Interview with Laurent Baheux

Laurent Baheux is a french photographer, born in Poitiers in 1970. Laurent Baheux was attracted to journalism and editing at first, rapidly discovering a passion for photography and becoming a self-taught photographer.

Laurent Baheux is a french photographer, born in Poitiers in 1970. Laurent Baheux was attracted to journalism and editing at first, rapidly discovering a passion for photography and becoming a self-taught photographer.

His devoted practice and his knowledge of the sporting world opened the doors to the top press photography agencies. From then on, he covered the main international competitions and channelled his energy towards conditions of speed and extreme demand. He has always been fascinated by Africa. [Official Website ][Dodho Magazine]

10007330_847758901921179_5134744916164785309_o

Who are you, as a person and as a photographer? Tell us a bit about your personal life.

I was born and raised in Poitiers region, in the west of France. I lived not in town but in the countryside where my parents wanted to raise awareness and educate me about the beauty and fragility of nature. Now, I can say that it was the beginning of my inspiration for wildlife. For sure, I particularly thank my father taught me the patience to observe animals, insects and plants around us.
Four years ago, and after many years in Paris, I went back to the Poitou countryside with my family. We live today in a very old house in a really small pretty village.

4239-Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA 2014 © Laurent Baheux

How did you get into photography?

At first, I was attracted to journalism and editing but, rapidly, I was discovering a passion for photography. I started by local sport events and the illustration of my press reports. My devoted practice and my knowledge of the sporting world opened the doors to the top press photography agencies. From then on, I covered the main international competitions and channelled my energy towards conditions of speed and extreme demand. I can say that I am a self-taught photographer.

2873-Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, USA 2014 © Laurent Baheux

The harmony between nature and wildlife, would you describe that as the point of departure for your photos?

It is true that I am impressed about the serenity and the harmony between nature and wildlife. Everything is connected and the animals are totally adapted to their environment. I always feel a lot of happiness when I leaved the urban setting for traveling in wild areas. I think there is nothing more powerful than the strength of Nature and in the same time, it is very fragile and precarious.
Can you tell us something about your post-processing of your images?
Postproduction means more time. I work slowly, I need to absorb my photos before I can process them. To get enough hindsight, I need to free myself from subjective issues related to the shooting; I need to keep my emotions from interfering with my work. I never process my pictures in the heat of the moment ; I need several months, sometime years before I start digging into my files. During the post-processing, I particularly chose high contrast scenes, with texture and dust. Noise does not disturb me, as I think that it gives a quaint atmosphere to a picture, that fully matches my vision of nature and wild species. I work with Lightroom that is perfect to highlight the contrast I want.

Five words that describe your photography?

wildlife, black and white, instinct, sensitive, emotional

8860-In Tribute to Ansel Adams, Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA 2014 © Laurent Baheux

How do you find and select the places for your images?

My first aim is to photograph wildlife, animals and landscapes. So all the places I go are wild areas : reserves, parks, bush… I started by the African continent that it is one of the most famous and incredible place to observe wild fauna. I follow my work on Africa and in the same time, I have decided to travel in other places that make me dream. America is one of its. I was just looking for wide horizons and landscapes in the footsteps of Ansel Adams who was a visionary figure in nature photography and wilderness preservation. His talent and his activism are a model for me. It has been a kind of gamble and I have not been disappointed. The american territory is incredible, huge and changing. There are mountains, plains, deserts with panoramas that take your breath out. Same as in Africa, one may feel that he is alone in the world.

Your idea of the perfect composition?

For sure, it is a very subjective idea because nothing is perfect. Personally, my perfect composition is an original one. I like surprising the public, thinking about the identity of animals with my portraits, feeling the joy of freedom with my landscapes, making a smile or crying sometimes… I am satisfied when people react to my images.

What’s your useable-to-unusable ratio when you review images from a travel ?

May be 1 useable for 100 unusable.

You’ve just been given a blank check to go shoot anywhere in the world for a week – where would that be and why? What’s your dream project?

One week is too short to do something good in photography… When I work, I need a minimum of 4 weeks. So, for a week may be I would like to go somewhere I could relax and, why not, in a heavenly spot… Hum, the Marquises Island would be not so bad !

8786-Monument Valley, Arizona USA 2014 © Laurent Baheux

What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photographing what you do?

