“A bug in the matrix”: this is how Franck Betermin justifies the sudden arrival of Denise, Concarnoise from 1905, in the modern era. Through a series of thirty images and a fabricated story, the photographer depicts it in the four corners of the Blue City with a touch of humor. “I hope to make it an ode to Concarneau,” he explains.
“She had something”
For Franck Betermin, the idea is not new: in 2017, he won the Grand Prix Photographie de Bretagne for a series of anachronistic photos featuring… people from 1905. “And I had wanted to do it again for some time . It clicked when I followed around fifteen people in their preparation for the Filets Bleus,” he recalls. Isabelle Le Maître is one of them. Franck Betermin then talks to him about his project, and suggests that he dress the subject in his period costumes. “I needed someone who knew about it. Because we can mess around, but not on Breton costumes…” jokes the photographer.
Now it remains to find the main character. Destiny takes care of it during one evening, and places Denise Caradec on the road to Concarnois. “I immediately felt that she had something, a particular photogenicity,” admits the person concerned. “I accepted without even knowing everything about the project,” Denise recalls.
In front of the camera, she indicates that she was initially in difficulty. Then, faced with the kindness of the team, the French-Austrian managed to let go of all the rigor imposed by her work as quality-safety-environment (QSE) manager. “This series is the complete opposite of my job,” she laughs.
Weather as a difficulty
Franck Betermin accompanies this photogenicity with accessories and vehicles that he finds during his encounters. “A few weeks ago, a guy parked on rue de Lanriec with a Russian sidecar from 1954. I immediately told him about my project and, a week later, Denise was posing inside,” says he.
The small group, assisted by Thomas Vigneau, meets every Saturday to shoot. With difficulties specific to the region. “The headdresses don’t hold up in the rain,” says Franck Betermin. In Brittany, it’s the height! »
Nothing insurmountable, however, for someone who has 35 years of photography. “This series is the one of my life: I have a good camera, I master the lighting, they are beautifully staged…” he explains.
A web series
Initially scheduled for 2025, the release of this series of photos risks being delayed and Franck Betermin is still considering an exhibition location in Concarneau.
To wait and give an overview of her work, it regularly feeds Denise’s social networks. A web series, filmed by director Gilles Blaize, is also in production. Between 15 and 20 six-minute episodes telling the story behind the scenes and the creative process should see the light of day soon. “Six episodes are already ready. Then, the idea would be to offer a 26 or 52 minute format to a television channel,” he says.
Then, if this first attempt is conclusive, Denise could hit the road and export to Brittany. “My dream is to be called to do a series in Pont-l’Abbé,” concludes the photographer.
