Portrait photographer, François Castelain discovered the passion for photography when he arrived in Saint-Martin in January 2015. Fallen in love with the beauty of the people of the island and the diversity, which is a real passion for him, François Castelain decides to take photos.
An experience which, at the beginning, was not easy "because the Saint-Martinites do not let themselves be approached like that. But after a while I managed to convince them. ” So much so, that thanks to the exhibition, which has been taking place since November 29 at Tropismes Gallery in Grand-Case, people recognize him and ask him to take photos of them.
First exhibition in Saint-Martin and already a big success, "what is interesting in this exhibition is that the Saint-Martin residents find that I value Saint-Martin, not like most documentaries". The message about diversity and the vision of the people here has been understood by the public through their work. “It's humanist. I love people, and that is above all what I want to convey through images. But I did not expect that after Irma, I would be known in Paris and New York… ”.
In Paris, François Castelain had spotted a Senegalese in the metro who has become a top model for Versace and Louis Vuitton, after joining the Elite agency "thanks to my photos". In May, François returns to work in New York for the Ford Models agency "because they fell in love with my photos".
But the photographer is more inspired in Saint-Martin than in Paris, “it all started here and it was very important to do my first exhibition here. I live in Saint-Martin, and I go from time to time to New York and Paris ”, before going to different spots in the world, because“ my goal is to continue traveling with my photos ”. History to put the Saint-Martin in the spotlight, while knowing that according to the places where he goes, "I will continue to photograph people in the places where I will be".
François Castelain, exhibits until Sunday December 15 his photos which are visible at Tropisme Gallery on the boulevard de Grand-Case. The gallery is open every day from 17 p.m. _RM
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