In each frame – carefree childhood, sincere joy, and touching family history.
Since 2004, the famous photographer and father of six children, Alain Laboile, dedicates a large part of his work to photographing childhood in all its expressions and all that it is associated with. Alain knows how to capture those moments in childhood that are sweetly imprinted in the soul of every viewer. The author lives in the countryside, in the south-west of France therefore pleasant, playful, and sincere moments from the life of own Alain’s children which can be fixed by the camera is enough.
In the early nineties, Alain met his future wife Anna, a student at the University of Art. She made snow sculptures, he made sculptures out of plaster. The photo appeared much later.
Alain and Anna got married, settled in a modest house (modest – by European standards) near Bordeaux. Here, six children were born one after the other.
The house is small for such a family but surrounded by a large garden, where there are no decorative plants – only wild. Living in a paradise completely devoid of urban noise, it is a sin not to take the camera. Which Laboile did in 2006 when he bought the latest Nikon model.
His photos show the usual, real kids with the best of childhood. They beat up, invent a variety of activities, carry cats, lying in the mud, poured water, spit, sit on tables, climb trees, put boxes on their heads. Freely and relaxed explore the world that surrounds their home. They do what they want, and Daddy just follows them with the camera, chronicling his family.
Timeless photos of small and grown-up bungee. In each of these pictures, there is unconditional love, attention, and acceptance of life in all its beauty.
The whole photo project counts more than four hundred photos. But they are definitely worth the time you spend looking at. Because in every shot, there’s life and joy. And together, it’s the story of a whole family. Simple and beautiful moments, a fabulous family album that makes you remember your happy moments…
Alain Laboile’s photos are deeply personal, all of them reflect the absolutely real, not fictional, life of his children. He believes that every viewer here can draw parallels with his own childhood and learn some moments from his own life. The monochrome photography is highly suggestive of immersion in the nostalgic memories of the past days.
A child’s photo is the most accurate and true picture of our soul. Especially the eyes.
Alain Laboile, one of the most famous and popular contemporary photographers, a member of the jury of the 35Photo Awards international competition. Alain Laboile was born on 1 May 1968 in the French town of Bordeaux. For a long time, the sculpture was the main focus of his work. In 2004, he purchased a camera to make a portfolio for the competition. It was at that moment that interest in photography was raised…
Since then, Alain has been documenting his family’s happy life away from civilization. The photographer collects an album of the best photos to then pass on this heritage to his children. In addition, Laboile actively shares new shots with subscribers on Instagram.
In photos, you just feel the laughter, screams, movement, happiness, loving big family.
Very organically in the pictures are inscribed naked children, as another symbol of freedom and indolence, as a fight against fears.
His photos often seem careless – blurry, grainy, with failures in the light. But as long as a photograph evokes emotions, all these carelessness is very justified, give a sense of the very truth – yes, life – it is exactly like that, not invited at all, but exactly like that, when you want to yell down your throat and go from the hill down, rolling a wheel in front of you.
“Through my photographic work I celebrate and document my family life : a life on the edge of the world, where intemporality and the universality of childhood meet. … My work reflects our way of life, revolving around their childhood,” says the photographer.
Alain did not organize photo sessions, did not force his sons and daughters to pose for the camera. He was capturing life itself.
The children of Laboile don’t know what a strict daily routine is. They have breakfast, lunch, dinner, sleep whenever they want. And wherever they want.
Laboile’s first exhibition was not in France. At first, it was estimated by the Japanese, then the Americans, and only after that author of “Family” (so called the first project) came to recognition at home.
Now the first collection is kept in the French Museum of Photography. In the meantime, Laboile is traveling the world with new creations.
And 15 more photos of Alain Laboile
