring things. For me it was a way to find that very strong emotional aspect through very personal photographs.
I work exclusively for myself. I don't do commissioned work and I don't work for companies. So for me it's something personal that I do a lot of emotional work for. It's about doing things that reflect me.
Do you have a specific intention when you decide which photos to take?
I'm interested in conveying a message. Some people do this by writing, but writing is not my thing. I do it through images. It's about looking for the narrative and telling a story. Do you follow a particular method to achieve this goal?
It depends on the project - some are more intuitive than others. The intuitive ones are spontaneous, you get in the car, drive off and try to encounter things by chance. That can become a game of patience. With other projects, a lot of thought goes into it beforehand. For Greetings from Mars, I did a lot of planning - where, when, how, organizing insurance, finding the costumes and the right location... It took a lot of preparation. I always try to alternate projects like this. And even if the approach is perhaps different, a lot of thought goes into it afterwards - about the narrative behind the series, the story I want to tell.
What does it mean to you to be a Sony ambassador?
Sony is a brand that I grew up with and that I really appreciate. In the beginning it was more about music, but then the company brought a lot of innovations in photography to the market. Cameras have evolved, become lighter and image quality has improved. I am very proud to represent Sony. As I travel a lot, I need equipment that weighs little. The a 7 is light and suitable for traveling. And the image size is also important to me. The quality of the pictures is excellent - it has become exceptionally good in recent years. As far as the partnership is concerned, they leave a lot of room for creativity. And when you submit your project to them, you get a lot of support - in terms of financial support and inspiration - which in turn leads to you making inspiring and independent projects yourself. What are the benefits of using a Sony camera for your projects?
As mentioned earlier, it's all about traveling light. The a range is lightweight and suitable for traveling. It's also great in terms of file sizes and formats. It offers a lot of flexibility and I can work with huge images.
To what extent does the A7RII Changed the way you photograph?
First and foremost, it's the electronic viewfinder. It's very pleasant and has something immediate about it - you can see what you're capturing in the picture. And that's extremely helpful. And has that influenced you as a photographer?
Not as much as the support from Sony itself. Yes, the equipment is reliable, easy to use, robust and can cope with complicated shooting situations. Sony's support really helps me to develop - they support me with much more than just the equipment, and I really appreciate that.
And how do you see the future of photography? How do you think it will evolve?
There are some new technological fields to explore, including drones, virtual reality and augmented reality. We should explore these for photography. In this respect, I think photography will not change, but new doors may open. Straight to the most advanced range of mirrorless cameras, with high-resolution full-frame sensor and wide dynamic range. Sony Alpha full frame series
07.11.2017 | JJ
