Sébastien Hirsch, a 48-year-old physical education teacher at Marie Curie Middle School in Le Plessis-Bouchard, has recently published his street photography book "En Lumière" (In Light), featuring 77 carefully selected photographs. His work has caught the attention of a prominent photographer from the prestigious Magnum agency, marking a significant milestone in his artistic journey.
Hirsch, who has been an amateur photographer for twenty years, began focusing on street photography just three to four years ago. Drawing inspiration from legendary masters Robert Doisneau and Henri Cartier-Bresson, this artist from Val-d'Oise traverses the neighborhoods of Paris in search of that perfect, impactful shot. Armed with his Nikon Z7 camera and 26mm lens, the photographer captures magical moments as he explores the streets around Saint-Lazare station, the Opera district, the Louvre, and sometimes Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
"It's really spontaneous," Hirsch explains about his approach to street photography. He captures people in their daily lives, with nothing staged or arranged. "It's the silhouette that attracts me, the street scene. When I see three or four people doing an activity, it tells a story – the story of the street," he says. His photographic style is particularly influenced by the chiaroscuro techniques of Renaissance masters like Caravaggio, and he applies this inspiration to his modern street photography. His images require minimal post-processing, maintaining their authentic spontaneous quality.
The photographer has mastered the art of discretion, often capturing subjects without them realizing they're being photographed. When asked about potential privacy concerns, Hirsch explains that French law permits photographing people in public spaces as long as the images don't damage their reputation or dignity. "It's artistic right or photographer's right. I've never had any problems; people don't ask me anything. Legally, I'm supported because I'm part of a street photography collective," he notes.
Hirsch was among the first members to join the Street Photography France collective, which now boasts 750 members. His artistic achievements include several exhibitions and shows in Val-d'Oise, earning him second place in the Monochrome Awards street category in 2020. He recently won a competition organized by Réponses Photo magazine, and one of his photographs will be displayed on their booth at the upcoming photography salon. The specialized magazine will also feature an article about his book in their October issue.
A particularly exciting development came when Hirsch reached out to Harry Gruyaert, a renowned color photographer from the prestigious Magnum agency, through Instagram while working on his book layout. "He responded to my message because he liked my photos, called me, and two hours later I was in his studio in Paris," Hirsch recalls. "We met twice to work on my book – selecting images and arranging the pages." This collaboration with such an established professional represents a significant validation of his artistic vision.
Hirsch's self-published book "En Lumière" is currently being funded through a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule, running until October 30th. Beyond his photography, he has also launched a YouTube channel called "Sébastien Hirsch street photography" a year ago, where he offers photography tutorials and shares his expertise with aspiring photographers. He is set to participate in the "Street sans frontières" (Street without Borders) salon in November in Paris and will contribute to the publication "Street Photo Masters Vol 1," further establishing his presence in the international street photography community.
