Photographer Marie-Christine Chantrait is currently exhibiting her stunning photography collection titled 'Earth and Fire' at Ateliers 48 in Clécy, Calvados. The summer-colored exhibition, which runs through August 31, 2025, invites viewers to contemplate the beauty of our world while engaging in dialogue with the artist herself.
Chantrait lives on the border between Orne and Calvados in Nécy, where she has found her artistic calling after a dramatic career change. Following her studies in international law in Paris and a subsequent banking career, she experienced a profound transformation. "Instead of changing the world, I decided to change myself," Chantrait explains. Photography entered her life during a period of depression when she asked the universe for a profession where she could truly flourish.
The photographer's journey began when she borrowed her brother's small camera for a friend's wedding, where she met professional photographers who encouraged her to pursue the craft, recognizing her unique perspective. "Based on the results of the photos, I decided to learn to master the art of photography," she recalls. This decision led her to Marseille to study at a photography school, marking the beginning of her professional career.
In Marseille, Chantrait worked as a reporter for prominent publications including Le Provençal and La Marseillaise, as well as for the Regional Council. Her talent was quickly recognized through numerous awards, including photography contests in Caen for Peace, the city of Marseille, and first prize in La Marseillaise's photo competition. During the transition from film to digital photography, she returned to Normandy and completed an immersive project on the port of Caen-Ouistreham called 'Stop at the Port,' which established her reputation as a reporter-photographer in Normandy.
After working as a staff photographer for the city of Caen, Chantrait became an independent photographer in 2012. Her artistic philosophy centers on capturing life, love, light, beauty, truth, and freedom in both color and black-and-white images. "I like to reveal the force of life, vital energy, living light. My inner quest translates into the photographic act. Visible light comes as a mirror of the light of consciousness. Each speaks to us of the other in my photographs: it's like a correspondence of visible light and consciousness," she explains.
The current 'Earth and Fire' exhibition features 41 photographs, all taken within a 30-kilometer radius of Nécy. "Fire is the heat, the energy of the light of life," Chantrait notes about her thematic choice. Many of the photographs feature original captions that enhance their contemplative nature. The attention paid to each photograph calls for serenity and peace, requiring viewers to take time to observe every detail.
Chantrait's meticulous approach extends beyond the moment of capture. "I do everything. From shooting, to printing to framing, nothing is left to chance. Everything is in accordance with the message I want to convey," she emphasizes. Her work showcases beautiful colors, magnificent contrasts, and exceptional precision that invites contemplation during these late summer days.
Visitors can meet Chantrait at the gallery on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM through August 31, as well as on Friday, August 15 in the afternoon. Private appointments are also available by calling 06 29 52 98 58. The exhibition represents not only a artistic showcase but also an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between the photographer and art enthusiasts about the deeper meanings behind her carefully crafted images.
