Interview with Jack Dante

Bienvenue! Welcome to the world of Jack Dante where you don't have to belong in order to belong. A place where just being yourself is enough. As you walk inside the dark room of Paris' fastest rising photographer you will find the following: an emotional Alicia Keys subdued in melodic thought, a contemplative Lenny Kravitz, a laid-back Kanye West and a passionately singing Beyonce Knowles draped in a sparkling silver gown.

You will even catch a glimpse of the backstage back-stabbings of beautiful models doing ugly things. As you explore inside his studio you might see an assortment of high glamor femmes and street kids rocking the latest fashions. Most importantly when in the company of Jack Dante you will see images of everyday people doing everyday things in extraordinary ways. It is a feeling sans parell to non other. An excitement of life as it is. It is the adrenaline rush of being in love with your art and waking up every morning only to re-fall back in love again and again.

His photographs are a constant refreshment of beauty. A rejuvenation through joy as writer Langston Hughes would say. Along with fashion and music, Dante also captures estranged travel moments through Tobago, London, Berlin, Harlem and Mexico. There are some images that simply reflect how beautiful earth is: a silhouette of ebony reflections watching boats sail by underneath an orange Zanzibar sunset, electric nights in South Africa watching elephants stroll and quiet foggy mornings in New York and Paris. His art is a gift of Dieu.

Jack Dante was born in Beirut, a city that became synonymous to the war and conflict that plagued Lebanon for years. Despite the traumatic and horrific images shared and exposed to the world by the visual elements of photography and television, Dante decided to create images of his own. With the borrowed Polaroid camera of his parents the jeun dreamer began to click away. "I tried to take photographs of everyday life, of my famille and amis (friends,) " he explains.

He continued with his theme of everyday life when he left Lebanon and migrated to Paris, France. His work became an unintentional scrapbook of diversity. A place where xenophobia has no bearings and hues are invisible. He has shot for many fashion designers and has worked for Diesel,Vogue Italia, Sleek and Qvest.

As for pre-meditated photographs, Monsieur Dante detests staged poses instead he prefers to capture unpredictable moments through his lens. "I'm trying to catch moments that tell a story or reveal a kind of poetry in authentic situations...i don't like to plan a picture," he says. " I'm inspired by simple things that of life which creates emotions; music; art...the poetry of daily situations which we sometimes don't even notice."

What are your favorite subjects to shoot?

People when they are themselves, artists doing their art, strange situations...I prefer improvisations...the picture has to capture a true emotion.

What makes being a photographer in Paris different from any other city?

I'm not sure if it makes a big difference...but its a city where fashion is important. Its easier to go backstage of a fashion show for example. We also have the chance to meet great designers like Jean-Charles de Castelbajac who are very open to the pop and street culture.

What do you love most about summers in Paris?

Even if they are many tourists its really quiet and calm. In the summer Paris belongs to the world and its great that way. What inspires me is that the city is more and more multi-cultural and my photography reflects diversity and today's world. I'm not more inspired by Paris than another city. Each city has its own spirit.

Do you have a dream shoot? If so who and what would it be?

I can't imagine my dream shoot as it has to be an unexpected moment to catch...But I would really love to shoot Keith Richards ! Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye or Otis Redding...if they were alive.

For those who love photography and may have missed your recent exhibit in France could you tell us about it and perhaps when you may have another one?

My exhibit is the combination of pictures which represent the "new world" with all its contrasts, dreams and hopes.

I don't know yet when will be the next one... but it will probably be a different theme. Tout le mode est bienvenue!

Please view Jack dante's collection at: http://mamimagazine.com/wordpress/?p=1564