Ia Ora Na
With over 30 years of experience in photography and filmmaking, he has developed a sensitive eye and solid technical expertise.
Having worked in various contexts, from Berlin to Polynesia, including France and Slovenia, he knows how to adapt to each project to capture its essence. His journey has led him to collaborate with renowned artists and manage diverse projects, always with attention to detail and authenticity. Collaborating with him means benefiting from a human and passionate approach, where every image tells a story.
Armed with a small Minox, at 17, he took his first photographs in Berlin as the wall came down. This historic moment became the backdrop for his early days in photography, where he captured a city in transformation, filled with hope and renewal. For three years, he immersed himself in this vibrant metropolis. It was in this unique atmosphere that his passion for photography was born, a passion that would continue to grow over the years.
In the heart of Paris, he began his career by immersing himself in the world of black-and-white printing at the prestigious professional lab Pictorial Service. There, he produced prints for renowned artists such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, William Klein, Jacques Olivar, Mondino, Peter Lindbergh, and many others. These early years shaped his keen sense of light and contrast, providing a solid foundation for his future in imagery.
In 1996, he left the lab to fulfill his military service. Before leaving, he received a precious gift from Henri Cartier-Bresson: his book Carnets Mexicains (1934-1964), inscribed with a warm message. This gesture deeply impacted the young photographer, reinforcing his passion for photography and guiding him through the subsequent stages of his career.
His journey takes him to Polynesia, at the Tahiti-Faaa airbase, where he serves in the naval aviation squadron 12S. As a photographer for the armed forces, he embarks on a three-month mission aboard the frigate Prairial, traversing the mysterious waters of Southeast Asia. This experience, beyond the military aspect, becomes a true human adventure for him, rich in discoveries and moments captured on film.
Settled in Moorea, the sister island of Tahiti, he joins an audio-visual company at the dawn of the digital era. He shoots, frames, and edits films for luxury hotels such as Le Méridien and Sheraton. These years are marked by an immersion in the island’s natural beauty, which he captures sensitively through tourist films and photographs. Moorea becomes his muse, a place where his art takes root and flourishes.
Back in Papeete, he joins a production company where he begins directing films for local businesses and prestigious hotel chains such as St. Regis and Intercontinental. He also works on the film for Air Tahiti Nui, broadcast on the airline’s international flights, and travels to Sydney and New York to document the inauguration ceremonies of new flight routes. That same year, he edits the documentary Fisherman of the Abyss by J-M Corillion, aired on Thalassa. Meanwhile, he takes photographs for a campaign by Tahiti Tourism.
By co-founding Pollywood Films, he takes the reins of large-scale projects, combining production, direction, and editing. Under his co-direction, the company produces works such as the documentary Tahiti Ora in All Intimacy (the creation of Tumata Robinson’s troupe), as well as promotional films for the Hilton chain (Moorea and Bora Bora).
He also stands out for his steadicam skills, contributing to documentaries such as On the Back of Whales and Homeland, Return to Rurutu by Jean-Michel Corillion, aired on France TV. Pollywood Films then becomes a hub of creativity and innovation.
In 2011, he dedicated himself to more personal projects, notably producing and directing the documentary Aito, Warriors of the Pacific, which traces the journey of Polynesian soldiers in Afghanistan. His work was recognized with the publication of his photographs on the National Geographic France website, highlighting his unique perspective on poignant subjects.
After spending two months alongside the troops in Afghanistan, he organized his first photo exhibition in Besançon on the same theme, a significant event where the XV du Pacifique, a military rugby team made up of soldiers from the Pacific Islands, was the guest of honor. This moment remains etched in his memory as an unforgettable experience.
After leading his brand Aito, Warrior of the Pacific for several years, he has rediscovered the magic of photography with renewed enthusiasm. Now settled in the south of Tuscany, he lives each day as a scene from his own film alongside his faithful assistant, Mana, always on the lookout for untold stories to share through his films and images, with each snapshot becoming a new chapter in his artistic adventure.
Berlin, morning of November 10th, 1989; like every day, I got on the bus to go to school. But that morning, something was different. The streets were filled with Trabants, like a collective wh...
Under an emerald sky, the hills of Auckland stretch in endless waves of green. Two sheep, like solitary souls, graze in silence, lost in the vastness of this landscape. They move gently, their...
At the end of the shooting of Jean-Michel Corillion's documentary, Terre Natale, Retour à Rurutu, the filming team is warmly welcomed by the residents of Moerai, a picturesque village in the A...
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