The first challenge when doing landscapes photography and wildlife photography is to combine all the required components (animal, sun, shadow, backlighting, clouds, wind, etc.). It is impossible to figure out how long it may take to meet a specific animal, with the appropriate light and atmosphere. It is the same for landscapes: it takes time to be at the right place and at the right moment. It turns into a frustrating quest that requires heavy means and luck as well.

What would I find in your camera bag?

I use a Nikon 24×36 reflex with a range of lens from 16mm up to a 800mm that I just bought and that allows to reach a higher quality picture than my old 600mm. It is also lighter and easier to work with. A must for who respects the required safety distance from animals and carries his material for the whole day.

What do you feel is one of the major mistakes new photographers make in pursuing a career?

I have no feel about that because I believe that each photographic career is unique.

What advice do you have for photography enthusiasts looking to go professional?

Work, work and work…

What can we expect from you in the future, any new projects you’re working on?

I explore all the territories where wildlife can express itself freely.

8925-Monument Valley National Park, Arizona, USA 2014 © Laurent Baheux

7961-Antelope Canyon-Arizona, USA 2014 © Laurent Baheux

6976-Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA © Laurent Baheux

4611-Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA 2014 © Laurent Baheux

4239-Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA 2014 © Laurent Baheux

More Stories

Family roles; The Chen family by Fang Tong

Family roles; The Chen family by Fang Tong

The scenes were shot in a big beautiful house. Five models play the family roles. A wealthy Chinese immigrant family and a mix race child, facing problems among three generations.
Hospital – Portraits of spaces and people by Dimitris Mytas

Hospital – Portraits of spaces and people by Dimitris Mytas

Photographs of Hospital project constitute a form of narrative as Dimitris tells the stories of the people and spaces of his daily life, which he studies, edits and directs in absolute precision.
Wandering amidst the urban jungle by Jit Rakshit

Wandering amidst the urban jungle by Jit Rakshit

From the very beginning of my photographic journey, I was mesmerized by the patterns & layers nature offered and in the process of growing up. I realized that, these intricate patterns/layers
https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/bannerpr.jpg

We invite you to participate in the first edition of the Portrait Photography Awards. Our call is open to any artistic interpretation of portrait photography.

https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BAnImage.jpg

ImageRights provides intelligent image search and copyright enforcement services to photo agencies and professional photographers worldwide.

https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/mono2022.jpg

The best 100 images along with the winning images published in the yearly book “Monochromatic – Best Photographers of 2022”

https://www.dodho.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/banner24.jpg

Call For Entries #24 | After 23 editions and more than 100 published photographers, our print edition has proven to be a simply effective promotional channel.

The Black Thursday by Sandipan Mukherjee

The Black Thursday by Sandipan Mukherjee

A Flyover became curse of the Daily life of Kolkata. The fault of Structural design, choice of Material & a stupid engineering has wiped out the huge numbers of innocent life & injured more than hundred.
Alfred Stieglitz: The man who made photography an artistic gesture

Alfred Stieglitz: The man who made photography an artistic gesture

“Behind All of Us Stands Stieglitz”. He is one of the key personalities in the history of photography. Photographer, publisher, theorist and critic, Alfred Stieglitz was one of the main proponents of the dissemination of the new avant-garde currents and the recognition of photography as art. 
No kids around by William Guilmain

No kids around by William Guilmain

What’s the purpose of his presence in these places? Is he looking for his own kid ? Is he looking for his own childhood? Is he one of these adults affected by the “Peter Pan syndrome “? Is he trying to trick the old age? Perhaps this series talks about mourning.
Sympathy for the devil by Guillaume d’Hubert

Sympathy for the devil by Guillaume d’Hubert

This serie is impregnated with the extravaganza from the period this song was written, the character is beautiful, human and animal, graceful and brutal.
Bull Jump Ceremony by Tommaso Vecchi

Bull Jump Ceremony by Tommaso Vecchi

The Bull Jump is a ritual which represents the rite of passage in the life of a young boy (Ukuli), who, from a child develops into a man (Maza). 
The Irish Travellers by Håkan Strand

The Irish Travellers by Håkan Strand

The smiles, the laughter, the questions, the smells, sounds, families, dogs, horses, colors and textures …the Irish Travellers! I arrived at the halting sites in Western Ireland to learn about this remarkable group of people and their unique way of life.
The World Needs a Superhero by Diana Cheren Nygren

