Inspiration from a Bordelais sculptor
A few years back, just after creating my Flickr account, I came across a photostream by a user call “Lab oil”. As I browsed his photos I found myself laughing out loud. I was inspired.
“Lab oil” is one Alain Laboile, a sculptor who was born outside Bordeaux, France, and who still lives in the area. He’s in his early forties (as am I) and married with six children – ranging in age from four to 18.
The photos that first drew my eye were his Reflections around the pool series. The series was apparently birthed after Laboile saw his children reflected in the natural pond pool in their back yard. Using his artistic creations, everyday things found on their smallholding and his children, he created a surreal new world to capture on camera.
Photo: Alain Laboile
Photo: Alain Laboile
Photo: Alain Laboile
Photo: Alain Laboile
Photo: Alain Laboile
Photo: Alain Laboile
Photo: Alain Laboile
Photo: Alain Laboile
Photo: Alain Laboile
Artists like Laboile inspire me to dream outside of the box. I’m not naturally creative. But I love photography. Last year in February I wrote a post about how I had submitted a dozen of my photos to a stock photo site – all of which were rejected. A year later I tried again. Five were accepted; about 10 times that number were rejected once again …
I love my photography. It’s not all great, but some of the pics are life-filled. And when I look at Laboile’s images I see a man having fun with his photography. Most of his photos would never make a stock image site but he has been featured on the ABC News website and The New York Times “Lens” blog, amongst others. The reception, he says, has been a pleasant surprise.
His other series, and the one that has received the most recognition, is his family photo album “La Famille”. Here he captures his six children just being children. And yes, there is some nudity, but as one of my readers commented after Wednesday’s post, “My daughter is a bit of a mechanic too – but she’s more of a nudist than a hillbilly.” It’s normal for kids, and that’s what Laboile is willing to share.
On days when I’m feeling uninspired, or someone has told me my photos are not good enough, I browse on over to Lab oil’s photostream, have a good laugh … and feel inspired. (Click on images for larger versions.)
5 Comments on “Inspiration from a Bordelais sculptor”
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They called me weed
I have been blogging here since around April 2011 - my little place on the blogosphere to express myself creatively. As a teenager I used to write a diary - in fact, as a 17-year-old living in Belgium, I wrote religiously every day. Fortunately the Internet didn't exist back then because my ramblings as a teenager were ever-so-slightly dark, cynical and depressing. You won't find much of that here. Also, mostly, I try not to get too deep or philosophical in this forum - I'd like my photography to uplift and inspire, and, where I can, I try to bring a bit of humour into my writing too. I've been fortunate enough to travel extensively and have made many friends across the globe. This is my spot to keep in touch with them.
Weird! But cool!
These are incredibly interesting and well done. Love them all.
i love them!!! your photos are good enough!
Pretty damn brilliant, I have to say.
Very inspiring indeed! Thanks for sharing.
Tina