Character Study

Character Study is a series of portraits for a weekly column in the Metropolitan section of the New York Times: every week, reporter Corey Kilgannon and I profile an interesting character with a colorful personality in one of the five boroughs of NYC. Photo 1: Edith Susskind, Staten Island's Grande Dame. Photo 2: Barbara, 52 years old prostitute in Hunts Point, Bronx. Photo 3: Tony Disco, boardwalk dancer in Coney Island. Photo 4: Leyland E. George preaches with mixtapes in Brooklyn. Photo 5: Ed Shevlin a.k.a Shevy, sanitation worker in Rockaway/ Fullbright recipient/ Irish teacher, volunteers to clean after Hurricane Sandy.

I was born and raised in Paris, France. After graduating in graphic design, I moved to New York City to pursue my passion and study documentary photography at the International Center of photography. After ICP, I have been assisting photographers Donna Ferrato and Jonathan Torgovnik, and I interned as a photographer for The New York Times for 6 months. I am often attracted by what repulses or scares others. I like misfits, outcasts, eccentrics, those who do not fit in the norms. Although I look quite normal and common, I identify in a way with those who do not fit in society. I am attracted by the abnormal, nonetheless I try not to be stereotypical when representing them. I want to be as true as possible to what they are. For that reason, I have been documenting a number of subcultures. I am currently living in New York City, working on the project as well as freelancing for clients such as The New York Times. AWARDS/EXHIBITIONS- Getty Images Editorial Grant 2010; Lucie Scholarship 2010; PDN Photo Annual winner; Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalism - Hannover, Germany; Gallery I/D, Miami - RISE: New Works by New Artists; Powerhouse Arena - Humankind; Project Basho, Philadelphia - ONWARD 11.