by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 2nd of February 2026

Philippe Clement is an excellent street photographer, always revealing the dignity and beauty of everyday life and showing that every gesture has a human thruth behind it. He quotes: « Every photograph captures a memorable experience. Even if you try to be discreet, getting close to people often leads to an exchange of glances and sometimes even a smile. These fleeting moments are memorable, and even more so when they lead to a genuine interaction. » 

‘Fashion’

Dear friend, to begin with, please introduce yourself and tell us about yourself, your hobbies, or other projects/work you are involved in.

Hello, I have lived in Seine-Saint-Denis for about 40 years. I am a self-taught photographer and used to work as a building technician. Photography has been a part of my life ever since I was very young. I started out with an Instamatic, and in the 1980s I bought a Minolta 6000I SLR. About ten years ago, I switched to digital photography with Canon 7D and 6D equipment, and I now enjoy all kinds of photography, from close-ups to bird photography.
I retired six years ago and have been really into street photography for the last five or six years.

Your street photography is excellent and reminiscent of the work of great French photographers. We really appreciate the renewed interest in black-and-white street photography here on 1x, and your work fits this trend perfectly. Your signature is undeniably evident in all your photos. What does street photography mean to you and what first attracted you to this genre ?

I was already doing a lot of photojournalism, covering demonstrations organized by trade unions, as well as events in the aftermath of the 13 November attacks and the marriage equality debate. I also covered motorsports events, such as hill climbs and the French speed racing championship at the Carole circuit. I photographed street art and cultural events such as 'Entrez dans la danse' (Enter the Dance). Gradually, street photography became a new challenge for me.

What, in your opinion, makes a street photograph memorable?

A good street photograph should reveal the dignity and beauty of everyday life, showing that every gesture has a human truth behind it.

Could you describe your photographic vision?

For me, photography is a window through which we can share our view of humanity and everyday life. Images can capture a moment, an event or a situation and tell a story that speaks to us.

How important is content compared to form in street photography? Do you think one plays a more important role than the other?

Every photograph captures a memorable experience. Even if you try to be discreet, getting close to people often leads to an exchange of glances and sometimes even a smile. These fleeting moments are memorable, and even more so when they lead to a genuine interaction.

What would you like your audience to take away from your work?
I try to reveal the hidden beauty in ordinary moments because I believe that is where life's true poetry lies.

What are some clichés in street photography that you avoid, in your opinion?
For example, I never photograph people in situations that could make them look ridiculous. It's important to be kind and empathetic, in my opinion.



What difficulties did you encounter when you first started out in street photography, and what advice would you give to beginners?

As with many street photographers, the key is gaining self-confidence. We often stand too far away from our subjects.
My main recommendation is to visit exhibitions, consult photography books or simply take an interest in the work of other photographers. This approach helps us to develop our perspective and our practice. I must also admit that I am always eager to learn; it's an ongoing quest.

Who are your favourite photographers, and how have they influenced you?

The street photographers who inspire my approach to photography include the best-known, such as Robert Doisneau and Henri Cartier-Bresson, who are essential for me, as well as Frank Horvat, whom I met at the 'Les Italiens' exhibition, and Elliot Erwitt, Bruce Gilden and Daido Moriyama. Their work influences my photography unconsciously; I try to capture similar situations and poses.



To what extent do you act instinctively or plan ahead when you take photographs?

Before I leave, I check the battery life and make sure I have a blank memory card. This doesn't take up any space and gives me peace of mind during the street photography session. I like to walk around with my nose in the air and just a vague idea of what I want to do. I like discovering a town or place by getting lost in it and going against the flow.

What equipment do you use (camera, lenses, bag)?

When it comes to street photography, I mainly use a Fujifilm X100F compact camera, and more recently a Ricoh GR III. I use these cameras because of their technical features, ease of use, weight and, above all, because they don't require a bag.

Which software do you use to edit your photos?

I mainly use Lightroom because I find it very intuitive and full of features.

Could you tell us more about your workflow?

I open Lightroom.
I import the RAW files from the memory card and let Lightroom place the photos in the YYYY, MM – DD folder on an external hard drive.
Then I add keywords, rate and reject the photos.
Then I make basic corrections and synchronise them.
I export the photos as .jpg files to a folder for later use on the web.

Could you tell us about any future projects you are working on or would like to be involved in?

No real projects at the moment, other than actively participating in the initiatives of Street Photographie France. Street Photography France | Explorez la beauté authentique de la France avec notre street photography.

What role has social media played in your career as a photographer?

It has allowed me to publish my photos online and reach a wide audience. This has created opportunities that I could never have imagined, such as the one mentioned above.

As we're coming to the end of this interview, could you tell us how you discovered 1x and what you think of using this platform for your work?

I came across this gallery by chance while browsing online. The high quality of the photos really caught my attention. I submitted my photos without much conviction that they would be accepted — for me, it was a real challenge. My gallery has grown since then, but it hasn't been easy. I have had to do a great deal of introspection to convince others...

'L'arrêt bus' (The bus stop)

'pluie diluvienne' (torrential rain)

‘balade entre ami’ (Walk with friends)

‘afficher une certaine détresse’ (show some distress)

‘s’accorder une pause’ (Take a break)

‘un regard capté’ (A captured gaze)

‘le passsant’ (the passerby)

‘s’assumer’ (Assume yourself)

‘Installer en terrasse’ (Install on the terrace)

‘Le regard’ (The gaze)

'fantasmagorique’ (phantasmagorical)

‘Insolite’ (Unusual)

'Après la pluie’ (After the rain)

‘Consulter les nouvelles du jour’ (heck out today’s news)

‘Se retrouver en terrasse’ (Meet up on the terrace)

‘Bienvenue’ (Welcome)

'cohabitation de génération' (generation cohabitation)

‘Portrait’

‘sous les regards’ (under the gaze)

‘le temps leur manque’ (they lack time)

About me

My username on Instagram is  « Clem93380 » https://www.instagram.com/clem93380
I am a member of street photography France Street Photography France | Explorez la beauté authentique de la France avec notre street photography.

I contributed to the publication of two collective works proposed by Georges Neyrac, a publisher specialising in fine photography books.
The books are entitled Open Books (À livres ouverts) and Music, or How to Capture Music Through Photography (Musiques, ou comment rendre compte de la musique par la photographie?). (Music, or How to Capture Music Through Photography).

First participation in Open Books
Exposition à Livres ouverts
[1] les dernières informations ( The latest information ) by CLEMENT Philippe
[1] consulter son journal ( Consult his diary ) by CLEMENT Philippe
[1] la lectrice ( The reader ) by CLEMENT Philippe

Second participation Music
Sur un air de photographies, musique et musiciens
[1] Un duo musicale ( A musical duo) by CLEMENT Philippe
[1] Sur air d'accordéon (To the tune of an accordion ) by CLEMENT Philippe
[1] Il ne manquait que le contrebassiste ( All that was missing was the double bass player.) by CLEMENT Philippe

An exhibition following the publication of Open Books is currently running.
The opening took place at the Lune & Toile bookstore in Sanary-sur-Mer, the 30st of January at 6:00 p.m.
Books can be ordered here.
This group exhibition will feature photographs by Andreas Munzel, Clément Philippe, Corinne Destribats, Georges Neyrac, Marco Mourão, Nathalie Gatien-David, Patricia Romano, Philippe Massé, Sébastien Pelletier and Sylvain Theux. This exhibition will run until 15 March 2026.