Raphaël Gaultier
When I look at Raphaël Gaultier’s photographs I feel like I’m seeing the kinds of images that come into being when a photographer is trusted to be present for gestures of simple intimacy or moments of quiet vulnerability. They’re not found images, they’re revealed images - pictures that emerge over time in light the way landscapes emerge underneath a rising morning sun.
In our often anxious and uncertain times, I appreciate the thoughtful beauty and presence of his images more than ever. I asked Raphaël to tell me a little about his journey in photography:
For a long time growing up I always thought of myself as the least creative in my family. I want my work and my journey to be a testament to others that anyone can pursue something they’re passionate about if they put in the time with their craft. I had no photography education growing up - it wasn’t until midway through college that I picked up a camera to start taking pictures after I tore my ACL playing sports. It was that necessity to express myself when I wasn’t able to do the things I love that helped shape me into the photographer I am today.
Oftentimes, what I’m trying to express in my work is to look at everyday things and occurrences and appreciate them for what they really are. My world revolves around the people I spend my time with and the places I habitually venture, and I want my work to be a representation of the comfort that comes from our everyday routines. There’s an intimacy I often capture in my work that I think shows the kind of upbringing I had. I’m glad my work and who I am are so closely tied - it feels authentic to the stories I’m trying to tell.
I prefer to shoot on film because it slows down my entire process for each photo I take. The speed at which artists are expected to produce, share, interact with, brainstorm, and improve on their work is highly unsustainable and leads to less thoughtful work. My work and my process is focused on doing the opposite of that. By using a medium format camera and meticulously scanning in each photo I take, I’ve slowed down my process to care for each step in the process. I’ve found that being more intentional with the ways I work in medium format has helped me become a more thoughtful photographer when I pick up a digital camera as well.
The speed at which photographers (as well as other artists) are expected to produce and share work is something I think is completely backwards in the industry. I’d like to see more thoughtful, long term projects that are backed by brands and publications that have the finances to support independent artists. I think we’d see a big difference in the industry’s mentality to constantly pump out work, and the quality of meaningful work that would arise out of it. I hope there will be things that help address this problem of overwork in the photographic community in the years to come.
Follow Raphaël Gaultier on Instagram: @raphgaultier.
Photo at top of post: Self-portrait
↓ ↓ ↓ All Photos in this post © Raphaël Gaultier ↓ ↓ ↓
Kat and Noah, Seattle, WA. 2021 © Raphaël Gaultier
Helen, Seattle, WA. 2020 © Raphaël Gaultier
George and Miguel, Seattle, WA. 2021 © Raphaël Gaultier
Ophelia, Seattle, WA. 2020 © Raphaël Gaultier
Soft Light, Portland, OR. 2020 © Raphaël Gaultier
Funeral, Maui, HI. 2021 © Raphaël Gaultier
Raphaël Gaultier is a self-taught freelance portrait and documentary photographer from Seattle, WA currently based in Brooklyn, NY working across a variety of genres to capture the intimacies of daily life. His work is concerned with the concept of home, whether that’s found in spaces, people or objects that speak to who we are. His work has been featured in i-D magazine, Pitchfork, The Nation, The Seattle Times, as well as several other books and publications. Raphaël has worked as the co-founder and editor of Human Condition magazine, a publication centered around providing resources and uplifting young artists in Seattle, as well as Associate Creative Director of Seattle-based retailer LIKELIHOOD. He’s been freelancing as a photographer since 2020.
Website: raphaelgaultier.com Instagram: @raphgaultier.