Marc Thirouin is a French photographer living between Paris and Oslo.After studying arts in Paris, he developed its own photographic world where poetic stories and staged images prevail, thus inviting the viewers to reflect on their own life experiences.
Later on, he went to live in Scandinavia for a few years – more specifically in Tønsberg, Norway, then in Oslo. With this migration, the photographer reached a major milestone in its work and artistic vision. That radical change in scenery transformed his routine and allowed him to renew and refine his sensibility through the lens of his photographic universe, now straddling two cultures. And so, that Nordic immersion enriched his style, infusing it with even greater oneiric and cinematic aesthetics. [Official Website] [Print Version] [Digital Version]
How did you get interested in photography?
I always liked to create images, children I always have a camera with me. My father offered me a camera when he came back from a business trip to San Francoísco, for me it was a new beginning. I had to be 15 years old.
What inspired you take your My Little America project?
My Little America is an atmosphere, a whole world with its own characters… It’s a story, above all. Or actually, it’s many stories, merging, intertwining and echoing each other. Firstly, it’s the story of an era. It’s the 50’s, its deep rock culture and its numerous codes. For the gentlemen, it was the slick hairstyles, black leather jackets, rolled up jeans, open neck shirts, worn without a tie… For the ladies, the chiffon dresses, folded up jeans, t-shirts or short-sleeve shirts… and not forgetting the iconic cars! It’s a subculture with a strong desire to assert itself, to exist and live, characterized by two trends that meet and intersect: rock and hillbilly. Last but not least, cinema’s influence with James Dean, Marlon Brando and many others, spread aesthetics of incredibly perfect images, in which every detail has its meaning. It’s the story of the models, of course, impassioned and fascinating true Rockabillies, each with their own life stories… they accepted to put their thrust into Marc Thirouin’s expert lens and highly cinematic staging. Lastly, this inspired series originated from Marc Thirouin’s personal story. As a child, his mother would play Elvis Presley’s records to him… Marc got immersed quickly in this truly distinctive era, where music, fashion and cinema converge… and create, under a very rock edge, a form of touching romanticism. He later discovered that this world had come back to life in Norway. Like a revelation, he fell in love with the country and has spent half of his time in Oslo (Norway) for the past 12 years. He therefore pursued his immersion into the Rockabilly world, under the spell of its poetic charm, music, cars, elegance… and most of all, Rock & Roll.
“I view my work as an aesthetic report on Rock Culture; it fascinates me… and matters to be shared.”
How would you define your general style photography?
Cinematographic, I like to bring the viewer into my world, as if he were in the cinema, in my imaginary worlds.
Could you please tell us anything about your technique and creating process?
All my ideas come to me listening to music, classical, rock, hip hop, folk, hard hard, electro. I draw my ideas on in notebooks and I look for solutions to realize what I draw and see in my head. Then depending on the subject I will work my light in different ways to sublimate or make mysterious my subject.
In your opinion,what makes a good Photography
It must just trigger an emotion, positive or negative. We can only judge what it provokes in us
How much preparation do you put into taking a photography?
It will depend on the complexcity of the image that I am going to shoot.
What do you think makes a memorable project?
When you are happy with your pictures but also when you meet people who love your work. when you expose your work and win some prizes.
How do you know you got the shot you wanted?
When the image corresponds to what I see in my head. And then I smile and I’m happy. I’m not the same before the shoot and during when I have the images I want.
Your idea of the perfect composition?
We must not seek … everything must be put in place naturally.
What would iI find in your Camera Bag?
My camera MAMIYA 645 AF and my optics.
How important is an awesome website for your business and how has social media played a role in your photography ?
The website is our gallery, we can not live without it. I like to share my work, and the site allows me to share it in the world and to be able to work outside of France.
The social media, allow me to discover my work to many people. Like your magazine, for me it’s a real pleasure to share my images with you and especially this serie “My Little America”
What future plans do you have? What projects would you like to accomplish?
I just finished an advertising project and a covers for a French singer. Soon I will go to shoot others people’s for my project My Little America. And one day dream would be to make a book of “My Little America” with an editor.
Finally, one las question. What opinion do you have of our print edition?
I found the quality of the prints, really beautiful! I find it’s a very good quality magazine.
