Charles Negre's cinematically inspired still life photography

Charles Negre is a highly in-demand French photographer working predominantly in still life, capturing scenes through imaginative framing and use of colours.

“Still life photography has a strong heritage aesthetic based on effects; crazy light effects, textures, depth and scale effects…I think it is good to acknowledge all that and add narration: fiction,” he says.

His latest work for Alla Carta in collaboration with set designers Valentina Cameranesi and Enrico Pompilli, uses still lives and portraiture inspired by cinema to convey a narrative scenario shared by its three characters, the house they live in and the objects that surround their emotional interactions.

Charles says, “I started building a story from those movie stills close-ups…we used continuous lighting with film which changes the whole mood on the set.”

Curious motifs and unexpected reflections are used throughout the series, evoking a subtle sense of surrealism. Shot in a bold technicolor style palette, the images often centre on hands. Each object pops independently.

A graduate of Swiss art school Ecal, he has maintained a broad portfolio of work and clients across editorial and brands, including Dior, Edelweiss magazine and Wallpaper. Charles Negre updated his web portfolio today showing off his latest personal and professional work side-by-side.