It Feels So Familiar (Zine)

It Feels So Familiar

Karl-Rapahel Blanchard — 2017

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introduction

When thinking of a book to make it took me a while to understand what or where my style came from and why I’m doing this. Then it dawned on me.

Does it really matter? I am not doing to impress but rather to progress and to share the venture with my viewers. I wouldn’t consider myself a photographer by trade but I photograph—a lot. I don’t quite know what my biggest inspiration is, but I know travel, love, sex, alcohol, design, music, God, family, friends & art keep me going—in no particular order. I’ve been blessed with some type of talent and one of the biggest sins is being handed something from God and not using it. I guess this book is more of an experiment if anything. The goal is that there is no end goal, just a marathon. The joy isn’t in finishing it’s in the act. It’s in the constant evolution of my style, and sharing the journey for anyone who’s been there with me or will be sometime in the future.

-Karl-Raphael Blanchard-

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brief

Much of this work spans the time from 2016 through early 2017. The work was all photographed with one of various smaller cameras that I own.

The intention of utilizing a point and shoot is the spontaneity and the compactness of the cameras. It felt good to carry something so packable and powerful at the same time. When photographing it wasn’t meant for everything to be picture perfect. Some of the pictures aren’t even in focus, it 6

was more about capturing a moment or a feeling—a type of mood of a situation. The photographs range from New York to various parts of eastern europe where I spent most of the summer in 2016. From Germany to Denmark to Prague then back to Germany and New York there was quite a lot I experienced. Traveling and meeting new individuals who opened up their home to me, to learning about culture and drinking and living like a local. It was quite an experience.

There were so many similarities in the way people live and enjoy themselves I felt in some of the cities the only difference between there and home was the language in all honesty. Don’t get me wrong there are plent y of differences but it was so welcoming it all felt so familiar.

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desaturate

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Thanks to my family, friends, and everyone who let me photograph them. There are so many names, but I trust you know who you are. A special thank you goes to lovely mother Elisabeth Kersaint. A strong willed woman who continues to pass down her love and wisdom to me. A caring mother who has made me the unique individual I am today.

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“It Feels So Familiar” © Karl-Raphael Blanchard 2017

Design & Photo: Karl-Raphael Blanchard

karlblanchard.com

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