Stories: Quentin Orain and His Wonderful World of the Gloomy Nature

In People by Matevz, June 23, 2017

Woodz stories is a sequence of articles where we present aspiring people and their stories. By unveiling the background of working as a photographer, designer, woodworker, etc. we aim to promote their work and bring them out of obscurity.

Our first story is about Quentin Orain, a 21-year-old freelance Photographer, born and raised in the small French town Fel.

Is there a story about how you got into photography?

I spent my whole life outdoors, surrounded by nature and was first introduced to photography in high school when I began mountain biking with my friend. I want to show the world the beauties of cloudy days in nature by publishing my work on my Instagram profile.

What made you want to shoot adventure/nature?

When I was 13 I and my family went on vacation in the Pyrenees. The big mountains, beautiful lakes, deep forests, and endless meadows, all in one place. Amazing. It was such a great trip. I promised myself I will return. So now I am keeping my promise and I am taking pictures of all these places that I visited in the past to see how nature has changed over the years.

Is there a certain feeling you experience through your work?

I think that the most important rule in photography is that you remain in your creative space. This allows me to take great pictures by simply catching the right objects in the frame. It is different when you shoot a picture of a person. You have to make sure your model is not out of his or her comfort zone, so I am trying to create this certain intimacy by working only with my model and no one else. So I would say it is not just about a feeling it is more like a lifestyle.

How do you manage to maintain your creativity and non-repetitiveness?

Every day I commit myself to spend two hours on Instagram, not only to post my photos, but also to see photos of my friends and my role models. I comment on their work and they do the same for my photos, so in the end, we push each other up. This not only allows me to improve my photos by learning about new techniques, but it also helps me avoid repetitions.

How much do you rely on editing software?

All of my pictures are edited. My tool of choice is Lightroom, where I develop my own presets. Because every photo is different, I am trying to include my style with matching colours etc. I am shooting raw because it makes it easier to edit afterwards and the pictures turn out better. When I am editing I am trying to disconnect myself from everything, to make the best edition that I can and to upgrade my creativity every single time.

Do you immediately know, which photo will be popular?

I enjoy getting feedback on my social media platforms, but I would not stop photographing even if I had zero supporters. Some want to have a million supporters and that is okay. But for me, it is more important, that I express myself through my photographs. I am posting the best photos in my opinion and I never know if they will be popular. Sometimes it works and sometimes it fails but it’s always a pleasure to share my work.

Quentin’s life improved significantly after his recent injury. During his recovery period, he started his Instagram account and began taking photography seriously. He was also granted one of his lifelong wishes. His work earned him a spot in a Canadian photography school, where he will move in early September. He will get the opportunity to take his work to a whole new level and become a licensed photographer. You can follow his story and check the rest of his work on his Instagram profile.