Dominic C
 Photographer / Director / Music Producer
Dominic C captures the unique beauty and sensuality of the women of Southeast Asia
Indonesia
Find him on
His Website
Vimeo
Kickstarter
When did you decide to become a photographer?
As far as I can remember, I decided to become a photographer when I was 17 or 18 years old. It might come from the genes inherited from my paternal grandfather who was passionate about the eighth art.
What was your photography education?
I graduated in 1991 (Associate Degree) from Brussels’ Institut National de Radio & Cinéma (In.Ra.Ci).
Did you come up thru the ranks doing lots of assisting or just start out on your own?
I started my career in Paris doing lots of assisting and photo-lab jobs, while trying to become a regular photo-reporter.
What do you consider yourself, pro, working, amateur ?
I’m considering myself as a pro, because of my education and past experience. Because of a certain strictness (rigor?) too.
What is it you are passionate about shooting?
Well, my wife uses to say my camera is my mistress. I must admit my fingers love caressing it! More seriously, I’m passionate about shooting & photography because it allows me to shape the world in my own way, and that world is a fantasy land ruled by sensual and naked women!
Why that? and not babies or pets or landscapes?
Because women are the most beautiful –yet complicated- pieces of Art. They define ultimate Beauty to me.
Do you fell like you have a particular style and if so what is it?
My style could be defined in 3 words: shapes, tones & minimalism.
Shapes, because I like to work on my models’ body & eyes expressions;
Tones, because, when editing my photos in B&W, I like to play with contrasts;
Minimalism, because I focus on nothing else but my models!
What do you think sets your work apart from others in your genre?
I’m strict in my work, paying attention to even the smallest details, and focusing on pure Beauty, rather than ‘cheap’ beauty, perhaps…
Do you remember your first few shoots and the fear, nerves, and trepidation of working with models? How was that ? and what did you do to get past it?
I remember my very first nude photo-shoot, while I was a student in Brussels. I had never thought of shooting nude women before, but when I asked a very pretty female student to pose naked for a drill –and when she answered ‘yes’- I was thrilled and shy at the same time. We spent a full day together in an apartment in Brussel’s suburbs, shooting and shooting again. I remember that my camera was a kind of shield. When I’m behind a camera, I’m not shy or scared anymore. It protects me. I’ll always remember that day, because I think, that day, I learnt about women for the very first time!
When your shooting do you like working with a team and everyone collaborating or are you clearly the captain and its your look, idea etc?
I know what I want, so I’m definitely the captain. I’m used to working with only an assistant and a mua/hairstylist.
What do you consider your greatest strength in photography?
I guess my greatest strength is my maturity and my fine knowledge of women, after all these past years of shooting them. But this is a question that you could rather ask my models…
How did you end up in Indonesia?
I ended up in Indonesia by chance, after a first photo trip to Western Papua, almost 25 years ago. In the introduction to my forthcoming book, ‘Sirens’, one will be able to read the following: ‘Years later, I remembered the pleasure felt during this first journey. The charming naive women with sensual almond-shaped eyes, long and soft hair, and chocolate perfumed skin carried my fantasies towards a visual world almost unexplored. Beauty was everywhere around me. I was going mad and, perfectionist that I was, I couldn’t stop depicting in every detail that Eden that made me dream, yet was real.’
Why the fascination with Asian women?
Asian women are naturally beautiful & elegant. Most of them aren’t aware of their sensuality, and I guess I like to ‘teach’ them how to become feminine & confident.
When choosing a model to work with what are things you look for?
The main criteria, of course, is the communion of thoughts: I must feel that my models and I are on the same artistic wave-length. They must understand exactly that my exploration – by image – of their femininity and sensuality aims essentially to the celebration of ultimate beauty. My muses must also be photogenic but it’s not an absolute requirement. That is why I often turn to young women who are not professional models, as long as they feel like putting forward their shapes, their charm, their deep inner soul…
Do you like to develop a “muse” relationship with your models and work with them over and over again?
Honestly, I’d love to, but I haven’t found my very muse yet. I’m perhaps too demanding…
Generally do you create for you? for a client? for a commercial purpose?
I create for me, but my primary goal and greatest satisfaction comes from the subject loving the outcome. I work with clients who chose me because they like what i do. I turn down things that aren’t me. For example I received two commercial inquiries today that I sent to other photographers because they wanted a style that didn’t suit or challenge me. In these cases, I always refer to another working photographer.
I love the tones you use in your work how are you achieving that?
Well, the editing is the work of my very talented assistant, Bayu, and the tones are inspired by my very good friend’s work, Jean-Paul Nacivet (a famous stock photographer). When I exhibited my nude photos for the first time in Paris, 2 years ago, Jean-Paul suggested that I edit these photos in sepia tones, and when I printed them (in Diasec), I realized he was right: B&W and sepia tones fit nude photography much better. Such tones provide with a feeling of timelessness.
Do you shoot any different with that tone in mind vs shooting in color?
When I shoot, I think in color tones (actually my masters in photography are ‘colorists’ such as Ernst Haas & Harry Gruyaert -the latter studied at the same school like me). But, my experience seems to quickly teach me how these colors will turn into sepia tones.
Do you every shoot with the intent for the finished image to be in color?
When I shoot nude photos, no. When I shoot landscapes or portraits, I’d say yes, but I suppose I’ve now become obsessed with B&W/Sepia tones.
I understand you have a Kickstarter happening tell us about it.
I’m raising funds to print, publish and market 1,000 copies of my very first photographic art book (with 25 poems by Peter Godwin).
Please pledge now https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/938551806/sirens-0
Make sure to catch the second half of this interview and more stunning images in few weeks.
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