Interview with Black and White photographer Camille Renée Devid | MONOVISIONS

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2024

Camille’s work is influenced by her international background and experience, having lived in Curacao, France and Spain. Currently she is based in Amsterdam.
In September 2014, her first book My Other Side (Grey Matters 5) was published by Schilt Publishing. In November she got selected as one of the New Dutch talents of 2015.

1. How and when did you become interested in photography?

I graduated at the Artemis Styling Academy in Amsterdam. There I discovered the power of images, and it is where I found and developed my passion for creating my own trend books and images. During the course I realised that I couldn’t find the images I needed and decided to take matters in my own hands. I bought my first reflex camera, I did a course and started making my own images. This is how I began and found my passion. Later, I decided to do the Fotoacademie Amsterdam, where I graduated in December 2013.

2. Is there any artist/photographer who inspired your art?

I have so many! Where do I begin? I can be inspired in many ways. In the way a person works, the art work itself or the story the artist/photographer is portraying.
I’m like a sponge, I look, listen and read, and try to learn every day. And I use the inspiration in different aspects in my work.
Some artists that inspire me are Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor and the painter Marlene Dumas. Photographers are Man Ray, Anders Petersen, Antoine d’Agata and Gabriela Morawetz.

3. Why do you work in black and white rather than colour?

In black and white you don’t get distracted by colour. You can automatically focus on the details, the form, and structure of the image, which is, in my opinion the most important.
After this you can use your own imagination and fantasy to colour the photo in your mind.

4. How much preparation do you put into taking a photograph/series of photographs?

I often say that my work is like a puzzle, an eclectic puzzle. It’s a process of all these little pieces that come together.
This process takes time. At first I have an idea about what I want to photograph. Well, actually it’s more a need, a feeling that something needs to be said.
Then I start my research into the matter, reading, talking to people about the subject. During that time, I try to put the feelings, the thoughts on paper and after this I start photographing.
For me creating an image is not only taking the picture, but a lot happens afterwards at home. I photograph digital and analogue simultaneously. At home I mix and layer them to create a new image.
Most all of my images contain more than 3 images. To find the best elements for one image can take days, sometimes weeks.

5. Where is your photography going? What projects would you like to accomplish?

I think I will be doing a lot more analog photography.
And I’m working on my second book called ‘When time passes by’, is’t a continuation of my first book ‘My Other Side’
It’s a dairy of a woman that expresses her feelings, thoughts, the moments that have a great impact in her live true images.
It’s about, fear, love, desires, sadness of a woman.

Represented by Schilt Gallery: www.schiltpublishing.com
Website: www.camilledevid.com