Sonic Editions

Léonard de Raemy, our Photographer of the Month this September, was a renowned French photographer known for capturing iconic moments in music, cinema, and culture. De Raemy started his career in the 1960s, becoming famous for his dynamic portraits of celebrities, including Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Catherine Deneuve. His work spanned both French and international figures.

SE: Your father is best known for his iconic photos of Brigitte Bardot and for being one of the founders of the famous photography agencies Gamma and Sygma. Do you know when your father realised he wanted to become a photographer? Can you tell us about his journey?

MdR: It was in the late 1950s that my father, tired of his job as a legal advisor, tried his luck in professional photography. Besides having a sharp eye, he quickly learned to anticipate the need for polished images intended for European magazine covers. Naturally independent, he created his ideal of non-salaried photographers who owned their work and shared the costs and revenues of their budding agency: Gamma. The creation of Sygma, seven years later, was motivated by the need for greater independence from Gamma's shareholders, as the company had become reliant on financial decisions that were far from being shared by my father and his close associates.

SE: What is your favourite photograph by your father and why?

MdR: Without hesitation, Brigitte Bardot posing. A photo taken on the sidelines of shooting "Two Weeks in September." Brigitte, looking fierce, hair blowing in the wind facing the sea. Totally free!

SE: Do you know which camera and lenses he used for his shots?

MdR: During his professional career, from 1964 to 1987, Léonard used various Leica models, from the SL to the R4. As for the lenses, mainly from the Summicron and Elmarit range, he used only fixed focal lengths, ranging from 50mm to 180mm, usually mounted on three cameras ready for shooting, depending on the shots to be taken. The films used were Kodachrome 64 for colour and Kodak Tri-X Pan for black and white.

SE: What inspired Léonard?

MdR: A young amateur chemist, he quickly became interested in his brother's new passion for shooting and developing photographs in the family bathroom plunged into darkness. Thus was born the revelation of the image; facing the tray filled with developer! The fixer did the rest...

SE: Did he have a favourite place, country, or city to photograph?

MdR: Not particularly. Every region of the world offers its own unique light, which his keen eye knew how to capture at the right moment. That said, he loved his encounter with Brigitte Bardot, during the filming of Viva Maria, in Mexico. The beginning of a long friendship.

SE: He photographed so many people like Jane Birkin and Yves Saint Laurent. Do you have any interesting anecdotes about his experience shooting these cultural icons?

MdR: Yes, but I promised my father to maintain discretion regarding the private lives of the personalities who trusted him. However, I can reveal his best trick as a "photographer friend of the stars": creating a mobile photo studio, to do his shoots at the celebrities' homes rather than forcing them to come to a studio. An initiative that opened many doors for him and allowed him to capture real intimacy without ever stealing it. Having accompanied him several times to carry his (heavy) lighting equipment and serve as a light stand-in for the stars, I experienced warm and simple welcomes, like Sundays among friends.

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SE: What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into photography?

MdR: An interesting question, given that my father strongly advised against this profession, which had already become very competitive in the 70s and 80s. Again, I can share a proven secret for aspiring portrait and "people" photographers: Patience, respect, and humor. That’s how you capture the true moment. The rest depends on talent, luck, and above all, the delicacy of being during encounters. Taking the time to engage before pulling out your cameras will ensure you get intimate portraits.

Head on over to Léonard de Raemy's beautiful and timeless gallery now!