Jean-Philippe Piter. Photographer
He is a photographer and environmental activist who celebrates the art of the nude through his love for the freedom and power of women.
Tell us a few words about you.
I am a French artist/photographer and environmental activist. I have been living and working in the Caribbean since 1997. I was born and raised in Africa (Sénégal). I started photography at 17. I am now 55. I love what I do and do it with passion and ethics.
What inspires you in photography?
In photography and, more generally, in life, I have always been inspired by women. I have always been fascinated and intrigued by them. I have never really been interested in the company of men. I am celebrating women in their ‘birthday suits’ in the simplest way possible, without artifice. I have been living almost all my life by the sea. Consequently, nature and mainly tropical landscapes inspire me a lot.
You have such great work in art nudes. What is it that attracts you to that form of art?
I have always been a voyeur. The very first photo I have ever taken once I got my first camera was of my girlfriend naked on the couch. I like the intimacy of a nude photoshoot. I want to celebrate women in their sexiness. To picture them free, solid and happy. I feel lucky and privileged to share and create with my models and, most of all, to make a living out of them.
Can you describe your work in a few words?
Cheeky and sexy!
Where do you like to live, and which country (or city) attracts you most to work?
I am sharing my time between two islands. I have been living in St-Barth since 1996. I recently purchased land on a peaceful, wild island in The Bahamas. In nature, I built a tiny shack on the beach where I live five months a year off the grid. This is where I love to be the most these days. This is where I find peace of mind and inspiration.
Do you have a dream photo project that you wish to take on?
Any project that will allow me to be vocal about the destruction of nature by uncontrolled development. Particularly in the Caribbeans.
Which work would you consider the most important for your career so far?
After seven years of assisting various photographers, I started in Paris with interior/architecture photography. Then surfing, photography, fashion, portraiture, and advertisement. These days I am mostly known for my art nudes, and this is what I am the proudest of. I now have the opportunity to exhibit my art worldwide, particularly in the USA, France or the Caribbean.
What would you say has changed significantly in the years you've worked as a photographer? If there is anything.
A lot of things have changed since I started. Digital photography, photoshop, and social media have completely changed the game. I am even surprised that I survived the massive changes and kept going through the years. Photography has become accessible to everyone now. The technical barriers have been broken. Everyone is a photographer these days. I need a smartphone and an Instagram account. If social media allowed us to show our work to a large audience, it would have also contributed to getting our work stolen or plagiarized too easily. This is very relevant to photography and music or any form of creation.
Tell us a few words about that beautiful work, Pure St-Barth.
I launched my magazine PURE SAINT-BARTH in 2003 out of frustration with working for others, being unable to make a decent living, and being creatively restricted. I was craving to celebrate my island's nature, authenticity and unique quality of life. I closed my magazine in 2018 when I understood I contributed to its destruction. Unfortunately, the authenticity and the simplicity I was praising no longer exist. Unfortunately, St-Barth is now a victim of its success. It was damaged by uncontrolled development, greed, ignorance, idiocracy and corruption. This happened to too many 'dream' destinations around the world.
It was amazing the last time it lasted. I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time. I met terrific creative minds and individuals through the process. I witnessed and documented something unique and rare which is gone forever.
Do you have any upcoming work to share with us?
I am currently collaborating with https://www.christophermartingallery.com/jean-philippe-piter to create new exhibitions of my photographs. I am happy and proud to share a little teaser of what it would be.
