Second Artist: Benoit Courti

Benoit Courti is a French photographer living in Paris.
Fascinated by photography since his childhood, he first embraced a career as a music composer before becoming a professional portrait photographer in 2010. 
I chose Courti as my third influence because the moment I saw his work, I loved it. I very much like his technique, and how he can make something so simple look so interesting, for example the picture of a man throwing some dice - all he is doing is throwing dice, but it raises many questions... Is he a gambler? Is he a magician? What number will the dice show? Will that decide someone's fate? 

"Gambler" © Benoit Courti 2015. All rights reserved. 

I decided to use his technique of getting really up-close with his subjects. I feel that when one is really close to one's subject, it is more intimate, and more emotion is drawn out from the viewer of the image. 

I am going to use his techniques of getting intimate with his subjects for my own photography. I want my images to be powerful, and that is what I get from viewing Courti's images. There is a better example of this pictured below. 

Untitled, Benoit Courti, All rights reserved.

I managed to contact Courti, I asked him a few questions about his image 'Gambler'. I asked him what his intention was with this photograph, and he said he was "trying out a new technique" with his photography. He had just bought a new lens, and was having some fun by trying it out. When I asked him what the image made him feel like as the photographer, he said it "fulfilled my expectations", and that he is pleased with this photograph. 

Below is the email he replied with (you may have to click to enlarge):