The World Needs a Superhero by Diana Cheren Nygren

This series envisions young children as contemporary society's superheroes. Superheroes have long occupied a central position in American popular culture. Society turns to superhero narratives in times of unrest as a source of hope.
L’Illa by Rodrigo Roher

L’Illa by Rodrigo Roher

Its enigmatic and majestic presence attracts anyone who dares to contemplate the Mediterranean from the beaches of Benidorm. Like a magnet, it exerts a power of attraction that neither my camera nor I, we could nor wanted to escape.
My travels around the world; Landscapes of Brandon Yoshizawa

My travels around the world; Landscapes of Brandon Yoshizawa

I grew up in Southern California and started taking pictures four years ago as a way to document my travels around the world. I have always loved the outdoors and the peace from being out in nature.
Yo No Hablo Español by Christopher Morris

Yo No Hablo Español by Christopher Morris

In 2011, photographer Christopher Morris returned to Central North Mexico, capturing the banality of the everyday and giving it a sense of dignity. In his forthcoming exhibition, Yo No Hablo Español (I Don’t Speak Spanish), he reveals the resolute pride of landscapes and life in a parched Mexico rarely glimpsed.
BigCASE by Viola Andrushchuk

BigCASE by Viola Andrushchuk

There is a so-called “anti-extremist legislation” in Russia, which includes a number of laws and regulations. Blurred wording of articles allow authorities to use it to suppresses the freedom of speech and to pressure on the mass media and critically-minded citizens.
Uncanny Valley by Mitar Terzic

Uncanny Valley by Mitar Terzic

Uncanny Valley is a term from the field of robotics and represents the diagram to explain: 
"When the aspect of the machine becomes too anthropomorphic it produces a strong revulsion amongst humans".
Nines by Jennifer Orhélys

Nines by Jennifer Orhélys

Natural, without complaisance, a heroine, conquering version, dreams of a masterly brush stroke, story to finish in beauty. Games of colours, aesthetic choices initiating a return of the sap and feelings.
The Journey of Hope; Forgotten in Lampedusa by Salvatore Esposito

The Journey of Hope; Forgotten in Lampedusa by Salvatore Esposito

Lampedusa is the outpost for the Europe. Closer to Africa than to mainland Europe, but to get here is that all migrants attempting what is called "The Journey of Hope."
Life and culture in Ethiopia by Trevor Cole

Life and culture in Ethiopia by Trevor Cole

These images are a cross section of the diversity of life and culture in Ethiopia. The tribes of the Omo valley, the Afar of the Danakil desert and the Orthodox christians of the highlands.

Featured Stories

Ethnic diversity in the Horn of Africa by Trevor Cole

Ethnic diversity in the Horn of Africa by Trevor Cole

These images are taken in the Horn of Africa where the roots of humankind lie, and arguably is a region of the continent with one of the greatest ethnic diversities. The people are often tribal (Animist) in nature or have recently been converted from animism to Christianity or Islam.
The Tribal Heartland of India by Tania Chatterjee

The Tribal Heartland of India by Tania Chatterjee

Bastar is the tribal heartland and treasure trove of ancient Indian culture. Today Bastar, is a part of the State of Chhattisgarh, India. It is a land of undiscovered surprises, with mysterious forests, breath-taking waterfalls
Portraits with Wet Plate Collodion by Paul Alsop & Luke White

Portraits with Wet Plate Collodion by Paul Alsop & Luke White

Wet Plate Collodion is a historic photographic process that was pioneered and used in the In the mid to late 1800's by an English photographer called Frederick Scott Archer.
Suri Portraits by Piper Mackay

Suri Portraits by Piper Mackay

Inspired by their environment of wild trees, exotic flowers and lush vegetation. The Suri tribe use the clay soil of bright yellows, startling whites and rich earth-reds to paint each other’s bodies and make bold decisions about their outfits.
Diego Bardone : Unpredictable coincidences

Diego Bardone : Unpredictable coincidences

In his eyes there's the lesson of humanist postwar French photographers: Doisneau, Boubat, Izis those he likes more but even Bresson and Erwitt are a big source of inspiration
Points of the compass by Suvobroto Ray Chaudhuri

