Capturing the Essence of Life: photographer and author Cendrine Marrouat talks composition and her latest book

August 8, 2017 3 Comments

Like compelling prose, a well-composed photo evokes emotion and teaches us something about ourselves. In her upcoming book, Life’s Little Things: The Quotes, photographer Cendrine Marrouat pairs her breathtaking photography with inspirational words. Cozy up and read on as Marrouat talks inspiration, artistic processes, and compositional decisions. You can take a closer look at her book and purchase a copy at Blurb.

KS: When you talk about the importance of quotes, you mention how words have the power to comfort and to challenge a person’s notions. What was your goal with Life’s Little Things: The Quotes? What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

CM: Hello Kelsey and everyone! Thank you for having me today.

I see more and more people suffering from stress and depression around me. I left Facebook because the amount of negativity was too much for me. It was becoming very hard to have normal conversations with people.

I have always used my creative skills to help others. Life’s Little Things: The Quotes has one goal: Give people a space to find themselves again. They need to treat themselves better.

People love a good quote. Many of my friends keep their favorites tucked in their wallets or purses. And when you pair them with nice photos, a chain reaction seems to take place. People suddenly feel more inspired and start sharing with others. The resulting discussions are always interesting.

I hope that the book will encourage people to reconnect with themselves, think more positively, slow down their physical pace, and find their inner rhythm.

KS: I love the hybrid nature of your book. What was the inspiration behind your book? How did you come up with the idea?

CM: Thank you! I love experimenting with new concepts or rarely used ideas. Challenges are always rewarding. It is too bad that more people don’t live that way.

As with all my other books, Life’s Little Things: The Quotes was inspired by what I see around me. Life and the world are my muses.

KS: Tell us a little bit about your process for Life’s Little Things: The Quotes. Did you have this project in mind when composing the photos? How did you go about choosing which photographs to include?

CM: I had never really thought of using quotes and photography together until a couple of years ago. One day, on Instagram, I noticed that the posts with the most likes and comments were the ones in the quotography category.

Shortly after releasing Life’s Little Things: Les petites choses de la vie, my second photography book, some people suggested I start pairing my photos with words from famous people on my blog. The experiment received very positive feedback from the get-go.

As such, I figured that it would be interesting to launch a book in the same vein. In August 2016, I asked the visitors of the blog to select the images that they wanted to see in it.

KS: Including your audience in the selection process for the photos is a fantastic idea! How did you choose the quote for each photo?

CM: I actually wrote all the quotes. They are based on the lessons I learnt in life.

The challenge was to make sure that they matched the photos. Some came to me right away, while others took me longer to write. Overall, it was an experiment in personal introspection.

KS: We talk a lot about finding the space for artistic pursuits on Tibetan Lemonade. How do you grow your photography skills? What do you do to ensure you have the time needed to pursue your photography goals?

CM: When you are passionate about something, you will always find a way to pursue and get better at it. I am out taking photos at least once a week. I often go back to the same spots to re-shoot the same scenes to see if I can use the light or exposure differently.

When I started taking photography seriously, I had no idea what I was doing. But over time, I educated myself and looked at the portfolios of many professional photographers in my fields of interest. Emulating their styles allowed me to understand my own.

KS: Emulating other styles is a fantastic way for any artist to find their own style! I am curious about the photographers who inspired you. Who has had the most influence on your craft? In what ways did they impact you?

CM: As a photographer specializing in nature, black-and-white and closeup images, I consider Ansel Adams the quintessential nature photographer. He chased simplicity in its most beautiful form.

My photography seeks to achieve exactly that. There are no better subjects than the little things in life. If I can help people see that, my work is done. 🙂

KS: Often there are lessons to be learned from artists outside of our focus. How have other art forms inspired or contributed to your artistic eye?

CM: I dabbled into theatre and wrote two plays a decade ago. This experience helped me understand how to use words and movement to hammer my messages home. A good play is like a traditional haiku. Several readings are necessary to figure out what is going on between the lines.

