Kevin Fletcher
All of my image-making is intuitive, but perhaps the most intuitive is street photography; it doesn't always require a preconceived idea or plan - sometimes you just follow your instincts. And though I certainly have ideas in my head, I never really know what I am going to find. Often, I just have to be open to the world around me. The Coupe du Monde photos are a perfect example of an unplanned unfolding - of intuitively accepting an unexpected and wonderful gift. I just happened to be working in Paris during the World Cup (on a non-soccer related motion shoot) - I had my still camera with me because I always have it with me. France won the quarter-finals - the streets of Paris erupted - France won the semi-finals - blissful eruption - and the finals - the rest is history! At the time, I knew "it" was happening - that "it" you hope for; being in the right place at the right time. Of course, I can now look back at these pictures and say that each of them is a story unto itself, and the series as a whole, speaks to broader narratives: fanaticism in the world of football, the loss of inhibition in crowds, national pride, and most importantly, the power and magnificence of shared, public joy. I can also see connections to my work as a cinematographer - the use of haze, strong backlight, my sense of composition, etc... Likewise, I can see the influences of some painters I love (Peter Paul Rubens - Wolf and Fox Hunt), photographers that I admire (Paolo Pellegrin, Alex Webb, Trente Parke), and cinematographers whose work influences me (Harris Savides, Greig Fraser, Bradford Young). However, I can also say that I never intended to make these images - they happened...