Points of the compass by Suvobroto Ray Chaudhuri

Examining life by over-thinking all the various life paths in front of you will always present a scary picture. In this journey over the last few years of your life, you might have been trying to figure out which path to go on.
Self-portraiture; Made in the shade by Chloe Meynier

Self-portraiture; Made in the shade by Chloe Meynier

Made in the shade project was selected and published in our print edition 18. Through a mise-en-scene self-portraiture series, Made in the Shade depicts characters in Mid Century Modern settings, mirroring an era that was aspiring for change.
The state of britain by David Barrett

The state of britain by David Barrett

The state of Britain project was intended to be a study of Americanisation within the UK, however ,The result of the Brexit referendum signaled to me that Britain was about to change more significantly , Britain was about to exchange its liberal European past for a survival of the fittest ”Wild West” culture . 
Thuis by Susanne Middelberg

Thuis by Susanne Middelberg

“Thuis” is the Dutch translation for “Home”. “Thuis" for me stands literally for “home", but also for the feeling of being at home in my life and in my body.
The corsair project by Samuka Marinho

The corsair project by Samuka Marinho

This is a personal project developed by photographer Samuka Marinho as an original portfolio presentation. It is composed of over 400 images and has taken around a year and a half to be completed.
Scotland & The Environment by Gavin Smart

Scotland & The Environment by Gavin Smart

Scotland and the Environment is a conceptual series touching on a variety of contemporary issues facing Scotland today, such as plastic pollution, marine conservation, intensive agriculture and woodland protection.
Sandro Giordano ; In Extremis (bodies with no regret)

Sandro Giordano ; In Extremis (bodies with no regret)

My photographs are “short stories” about a world that is falling-down. Each shot tells about worn-out characters who, in a sudden black-out of mind and body, crash with no attempt to save themselves.
Reflecting on Nature by Loreal Prystaj

Reflecting on Nature by Loreal Prystaj

There is no such thing as compromising with nature; we simply abide by how it lives and exist as a part of it. Nature is very relevant to each individual’s well-being, but more so than it is part of us, we are part of it.
Acid Survivors by Jan Møller Hansen

Acid Survivors by Jan Møller Hansen

Acid attacks in Bangladesh are usually the result of land disputes, rejected marriage proposals, refusal or inability to pay dowry, resistance of being trafficked as sex worker or simply the desire for revenge.
Vanishing Faces Tibet by Larry Louie

Vanishing Faces Tibet by Larry Louie

The current pace of development around the world has brought widespread concern about a loss of diversity in nature and the need to protect endangered species.  But the changes brought by the forces of globalization, industrialization and urbanization affect not only animals and plants.  People and cultures, ways of thinking and ways of living that have been in existence for thousands of years, are also at risk.  
Rohingya refugees by Joxe Inazio Kuesta

Rohingya refugees by Joxe Inazio Kuesta

We arrived at Teknaf, in the district of Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) at noon, and that same afternoon we left for the refugee camps. It was raining, and the moto-rickshaw carrying us broke down halfway

Trending Stories

Tamara Knight – The world as I see it

Tamara Knight – The world as I see it

I am originally from the Crimean peninsula, so my vision is a little different. I was born and grew up in Sevastopol, learned photography in Moscow school and developed and polished my skills in America. A wild blend!
Northern Fort by Jelena Osmolovska

Northern Fort by Jelena Osmolovska

Series "Northen Fort" Was captured in Liepaja. It is about Historical error , the consequence was the destruction of fort. Karosta was constructed in 1890-1906 as a naval base for the Russian Tsar Alexander III
Academy by Anton Malkov

Academy by Anton Malkov

Two years ago I was invited to visit St. Petersburg Academy of Art, Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Behind the heavy doors I saw six-meter ceilings and walls that had not been restored for years.
Homeless people; On the street by Zoltán Molnár

Homeless people; On the street by Zoltán Molnár

In the EU, the number of homeless people has grown by seventy percent in one decade. Nowadays more than 700 thousand people have to face the fact daily that they have no roof above their heads.
A chance to shine by Javier Fergo

A chance to shine by Javier Fergo

I have been taking pictures of Flamenco for over ten years, in different festivals and venues. After so long you get to recognize what is known as “duende” in flamenco.
Moises Levy – Minimalistic compositions

