Instead of a foreword

Instead of a foreword - my interview with my mentor Lucien Clergue, May 18 2009:

Lucien Clergue and me, Foto: B Boehnet

Do you remember when you noticed shadows for the first time? On what occasion was this and what can you recall of this experience?
Shadows have been the first images of my youth: waking up in my bedroom, the shutters of my windows almost closed, the reflections of people walking in the street were reflecting on the ceiling and moving away... I enjoyed this very much and tried to repeat this every sunny day.

What did the shadow, if anything, mean to you in your childhood?
Meaning was more as a movie, not a total mystery: why this was happening and changing my bedroom as a showroom?

What does the shadow mean to you now?
Now shadows mean still the mystery of something not existing in reality, a message from inside and outside asking a permanent question WHY? WHY? But also the fact that I was born in August, in Leo sign, and I love the sun, if I know he is there, but in HIS shadow!

When did you include the shadow into your photography for the first time deliberately? Which photograph was this?
I cannot remember exactly when, but in the bullfight of my youth when bullfights were starting at 3 or 4 PM shadows were part of the show, less now as they start at 6 or 7 PM. Then I used them with the nude, projection of shadows on a wall, and trying to do not show the source of it. And I still do it.

Whose shadow would you like to photograph?
The shadow of the MOON, vintage boats on the sea, still women: YOU!

In whose shadow would you like to be?
In the shadow of a small tree like in the desert of White Sand, but also in the shadow of a nude girl.

Whose shadow would you like to have?
It is impossible to have a shadow, or if it is mine, projected on the body of a nude girl!

Whose or which shadow inspired you the most?
Still the one of my childhood.

Which shadows do you like the most?
Right now the one I create with the Venetian blinds for my Zebra Nude.

Where do you like shadows most? Is there any particular place that you are especially fond of having the shadows appear?
On the beach, but also in apartment where they change the size of the room and introduce the mystery in a simple location. But also on the beach with small dead trees, or better, branches of trees or dead roots. Gorgeous.

Is there any particular time of the day that you enjoy shadows the most or least? Do you prefer morning or afternoon shadows? What, if any, is the difference between them?
I prefer afternoon as the shadows will be larger. In the morning they disappear too fast and anyway I am not a man of the morning.

Do you prefer summer or winter shadows? What, if any, is the difference between them?
Any time will be good in terms of season, depending also on where you are. In Antigua it is difficult to have good shadows as the sun rises up fast and comes down fast as well...

Are shadows the same for organic beings and inorganic things?
Shadows from objects are easy to move by myself if I move the object or furniture, but I like the improvisation, expressed in nature and also all that the people cause incidentally. For example, at the Louvre, people visiting in Praxitele Room introduce shadows which change the meaning of the sculptures (which became alive.)

Whose shadow are you afraid of?
The one announcing death. They are too dark, too strong, anthropomorphic...

Do you trust shadows?
I may, I am not sure. They are too much condemned to disappear...

Has any shadow cheated you?
Only when they are too cold!

Did any shadow make you angry?
Not really, except when it covers something I want to photograph and takes off the sunlight on it.

Did any shadow make you sad?
The one on the picture I did of the Picasso's studio: is it him? This is the most mysterious one. I know this is not him, but still...

Has any shadow made you glad?
Yes when it brings something in plus for my shooting.

Did any shadow make you excited?
Of course, when it changes totally the frame of my shooting - the one on the beach with the nude girl in whose shadow you can see reflection of the sun in the wet sand.

Has any shadow made you worried?
Not really.

Did any shadow make you agitated?
Yes, if it is surprising and unexpected.

Did any shadow make you curious?
Why not.

Did any shadow make you disappointed?
Could be.

Can you imagine the world without shadows?
Almost impossible.

Can you imagine your photographs without shadows?
Difficult. I am running after them.

Can a shadow be persuasive?
Of course, inspiring.

Did you ever catch your shadow?
Of course, yes, as a self-portrait.

Has a shadow ever attempted to catch you?
Ask her.

Did you ever run from your shadow? Any shadow?
When I was a child.

Has the shadow of somebody else ever caught you?
Incidentally, but I cannot remember where and when.

Can a shadow hurt?
Probably, but I am a man from the sun. They are part of my life.

Can a shadow tell us something? If so, what...
Yes, but we have to be ready to understand the message.

Have you ever talked to your shadow?
NO.

Has a shadow taught you anything? If so, what...
How to see better something else; give more value to another part of the site.

Is it possible to feel a shadow? How?
I do not know.

Is a shadow soft? Heavy?
Soft or heavy, but an interesting shadow.

Can a shadow be tired?
NO.

Sleepy?
NO.

Naughty?
NO.

Playful?
Why not.

Can a shadow listen?
NO.

Can one control the shadow?
Oh yes!

Would you exchange your shadow? If yes, with whom?
Never. I WILL love your shadow when I see it, I can't wait.

Do you like my shadow? If yes, why? If not, why not?
Of course I love the shadows you create of yourself.

Is there something you want to tell my shadow?
Much love.

Lucien Clergue and me

Foto: B. Boehnet