KS: I find many parallels between good composition in photography and in writing. What goes through your mind as you are composing a shot? What decisions do you make before, during, and after taking a photograph?

CM: Actually, when I look at the world, I do not see words. I hear music.

I approach photography in the same way as I write poetry. The tools are not important. What matters is the moment when my eyes catch a silent, but fleeting story unfolding.

In most cases, I have no idea how the final shot will look. However, I occasionally know from the moment I see the scene what I want to achieve.

With that said, I don’t like over-processed shots. Most of my photos are minimally edited. And that it probably why you will never see me win a photography contest. I don’t play in the same playground as a majority of digital photographers.

KS: What was the biggest struggle you faced during this project? How did you overcome that?

CM: This year has been very challenging for personal reasons. It has been hard to remain focused for a sustained period of time.

With that said, after battling depression for ten years as a young adult, I knew that it was essential to complete this project. I had to delve deep within myself to find the rights words. But I am glad I forced myself to do it. Now, I feel refreshed and alive again.

KS: You mentioned you were a poet for many years before you started in on photography. In what ways has being a poet contributed to your photography? Will you ever combine the two art forms?

CM: As I mentioned earlier, I approach poetry and photography in the same way. But that is where the contribution of poetry stops. It does not influence my photography.

I actually combined the two art forms in my first photography book, titled When the Mind Travels: A Poetic Journey into Photography. I used different poetic forms to guide the reader in their journey. The book is a meditation on nature and the human condition through images from several countries — Canada, Syria, the United States, and France.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Life’s Little Things: The Quotes

Quotes have been part of the human fabric for a very long time. No matter how old we are, we like to keep our favorites with us. We often have them safely tucked in our wallets or framed on the walls of our homes.

Quotes bring us a sense of comfort and keep us grounded. They force us to think and question our preconceived notions of our surroundings. Most importantly, they inspire us to become better people, especially when they are paired with photography that tells multi-layered stories.

This is the idea behind Life’s Little Things: The Quotes. Cendrine Marrouat’s second book in her Life’s Little Things series pays homage to the world in a way that you may never have seen before. Each page is an invitation to reflect on the human condition and our never-ending connection to nature.

Not only will Life’s Little Things: The Quotes brighten your day, but it will also open your mind to what is possible and what truly matters. In a world where negativity seems to be winning, the 25 high-quality photos and quotes in the book are intended as a balancing act. They will encourage you to reconnect with yourself, think more positively, slow down your physical pace, and find your inner rhythm.

Life’s Little Things: The Quotes is a little book with a twist and a big heart. Don’t wait and pick up your copy today!

What people are saying:

quotation-mark  A real treat for the senses. – Janette Speyer, HotIceMedia.com

Cendrine Marrouat’s play between imagery and prose is simple, sweet, succinct and good food for the mind and soul. – Kelly Hungerford, CommunityWorks

Cendrine Marrouat’s work is not just good but excellent. The pictures all tell a story, capture a moment in time and they speak to your emotions. – Anthony Carranza, B2B News Network  quotation-mark

Meet the Author:

Cendrine LinkedIn profileCendrine Marrouat is a photographer, social media blogger and trainer, French instructor, and author living in Canada. She is the founder of two blogs:
Social Media Slant helps photographers figure out the basics of social media.
Cendrine Marrouat Photography displays her photographic work.
In 2015, Cendrine was recognized a Top 100 Business Blogger by BuzzHUMM. Social Media Slant also made Fit Small Business’ Best Small Business Blogs of 2015 & 2016 lists.
Cendrine has authored two social media books:

Cendrine has self-published five collections of poetry and a spoken word CD. She is also the author of three photography books:

Connect with Cendrine Marrouat

Email: cendrine@creativeramblings.com
Phone number: +1 204 997 0948 (6-8 p.m. CT)
Skype ID: cendrinemedia
You can find links to all of her books (poetry, social media and photography) at Cendrine Marrouat Photography’s Store.

Or find her on your favorite social media platform:

Featured Photo by Angelina Litvin on Unsplash
Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY
CategoriesAuthor Interviews, Guest Authors