PROFILES

For 5 years Nicolas Dubreuil has been photographing Dior stores around the world. But living in luxury's fast lane has not made him forget the essential: the human element.

From discovering oneself to meeting others
For 10 years I practised art photography as a means of exploring my inner worlds. Even when I was taking pictures of other people it was me I was looking for; in fact I called all my exhibitions: "From seeking oneself to seeking meaning." I needed to answer the questions Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? I found some answers that enabled me to grow so I was able to leave behind that introspective work and go towards others. I now realise that starting to photograph architecture for Dior was a turning point. It enabled me to travel and propelled me into contact with others, which in the end reconnected me with my initial desire of working as a journalist so as to meet people and see what the world is like.

Resourceful
For the last five years I've photographed all Dior's new and revamped stores around the world. Why me? The quality of my photos? Certainly. But I think my real added-value is my resourcefulness. I often work to very tight deadlines, going to countries at short notice with just one night to shoot. If the electricity fails, the lighting hasn't been organised or there's a truck parked in front of the shop, it's a disaster! When I joined Dior they organised everything, including my schedule and booking my planes and hotels. Today they just need to say: "Nico, Kuwait, 2 August", give me the address and the job gets done!

More than a lucky star
When something happens to you at an opportune moment in life you can't help but think you're lu-cky. And if that occurs several times you tell yourself there has to be more to it than a lucky star. As if you were connected to some sort of network above you, like a railway carriage to its overhead cable, and when that connection goes live, magical things come about. It happened with Dior. I had to photograph the New York flagship, a gigantic 550m² building on several floors. The only way to shoot the frontage as a whole was from inside the tower block opposite, which after September 11 was impossible. Then one afternoon I was in Times Square and someone came up and asked me to photograph them with a friend. It turned out they worked in that very building, so thanks to them I was able to enter it and take a magnificent photo!

Only people interest me
In almost five years I must have visited more than 35 countries. But the only thing that really interests me is the people and the magical encounters I have. A fascinating conversation in Dubai with a taxi driver who told me about hunting with an eagle in the green plains of his native Pakistan. A security guard in Kazakhstan wanting to take me to the church where he was baptised. Laughing with a cleaning woman in London because she'd just eaten the chocolate bar she thought I had forgotten. I believe that when my time is over I shall take with me those precious moments that have nourished my soul.

Part of life
Our world moves at an exponential speed, faster than humans can deal with. My profession obliges me to live in the fast lane, which is why I need to take refuge in slowness and silence. One day in Taiwan, a country on the go 24/7, I felt so overwhelmed by information, sensations, feelings and thoughts that I shut myself away in my hotel room with the curtains closed. There comes a time when you need to reconnect with yourself, otherwise the world is a whirlwind sweeping you away. That's why I don't have web access on my mobile. I'm part of life, and if you're absorbed in your emails when life comes looking for you, what meaning can your existence have?

By Alexandre Benoist