Passionate about nature since his childhood, Bastien Prévost, living in Haute Corrèze for 4 years, has become an accomplished wildlife photographer. And a fine connoisseur of his environment.
Proof that you don't have to go far to experience beautiful moments. From his native North, Bastien Prévost chose to settle in Haute Corrèze 4 years ago. “I wanted to go to a slightly greener region,” he says with a smile.
It was there, between Neuvic and Mauriac, in the woods, meadows and streams that border his garden, that he found his happiness. Passionate about nature, curious in particular about ornithology, practicing photography “to help me identify birds”, the young man gradually specialized in wildlife photography. “I wanted to show these wild animals in a different light,” he explains. To the point of perfectly combining nature and Art.
A wild bestiaryA deer caught in a ray of sunlight. (photo Bastien Prévost)
In his viewfinder, badgers and foxes hold a special place. “Because there are a lot of interactions between them, especially between the mother and her babies. They play, they groom each other, these are signs of intelligence of the species. »
It's a kind of quest, but it's what allows me to know a species inside out.
Last year, he focused on the tawny owl, this year, it is the barn owl which is his favorite. “Nocturnal raptors interest me, because they are pretty, interesting for the micro-regulation of small mammals and because they are a little mysterious,” he smiles.
But it's the black woodpecker, “my kind of heart.” It illustrates a habitat that is becoming rarer, the old beech forests typical of our region and it has the capacity to drill cavities which will benefit many other species. It has this intelligence to cooperate, to protect itself and preserve forest biodiversity. »
So many animals that are not easily photographed. “It’s a kind of quest,” he summarizes, “but it’s what allows me to know a species inside out. »
Receive our leisure newsletter by email and find ideas for outings and activities in your region.
Documentation and lookout
First, Bastien Prévost walks, observes, locates, within a radius of a twenty kilometers around his home or at the bottom of his garden. “I spend a lot of time in winter with my binoculars to identify places to observe animals. For badgers or foxes, the objective is to find the famous burrows from which they will emerge at the beginning of spring. »
Then, he reads, researches, deciphers scientific studies “to really know the species and know where to look for them. I feel more naturalist than photographer,” he admits.
We look at the wildlife on our doorstep differently, I want to show this richness.
Finally, he draws his camera and lies in wait. “From April to June, it’s the big birth or feeding period, there are some great sequences to do. » Sessions of 3 to 4 hours, without moving or speaking, looking towards the places he has previously identified. “Physically, it can be taxing. It's a mental exercise too, you don't have to give up. »
Play of light and shadow
The result is incredible, with a play of light and shadow. “I like the exchange of glances and the big contrasts of light. Aesthetically, I like it and it highlights the subject; it highlights common animals that we don't necessarily see. »
“Often, Corréziens do not realize how lucky they are to haveFeeding session captured against the light. (photo Bastien Prévost)
there is no such remarkable biodiversity around them. We look at the wildlife on our doorstep differently, I want to show this richness. »
“Some photos are opportunism, like a ray of sunlight coming out right on the deer I'm observing,” he continues. But more and more, I have an image in mind and when it comes true, it's pure happiness! And relief, the culmination of almost a year of work. »
What can we see at the 25th Tulle Photographic Art Festival which opens this Saturday?
Foxes, badgers, robins, black woodpeckers… A whole wild and magnificent world meets at the Aigua da Rocha gallery, in Ussel. Photos that Bastien Prévost and Camille Gaubert took from 2020 to 2024 and printed on washi paper; a paper made using an ancestral Japanese technique and 100% artisanal by a company from Hérault, based on kozo, a species of paper mulberry, and spring water. The rendering is vibrant, the colors velvety. “It fits with our ethics of taking photos close to home and showing local biodiversity. We want to show our images on the most ecological support possible. »The “From Shadow to Light” exhibition is on view until November 16, Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
On the lookout with Bastien Prévost
“The idea is to share this passion and show that there are great things around you. » In 2022, in addition to his professional activity, Bastien Prévost and his partner Camille Gaubert created a micro-enterprise, A notre image. Objective: organize around fifteen wildlife photography courses, lasting one to three days, per year. On the program: mastery of the nature camera, lessons on the biology of species and time on the lookout.
I like, for each shot, to have a story to tell and for my image to be pure.
And it works! “Our entire agenda is complete until 2026,” he rejoices. “Wildlife photography has become very popular, with more and more young people in particular becoming interested in it. »
Very popular courses
Its trainees are mostly urban people, from outside Corrèze. Some simply in search of a beautiful photo, but “many really want to learn how to photograph a species in order to be able to repeat this work of searching for the animal. It's good, that way, they don't go out on the field doing anything. »Bastien Prévost guides trainees on the path to naturalist photography. (photo Geoffrey Motté)
Because what he also shares is a certain approach to wildlife photography. In search of both the most artistic photo and concern for preserved nature, he only takes a photograph in barely a quarter of his hides. “I do everything I can to disturb the animals as little as possible, it’s a question of ethics. I will never put a species at risk to meet a customer's request. I like, for each shot, to have a story to tell and for my image to be pure. »
[email protected] In our image, nature photographs:
; website, www.anotreimage.fr. The photos are for sale online.
