a photographer with a pastel and refined universe captures the beauty of the Picardy coast

His photos have invaded social networks where he is enjoying growing success with his instantly recognizable photos of the Picardy and Atlantic coast. Christophe De Liège, or the journey of an autodidact who went from obscurity to light in a few months.

The unique photographic universe of Christophe de Liège was forged with parents who were artisans in ladies’ clothing, who ran a small business in Bourdon, in the Somme, a modest rural town. Moreover, he sold clothes on the markets until 1995.

This native of Longpré-les-Corps-Saints, in the Somme valley, is proud of his Picardy origins. He still lives in the region of his childhood, in Dompierre-sur-Authie. “All my youth, I traveled the countryside on long solitary walks, with my dog ​​for only company. And I could sit for hours, to contemplate the landscapes that presented themselves to my eyeshe explains to us. I was a lonely, discreet boy. A dreamer. I drew a lot and images very quickly took on great importance in my life. I was passionate about comics, cinema and of course photography.“.

This passionate movie buff, who owns 9 000 DVD, experienced his first cinematic emotion around the age of 12, in front of King Kongan American black and white film, from 1933. He then used to watch the show with his family Midnight Cinemabroadcast on France 3. A visual shock for the young Christophe who still today continues to treat himself to private screenings thanks to the small video room he installed at his home. “My preferences go to the humanist cinema of Ken Loach, Agnès Varda or Raymond Depardon“, specifies Christophe De Liège, long-time leader of sea classes then instructor-educator at the city medical educational institute Le Marclet, since 2015. “But I am also very sensitive to the world of Wes Anderson, an American filmmaker, who notably directed The Grand Budapest Hôtel and to whom I feel close. I would say that my seaside characters come out of Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, by Jacques Tati, but with the vision of Wes Anderson. Low-contrast, pastel-colored images.”

“At a very young age, I borrowed my father’s camera. I remember it well. It was in a brown leather case and a metal corolla unfolded under the lens to accommodate a flash. However, I forgot the brand. It was a click. I photographed the animals in the house, the surrounding countryside, my loved ones. I didn’t stop anymore“.

“But at the time, it was expensive, because you had to buy film and have your photos developed by a photographer.“Then in the 80s, Christophe De Liège switched to Reflex cameras, with Autofocus. He used the family bathroom as a darkroom. A fond memory for him. “For me, at that time, a clear photo was a successful photo.“.

The eye on the coast : birth of a unique style

4 years ago, the Picard photographer truly refocused on his photographic practice. She now occupies all the free time that her profession as an educator allows her. With his wife, he surveyed the Picardy coastline, then over the months, extended his walks further and further and, “from a simple spectator, I become an actor. I feel that my sensitivity comes through images. So I buy equipment, follow tutorials to be more technically advanced and learn the use of what replaces the darkroom: Lightroom and Photoshop. I find camera boxes that I can configure so as not to spend too much time in post-production“. A real treasure hunt then begins on the ground. And Christophe De Liège will publish nuggets which spread very quickly on social networks.

Internet users are won over by these refined, soft shots with balanced lines. “I am a mathematician at heart, but I try to take a tender, caring look at beings“. Photos full of humanity that hit the mark with the public.

“I am lucky to live an hour and a half from Dieppe or Deauville, or Dunkirk and even the Belgian coast. So, my weekends, I spend them in these seaside towns with their old-fashioned charm. And I find beauty there. My images are low contrast, with very soft colors, like in a dream. A treatment that corresponds to what I want. Some Internet users tell me that we feel a feeling of solitude when looking at them, a bit like in the paintings of the American painter Edward Hopper“.

Last summer, Christophe De Liège traveled the entire west coast, from Pas-de-Calais via the Picardy coast, to the South-West, La Baule, Arcachon. A complete panorama of beaches and seaside towns whose poetry he condenses in his photos.

Closer to us, it allows us to discover the coastal towns of Mers-les-Bains, Quend, Cayeux and Fort Mahon with a new eye. “But on average, only one photo in 100 is valid. It’s painful to sort things out. But to choose is to give up“He always frames his seascapes in portrait format.”because it gives a big place to the sky and that is important“.

“I work on the ephemeral, I wait, and I let myself be surprised. The lights are beautiful on all the beaches in France even if I remain very attached to our Picardy beaches where I go as soon as possible. There are shades of green and blue, unique skies and waves.“.

In line of sight : the great outdoors

Internet users follow and appreciate this emerging artist. His faithful, his followers, are more and more numerous. “It is no longer rare for someone to tell me that my images are immediately recognizable, no longer need to see my name, we know who took the photo. And there, I know that I have something“.

If Christophe De Liège’s favorite terrain is the seaside, today he wishes to direct his quest towards the countryside. “In my area, farmers, unwittingly, create incredible combinations of lines and colors. And then I like immense spaces, it reminds me of the great westerns, like Dances with Wolves.

Finally, our photographer admits, he would like to move up a gear. Move away from virtual contact and move on to physical contact with the public, in galleries. “More and more people who follow me on the networks, looking to acquire my photos“. A growing success which has been confirmed since last May.”I’m still that kid who sat for hours looking at the beauty of the landscapes“. This is perhaps the secret of Christophe De Liège: the serenity and nostalgia of his photos have the taste of childhood.