Here is the second part of our exclusive interview with French photographer Jean-Marc (the first part is here), with more about his art and two of his muses: Thibaut [above] and Aymeric [below].

Define the word “beauty”.
Though one. Thinking about it, I realize that I don’t have any clear definition. It would always be related to my emotions, something that moves me, leaves a mark, a memory — even a vague one — and becomes a reference of sorts. Or it could be a photo, an object, or a man that I could watch forever without ever finding the slightest fault — and should I find one, it becomes beautiful. Beauty’s something that leaves you speechless, that you can’t explain.

How do you pick your models?
I’m very selective. There are obviously a few prerequisites, like a ripped body and a somewhat hollow face. The body matters, but the face comes first. Then again it’s something that I’ve got to feel — I need to click with the model, that’s what drives me. In a nutshell, I’m kind of a pain (laughs).

Where do you find them?
In the street, on the web. Some apply directly on my site, but out of hundreds of applications, only a couple will retain my attention.

No make-up?
No. I don’t like it, I don’t know how to do it, and I don’t want to learn. Since I want to be alone with my model, I can’t even hire a make-up artist. But above all, I want naturalness — I like the imperfections of the skin that make-up would erase. They’re part of what’s natural, charming, and authentic about a face.

How do you help them feel comfortable posing nude?
Nude is tricky. It easily becomes vulgar or uninteresting. It’s harder to make what I call ‘a nude that you see without seeing it’. If I take a photo involving frontal nudity, it’s never because I want to show the model’s penis. I’m trying to convey an emotion to the viewer, in which nudity is accessory — that’s what I explain to my models, and I think it helps them relax. It’s a matter of trust between them and me. Some will spontaneously strip down, but it’s never something I impose on them, and definitely not one of my most frequent requests.

Any anecdote?
30 minutes into a shooting, I asked a model to strip down to his undies. It was the first time we were working together, and his first time posing for a photographer. His boxer shorts were certainly comfortable, but very unsexy, so I gave up and I told him we’d do something else. He wanted to know why, so I told him about his boxers, and he said: ‘No problem, let’s get rid of it!” Later, when I asked him why he reacted this way, he just told me that he trusted me, that he was feeling good about it and knew that the result would be good.

How do you pick your locations?
I like real places, apartements, hotels, gyms. I don’t like studios, too neutral to my taste. The setting is not always visible in a picture, but it does matter, it inspires me. I tend to favor derelict places. And I like the model to contrast against his surroundings — it makes for a stronger shot.

What can you tell us about Aymeric?
He is a pure beauty, with a simplicity and a modesty about his physique that is rather uncommon for a model. He’s also both stubborn and sweet, and that’s the kind of paradox that shows on my photos.

And what about Thibaut?
His face is very special. We started working together 10 years ago, but he still inspires me. I can’t explain it. It’s always a pleasure to shoot him.

What is the one lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?
Sensuality, emotion, naturalness. I’d like my photos to retain the same impact when you look at them years from now. I’d like my work to be remembered for its emotional content, something you can’t really describe that makes my photos hard to ignore, whether you like them or not.

whenIsee men selection, Jean-Marc’s new coffee table photo book, is available through Les Mots à la Bouche bookstore in Paris, or online at Adventice or Fnac.

whenIsee
Purchase whenIsee men selection from Adventice
Purchase whenIsee men selection from Fnac