B-side : Evelyne Balliner, 20 years of passion to share
In this B-Side*, we spoke with Evelyne Balliner. Her name probably doesn’t ring a bell, and for good reason. Evelyne is one of those passionate, largely self-taught photographers who one day, almost by chance, walked into a concert and has been doing it ever since, for over 20 years, driven by that all-consuming passion that never lets you go: capturing the moment, the gesture, the detail, that will forever capture a state of mind, an atmosphere, an encounter between artists and the audience, and a place as well, since Evelyne, who has covered many festivals over the years, from Normandy to the Southwest, has remained loyal to her local area, particularly to one venue, “La Traverse” in Cléon, near Rouen, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
To celebrate 20 years together, Evelyne wants to capture more than just memories, she wants to preserve a story, not on porcelain, but on glossy paper. To do this, she needs everyone’s help. In an age of virtualization, erasure, and forgetting, it seemed both right and necessary to share her vision with you and invite you to support her in making this project a shared reality. Hurry, there are only 15 days left to help bring her book to life!
Shakears : Who's behind these photos?
E.B : Me, of course. I’ve been passionate about photography ever since I started college, but I had to put my passion aside to focus on my studies (med school doesn’t leave much free time) and then to take care of my daughter. But I often talked about it… When she left to pursue her own studies, she signed me up for the photography club in the town near where we live. It didn’t take much convincing for me to get back into it. Then, as I gradually improved, I started to find my own path.
Shakears : How did you become a concert photographer?
E.B : I was drawn to depictions of people, probably because of my profession? I loved music, even though I never had much time to go to concerts. The connection was made when I discovered “La Traverse,” a concert venue focused mainly on blues and rock. The director at the time welcomed me with open arms, offered me my first exhibition, and it’s been going strong for 20 years now. Directors have come and gone, and as the current director says, I’ve become a mainstay of the venue.
From left to right : The Witch doctors, The Two and Bernard Allison - (c) Evelyne Balliner - All rights reserved
Shakears : What are the key elements of a successful live photo?
E.B : For me, a successful live photo is one that captures the musicians’ energy and their connection with each other and with the audience. I also love taking photos of musicians when they’re completely absorbed in their music, when the world around them ceases to exist, and there’s nothing but the music.
Shakears : Who knows when the time is right: the photographer or the music lover?
E.B : The right moment. That’s a tough question, it’s how one person or another feels at a given moment. It’s about observation, watching when the musician is having a blast, really getting into it while playing!
Shakears : Tell us about this book project ?
E.B. : The book. This year, “La Traverse” celebrated its 30th anniversary. I’ve been taking photos there for 20 years, and I have a collection of memories that no one else has. It was a photographer friend who encouraged me to create this book. I hesitated for a long time, but my friends and family encouraged me to go ahead. The book is ready to go to print; the crowdfunding campaign went live in mid-September to raise funds for the printer. So far, there aren’t enough orders to go to print, but “La Traverse” opens its doors in a week, and I hope to reach out to and engage the venue’s loyal audience. I’d love for all this work over the past year to come to fruition and for the book to be published.
Editor's Note: We hope so too, and we invite you, those who are able, to participate and share our posts with those around you to mobilize as many people as possible. Our shared challenge for October?
* “B-Side by SHAKEARS” shines a spotlight on the people who make music, musicians, and live music scenes possible, but who often go unseen, the artists and craftspeople working behind the scenes: lyricists, photographers, stage managers, sound engineers, publicists, record labels, tour managers, lighting designers, illustrators, and so many others.
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