Wildlife objective
At 25, Gaël Sarrazin photographs the wildlife of Aubrac with the knowledge of a geographer and the contemplative patience of a nature lover. Vultures, deer, stoats, foxes: his images tell the story of a territory that can sometimes be glimpsed from the bay windows of Le Suquet, the same territory that Sébastien Bras showcases on the plate.
Aubrac as a field of observation
He didn't attend photography school. Geography trained his eye: the ability to read landscapes, the way a natural environment shapes the life that inhabits it. A vertical cliff face, and you can already imagine the vultures and ibex that will come to perch there. A border between forest and meadow, and you know that at nightfall, something will happen; the animals will come out to feed before returning to the shadows.
It is with this perspective that Gaël Sarrazin has been photographing nature, and more specifically the wildlife of the Aubrac region, for several years: stags, does, and roe deer, the recently arrived chamois, owls, foxes, badgers, songbirds, and birds of prey of all sizes. And that stoat, so rarely seen, which turns white with the winter. Only the otter, which is increasingly establishing itself in the waterways—a good sign—continues to elude him. A dream still intact.
The art of knowing how to wait
His method can be summed up in one word: patience. Hours spent lying in wait, motionless under a camouflage net or between two bushes, searching for tracks before even hoping to spot the animal.
"The greatest satisfaction," he said, "is to observe without being seen." Seeing the species is one thing; obtaining the image one had in mind is another, "you need the right light, the right time, and for the animal to be willing to pass by the right place.".
His most striking memory took place barely a kilometer from Le Suquet, on the other side of Le Puech: a wounded fox, in the middle of a hunt in the snow, which charged straight at him without having seen him.
When the landscape enters Le Suquet
For it is all around Le Suquet, with the exception of the chamois, that this wildlife lives. Sometimes, intrepid hares wander along the bay window that separates the diners from the surrounding landscape, and in autumn, stags and does come to parade below the living room, to the delight of the guests. This closeness to nature extends even to the plate: Gaël also captures the creations of Sébastien Bras, whose dishes, rich in vegetables, often depict veritable landscapes. Same nature, same vision.
A series of photos by Gaël is on display at Le Suquet until the end of the season.
To admire his nature photos, check out his Instagram: @gael_sarrazin
