StreetWise – 24HourProject Interview with Claudine Moitié

What is your name, both real and on instagram?

Claudine Moitié, aka clok_moitie on Instagram.

Image – @clok_moitie

‘Bienvenue”, because nobody wanted to be photographed in this nightclub. Except this girl, so attractive, in her red box, at the entrance. The bouncers were so unpleasant, whereas she was fresh and natural. Because this image, saying “Welcome”, suited the kick-off of the 24hr party‘.

Was this the first time you participated in this project, or have you taken part in previous years as well?If you participated previously, how did this year’s experience differ from past experiences?

My 4th year  and I’m kinda proud of it. 🙂

On the previous three years, I was with Eros Sana aka @eros_sana  his personality, outgoing and warm, works wonders in streets. But, this year, I did want to change my partners in crime, to live it differently. I asked an old friend of mine, Valérie aka @zouc123, and a photographer I met onTumblr if they were willing to try the experience with me. Christian was finally unfortunately too sick to come with us, but Valérie agree and came with a friend of her, Clara (@stephenleopold).

What city where you able to document?

Paris  I’m living there for 30+ years.

What inspired you to take part in this project?

My virtual dudes everywhere in the world. Renzo Grande aka @aliveinnyc invited me on the very first year, like you, Shel. This first experience was so amazing  I knew a lot of guys who were doing it in their part of the Earth. I did feel connected with my (virtual) friends. Relieved for my Australian, then Indonesian friends when they ended, exhausted, like “wow! They did it!”Enjoyed receiving messages from my friends on the West US coast, both excited & anxious.

Since then, I keep trying to catch again these strong feelings: feeling connected, live, to various points of our world.

Did you plan where to go or did you have an idea what you wanted to document, or did you just let fate decide as you wandered through the streets?

Fate most of the time. Every year, I think of some places I’d like to see living at certain hours of the day  you know, night in a hot young spot; wee hours in a high area; and so on. But, each year, I have to compose with the other guys’ plans, and I do like this  one night, one of us wanted to see rats on banks of the Seine; so we went there, and it was funny, even if we didn’t see a single mouse! Other example: alone,I would never shoot in Pigalle in the middle of the night; in a group, I dared  and I was actually in trouble with drugs dealers and gun guys.

What was the biggest challenge you faced during the 24 hours?

Hardware issues. This year, my phone didn’t charge like usual  every hour,the battery fell from 80% to 1% in a second, then shut down.

Image – @clok_moitie

‘Le Louchébem” is my fav. Because the meeting is random. To meet a butcher in working cloth isn’t that usual! Because we talked with the boss of the bar (you see him in the background). Because this image is linked with some famous French street photographers : Atget, Cartier-Bresson, and Doisneau all photographed the workers of the “Halles” not far from here. Because the place is an authentic old Parisian bar, not a reconstruction for tourists. And last, because this elegant butcher has a dark skin  my way to fight against racism’.

Do you feel like the time pressure was beneficial to your creativity, or did it just make you nervous and diminish the quality of your images slightly?

Neither of them. I’m not nervous  it’s nothing but a game, you know. A worldwide game I played for 24 hours, with real & virtual friends.

Did you develop a workflow for every hour in order to manage uploading your next image in time?

Uh… I really didn’t approach it as work nor as a duty! I only want to have fun. That’s a day and night for doing what pleases me: to shoot, to laugh, to contemplate the street, the people, the mood. That’s what I love. Sometimes, I’m wrong: I choose an image, while another one, taken a little earlier or later, is the real gem. But it doesn’t matter, I post it a few days after!

Be honest, did you by any chance cheat a little by processing a few pictures in advance in order to rest a bit?

Yes! This year, unfortunately, my phone went out too often and for a too long time. Thus, I had to upload one or two images taken about 10-15 minutes prematurely. But it wasn’t to rest, I stayed on the alert 24 hours! 🙂

Did you follow the IG feed of other excellent photographers taking part in the project? Why or why not?

This year, it was difficult: when my phone worked, I took advantage to photograph! But, yep, naturally, I look from time to time at the 24hrs’ account flow  and yours, Shel, and Renzo, Brad in Seattle, Brandon in Atlanta, Orietta in Rome, Rafael in Napoli,Giulio in Milan, a friend in Denver, in Romania, in Sao Paulo, in Jakarta, in Cape Town, and so on! As I wrote, I like feeling connected to the whole world, to friends as mad as I am!

What was your secret to staying up so long?

The pleasure. In the opinion of all my fellow co-walkers for four years, it seems that I’m also gifted with a supernatural energy!

Would you take part in this again next year?

I really don’t know. Every year, I guess it’ll be my last time. And every year… I do it again with an appetite!

Was there a point when you considered giving up and going home? Did you walk the whole 24 hours?

Never. I do love walking  it’s a real physical pleasure for me. I guess my feet reload me with energy! From time to time, we stopped to drink a hot coffee (it was very cold, day and nights) and reload our phones. This year, we took the subway two or three times. I have no car.

Image – @clok_moitie

‘Washing ghosts”,because, like all the big cities, Paris is contradictory, between the fantasies it conveys for the whole world and the reality Parisians live there. A city museum with its magnificent hausmanian-stylebuildings, reflected here, but also smoke and mirrors where hopes are broken. Where is our place, simple human beings, workers?There’s a notion of solitude too, and anonymity in this image‘.

Please share your 3 favorite images from the day and talk about why they are your favorites.

All of the above.

What were some thoughts that ran through your mind when you were finally able to crash into bed?

When I got home, I was too much excited to sleep. Joyful, moved, touched. I told my adventures to my loved ones, and it was necessary for me to wait another two or three hours before I could take some rest.