Bruno Bourel: Pushing Boundaries
Bruno Bourel is a photographer known for his poignant and evocative images that capture the essence of everyday life. With a keen eye for detail and a profound appreciation for the art of photography, he has developed a unique style that combines technical mastery with emotional depth, that resonate with his audience. Throughout his career, he has been committed to exploring the human condition, often drawing inspiration from ordinary scenes of daily life. His work is characterized by a skilled use of light and framing, elements he considers fundamental for creating impactful photographs. His approach to photography is deeply influenced by other art forms. This interdisciplinary perspective enriches his visual storytelling, allowing him to create images that are not only striking but also rich in meaning. According to him, the strength of a photograph is proven when it maintains its impact over time, a testament to his commitment to creating timeless images. Today, Bruno Bourel continues to push the boundaries of his art. His recent projects focus on exploring new themes and finding innovative ways to share his work with a broader audience. For over 20 years, he has been publishing a collection of black-and-white postcards representing his original works as well as photos from old Hungarian masters. He has also produced several books, including “Fényrajzok Budapest” and “Ainsi va l’amour.”
Website: www.brunobourel.com
Instagram: bourelbruno
Your first photographic trigger?
Bruno Bourel: a Polaroid SX 70.
The image maker who inspired you?
Bruno Bourel: Edouard Boubat.
The image you wish you had taken or regret not taking?
Bruno Bourel: None.
The one that moved you the most?
Bruno Bourel: “Vaporeto” by Gianni Gardin, 1960.
And the one that made you angry?
Bruno Bourel: The fake image by Robert Capa about the Spanish Civil War, staging the death of a soldier.
Which photo do you think changed the world?
Bruno Bourel: None, the world has been progressing every day since photography exists. Evolution is constant, and change is difficult due to one image or another.
And which photo changed your world?
Bruno Bourel: The entire work of Édouard Boubat.
What interests you most in an image?
Bruno Bourel: The power of the frame and the intensity of the light, but all that is very ordinary!
What is the last photo you took?
Bruno Bourel: My daughter at Lockenhaus Castle in Austria.
A key image in your personal pantheon?
Bruno Bourel: Luxembourg Gardens, 1955 – Edouard Boubat.
A photographic memory from your childhood?
Bruno Bourel: The Kodak Starlet camera, late 1960s.
In your opinion, what quality is necessary to be a good photographer?
Bruno Bourel: Continuously sharpen your eye with painting, sculpture, cinema, literature, music, it doesn’t matter as long as it’s something other than photography.
What do you think makes a good photo?
Bruno Bourel: If you can put the photo in a drawer, take it out a year later, and it still has the same impact, then you can call it a good photo.
Who would you like to photograph?
Bruno Bourel: No one in particular.
An essential photo book?
Bruno Bourel: “La Survivance” by Édouard Boubat, published by Le Mercure de France, 1976.
The camera of your childhood?
Bruno Bourel: None. I started photography after childhood. Otherwise, my brother’s Kodak Starlet already mentioned, and the Praktica Reflex my mother used.
The one you use today?
Bruno Bourel: Leica M6 and the Huawei mobile with a Leica lens.
A future project close to your heart?
Bruno Bourel: Finding sponsorship to finance my third book as I did for the first two.
Your favorite indulgence?
Bruno Bourel: A 24-hour fast.
The best way to disconnect for you?
Bruno Bourel: An hour of piano per day.
What is your personal relationship with images?
Bruno Bourel: A progressive relationship. The first 20 years of my life were more about music daily; now that I produce and distribute my images, it’s a minute-by-minute relationship. The most important thing today is knowing what to do with the images we produce.
By whom would you like or would you have liked to be photographed?
Bruno Bourel: Irving Penn.
Your last extravagance?
Bruno Bourel: None.
An image to illustrate a new banknote?
Bruno Bourel: Martin Luther King.
Color or B&W?
Bruno Bourel: Both. Initially color-Polaroid, now in the collection. Then, 25 years of black and white, and now a gradual return to color with the phone.
Daylight or studio light?
Bruno Bourel: Daylight.
Which city is the most photogenic in your opinion?
Bruno Bourel: New York.
If God existed, would you ask him to pose for you or opt for a selfie with him?
Bruno Bourel: Neither one or the other.
In terms of social networks, are you more Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Twitter and why?
Bruno Bourel: Instagram. I opened an account recently – someone even tried to hack it last night – so I’m not sure if I want to keep it. Anyway, Instagram has the advantage of being faster than a website, even though the use is different.
Has the explosion of social networks changed our relationship with images in your opinion?
Bruno Bourel: Yes, of course. People photograph everything and anything. But the curious can access the recent yet already rich history of photography.
What does photography represent in your creative universe?
Bruno Bourel: The daily reality of every hour for the last 45 years of my life.
What is the purpose of art in your opinion?
Bruno Bourel: It should serve to develop individual sensitivity and constantly create emotions.
The image that represents the current state of the world for you?
Bruno Bourel: The poisonous taps of continuous news channels.
The job you would not have liked to do?
Bruno Bourel: Bank teller.
Your greatest professional extravagance?
Bruno Bourel: None. Extravagance is not my territory.
What question could make you lose your temper?
Bruno Bourel: None, unless I’m forced to answer under torture.
And the question you would like to be asked but never have been?
Bruno Bourel: I can’t think of any.
What is the last thing you did for the first time?
Bruno Bourel: The entire ascent of a Way of the Cross with my ex-wife and children, under the scorching sun and being attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes!
The city, country, or culture you dream of discovering?
Bruno Bourel: Japan, after a too-brief stay in Tokyo.
The place you never get tired of?
Bruno Bourel: Sitting in front of the keyboard of my small piano and on my yoga mat.
Your biggest regret?
Bruno Bourel: The too-quick departure of close friends and family.
If I could organize your ideal dinner, who would be at the table?
Bruno Bourel: The members of my pop orchestra when I was 12, but some are already gone…
In your opinion, what is missing in today’s world?
Bruno Bourel: So many things, tolerance and respect would probably be at the top of the list.
If you had to start over?
Bruno Bourel: All things considered … I wouldn’t change anything.
Afterwards, what would you like people to say about you?
Bruno Bourel: The guy took some interesting images, sometimes surprising…
The one thing everyone should know about you?
Bruno Bourel: Too early to tell…
A final word?
Bruno Bourel: See you tomorrow!!!!
