Marc Valesella
About
Marc Valesella (https://www.marcvalesella.com) bio Received a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering from the ‘Institut Universitaire de Technologie’ Paris, France(1977). An autodidact at photography. Started taking pictures in 1975 while working for Guy Bourdin in Paris. Learned black and white printing from 1977-1979 under the guidance of Jean Loup Sieff, also in Paris. Moved to Los Angeles in 1986 and started to work with large format cameras. From 1995 to present, made extensive research on high definition printing with small and medium format cameras, using highly customized enlarging systems. Resides in Los Angeles.
Gallery
LACP Interviews Marc Valesella
LACP asks Marc Valesella ten questions about his background, career in and beliefs about photography.
Los Angeles Center of Photography: What kind of photographer are you?
Marc Valesella : A great photographer who taught me printing use to say, there is two kinds of photographers, the good ones and the bad ones, and I am trying hard to be good, all jokes aside I now concentrate only on “fine art” photography, visually investigating an aesthetic concept that attract and challenge me.
LACP: How long have you been shooting?
MV: It has now been 40 years than I really got hooked.
LACP: Where did you get your training?
MV: Assisting fashion photographers, but basically autodidact .
LACP: When did you know you wanted to devote your life to photography?
MV: In 1974, walking into a gallery in Paris.
LACP: Did you ever come close to giving up?
MV: Never.
LACP: Have you sacrificed anything by being a photographer?
MV: Who knows.
LACP: What have you gained by being a photographer?
MV: My own belief is that sight is the most important of the senses, it taught me to see sharply and deeper.
LACP: What classes do you teach at LACP?
MV: Black & White silver gelatin printing, and film processing.
LACP: What do you love most about teaching?
MV: The contact with people who want to learn, and the feeling of carrying the torch of the most important medium of our time.
LACP: What advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a career in photography?
MV: Try not to think about it in term of a career but of a lifetime love story.