It is almost as though when Nathalie looks through a camera lens, the world directly in front of her begins to dance into the magical world she wants to see. Ordinary people take on story book like characters and realities are twisted into fantasies. She finds the magic, romanticism and eroticism in just about everything; it is obvious that she has an exciting and sophisticated imagination. Looking at her work is a playful entry into an unknown world and the process she has taken to create this world seems to have been an incredibly enjoyable experience which resonates strongly.

Nathalie manipulates her work both digitally and in the darkroom resulting in highly texturized images that take on movement. After finishing school in Montreal in '99, Nathalie picked up and moved to NYC and entrenched herself in her work, which was a discovery process intertwined with her new surroundings and personal growth. She completed a series of photos taken in the Carlton Arms Hotel, and this was later published into a book entitled, "New York Hotel Story".

1. What subject matter do you primarily choose to photograph, and why are you drawn to this subject matter?

Mostly the Fantasy world, where people go to escape from every day life (like the love hotels in japan or frozen in time, images from the Suisse alps). Including professions that entertain the escapements of others.. (my street kiss project on a brothel in Brazil and Tokyo girls, foreign erotic dancers)
All my project s have been made in a foreign land ; I try to find people – places that are not seen every day , thing s that I am curious to learn more about.

2. What do you hope to communicate to an audience through your work?

A feeling of escapement to another world and a certain intimacy.

3. What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?

Finding a dark room. I only work with analog photography. M any of my artistic techniques are done in the darkroom and since digital is taking over , most of the darkrooms I know have closed. Analog material is also slowly disappearing.

4. What is it about the photographic medium that you love?

It captures reality while still being able to transform it.

5. What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of your work?

The human contact. Having a camera has helped me to photograph interesting people, to spend a moment in time with them and learn more about who they really are and what they do. I have been to so many places that I could not have gone without having the excuse of being a photographer.

6. If you could choose three words to describe your work, what would they be?

This question is just too difficult for me.

7. What part of your portfolio are you most proud of and why?

New York Hotel story, it was my first project, I had just left Canada to move to NY and everything was new ; photography, traveling, meeting and seeing new interesting places-people. The images won quite a few prizes and were published into a book.
www.newyorkhotelstory.com

Entre Quatre Murs, Berlin Exhibition Opening Reception - May 9, 7PM - 11PM
Exhibition runs from May 2nd - June 7th
Hamilton Artists Inc
161 James St. North, Hamilton