Moises Levy – Minimalistic compositions

esthetically I create minimalistic compositions where with the less elements possible and a surrounding atmosphere, an image is produced that awakens curiosity about what is going to happen after that scene.
A letter from my mom by Raisa Mikhailova

A letter from my mom by Raisa Mikhailova

Time covers our memory like a peculiar stencil, leaving only separate spots - things we can recall. Some of these spots are clear and vivid; others are just vague imminently fading impressions.
Street photography by Urvashi Singh

Street photography by Urvashi Singh

The Dominoes of Deceit places along the frame a vertical and horizontal array of men who are seemingly conflicted and yet non-confrontational.
Made of sap and blood by William Guilmain

Made of sap and blood by William Guilmain

I always had been fascinated by the concept of specie’s evolution. In this work I wanted to shed light the proximity between the vegetable kingdom and the human body. I chose to use an analogic camera and instantaneous film because of the fragility, oneness, ephemeral and random characteristics of the life. 
Inside the Camera Bag of Alfredo Macchi

Inside the Camera Bag of Alfredo Macchi

Normally I travel with two camera bodies, a Canon 7D and an old Canon 30D, two machines to read but very reliable, even under extreme conditions. I carry tree objectives: a 10-22 1: 3.5 - 4.5 which is the one I prefer, a 17-55 1: 2.8 which is good for all situations and a 70-200 1: 4 in the case of subjects distant.
Seductive power; The Idol by Lionel Arnaudie

Seductive power; The Idol by Lionel Arnaudie

The figure of the idol has a mesmerizing and seductive power. The admiring crowd raises him or her to a higher rank, and turns the idol into an object of worship and contemplation. The Idol series shows the special relationship between these two parties, and focuses on its passionate and destructive nature.
American Deindustrialization by Joseph Romeo

American Deindustrialization by Joseph Romeo

A current project that I've been working on over the past few years is a series called American Deindustrialization. All along the American Rust Belt are rapidly disappearing relics of Americas Industrial past.

Other Stories

stay in touch
Join our mailing list and we'll keep you up to date with all the latest stories, opportunities, calls and more.
We use Sendinblue as our marketing platform. By Clicking below to submit this form, you acknowledge that the information you provided will be transferred to Sendinblue for processing in accordance with their terms of use
We’d love to
Thank you for subscribing!
Submission
Dodho Magazine accepts submissions from emerging and professional photographers from around the world.
Their projects can be published among the best photographers and be viewed by the best professionals in the industry and thousands of photography enthusiasts. Dodho magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted project. Due to the large number of presentations received daily and the need to treat them with the greatest respect and the time necessary for a correct interpretation our average response time is around 5/10 business days in the case of being accepted.
- Between 10/30 images of your best images, in case your project contains a greater number of images which are part of the same indivisible body of work will also be accepted. You must send the images in jpg format to 1200px and 72dpi and quality 9. (No borders or watermarks)
- A short biography along with your photograph. (It must be written in the third person)
- Title and full text of the project with a minimum length of 300 words. (Texts with lesser number of words will not be accepted)
This is the information you need to start preparing your project for its presentation
To send it, you must compress the folder in .ZIP format and use our Wetransfer channel specially dedicated to the reception of works. Links or projects in PDF format will not be accepted. All presentations are carefully reviewed based on their content and final quality of the project or portfolio. If your work is selected for publication in the online version, it will be communicated to you via email and subsequently it will be published.
Contact
How can we help? Got an idea or something you'd like share? Please use the adjacent form, or contact contact@dodho.com
Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.
Submission
Dodho Magazine accepts submissions from emerging and professional photographers from around the world.
Their projects can be published among the best photographers and be viewed by the best professionals in the industry and thousands of photography enthusiasts. Dodho magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted project. Due to the large number of presentations received daily and the need to treat them with the greatest respect and the time necessary for a correct interpretation our average response time is around 5/10 business days in the case of being accepted. This is the information you need to start preparing your project for its presentation.
To send it, you must compress the folder in .ZIP format and use our Wetransfer channel specially dedicated to the reception of works. Links or projects in PDF format will not be accepted. All presentations are carefully reviewed based on their content and final quality of the project or portfolio. If your work is selected for publication in the online version, it will be communicated to you via email and subsequently it will be published.
Get in Touch
How can we help? Got an idea or something you'd like share? Please use the adjacent form, or contact contact@dodho.com
Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.