Gardiennes des vieilles forêts

Mathieu AUSANNEAU Born in 1988 in the Pays Poitevin, I had the chance to be in contact with nature since my birth. From my first steps, I explored my closest natural environment, the bocage. Without a specific objective, I marveled every time I was allowed to see, smell or touch nature. Quickly my first contacts with birds took place, then mammals until a new upheaval; that of old forests. From now on, I survey the reliefs of the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park in search of the wildest forests, attracted by boreal influences. Much more than a passion, photography is for me the way to relive the emotions of my childhood naturalist discoveries and to never forget them. This awareness through the lens of my objective also gave me this desire to work according to the values ​​of respect for biodiversity, sharing and discovery in the eyes of all, but also awareness of the importance of the universe around us. Through this quest, I try to transcribe the beauty of nature, its mysteries, but also its vulnerability. Thus, I have good hope that naturalist photography can awaken certain consciences. Forests are in dire need of attention. Stéphane and Manu VIDAL Twin brothers born in Cantal, we have been passionate about nature and wildlife since childhood. Very early on, photography quickly imposed itself on us as the natural way to immortalize our animal encounters, to keep the memory of them and to share our observations with our loved ones. Over time, our practice has taken both a more naturalist and scientific turn through our investment in the knowledge and monitoring of native species with local naturalist structures (LPO, PNR, etc.), but also more artistic with in each image the search for refined and aesthetic compositions seeking both to transcribe the intensity of an encounter and to magnify the scenes observed. Thus, for more than 25 years, animal photography has been an integral part of our lives and still animates us as much as ever. Today, this passion is part of a coherent whole: the most local and ethical practice possible, naturalistic monitoring of the species photographed, improvement of knowledge with the aim of better preserving habitats, work in relation with naturalist associations and structures committed to the environment. Faithful to this philosophy, our artistic approach finds its culmination in the printing of our photos only on washi paper, an ecological, vegetable and artisanal paper. Our images are visible on our Instagram account @regards.auvergnesauvage (with a dot) and on our website www.regardsauvergnesauvage.com. All the pictures presented there are available as numbered art prints.