You could say he’s the official Body & Pole photographer — this month, we welcome the photographer behind some of our most iconic shots to The Wall: none other than Michel Leroy. Michel’s “Alchemy” series will grace our Wall this summer (and we hope you come out to celebrate the launch with us tomorrow, June 26).
Michel has spent his wildly impressive career shooting everyone from celebrity chefs to olympic athletes to aerialists. Chances are, you’ve seen some of his work outside of Body & Pole — his works are featured in advertisements you’ve probably seen just walking around the city (check out this one currently gracing the side of a NYC bus!).
We are so honored to welcome Michel to Body & Pole and hope you find a moment before class to enjoy the captivating images we’re so lucky to feature. But first, here’s a little more about Michel:
How did you connect with Body & Pole?
I have had the great fortune to have collaborated with Kyra and Lian in 2009 on a photo project and have been working with them ever since.
What inspires you to photograph aerialists?
Athletes have physical control and command of themselves in a way that sets them apart from almost any other subjects. The community is filled with collaboration-minded people and the community at Body & Pole fosters that energy.
Do you have a personal connection to the world of aerial dance or circus?
My connection has always been through Kyra Johannesen who has helped by understand the potential of athletes and the creative possibilities of collaborating with athletes as disciplined and talented as the team at Body & Pole
What do you love about photographing aerialists?
I often try and describe the shape, or move, or gesture that I am looking for when photographing athletes and every single time they say something like, “oh, you mean like this…” and I am speechless because they both understood what I was fumbling to say and they make it look so much better than I knew was possible.
Tell us about “Alchemy” — what is the inspiration?
The Alchemy series is a collaboration between photographer and athlete that explores the tension between sensuality and physicality. The images are simple in form, but rich in ideas and emotions. Moments of sculptural balance, anticipation and strength define the graceful lines and impossible gestures of this vivid Black and White series.
What emotions of themes do you hope people to experience through this series?
By emphasizing form over identity, I shift the conversation from nudity to reveal empathy for body acceptance that transcends the self-image obsession of social media. The process of making the skin look metallic unites the constellation of skin tones and strips bare preconceptions about race while illuminating physical radiance.
