Artsper met Benoît Baume, the founder of Fisheye Magazine and the Fisheye Gallery. Fisheye is a magazine devoted to photography and the role of the art in our society from an economic, cultural and sociological point of view. The Fisheye gallery is dedicated to contemporary photography and, for the first time this year, it is taking part in Paris Photo. Benoît Baume shares his tips for choosing a photograph and discovering new artists.

Artsper: Do you have any tips for discovering emerging photographers?

Benoit Baume: Today much of the curation around new photographers is done first and foremost on the internet and Instagram, but we also spend a lot of time at festivals in order to discover new talent. The live presentation of a photographic work, with prints, remains indispensable. Finally, we are lucky to have many photographers from around the world contacting us directly to share their work 

Artsper: How do you choose a photo?

Benoit Baume: The first criteria should always be about following your heart. You'll be living with the photo everyday so you need to be able to love it enough not to get bored of it. Next, you obviously need to be interested in the photographer, the gallery, the role of the photograph in a series, the number of prints, the quality, the time it is from and the price. Choosing a photo might depend on a logical reasoning when considering its market value, but the irrational is important in order to really feel pleasure when you acquire it. 

Artsper: What are some key trends in photography today?

Benoit Baume: We can already notice that market prices have become more reasonable in contemporary photography. Even the most famous photographers pay careful attention to prices. Esthetically, we can see that photographers are moving away from the representation of reality. Photography is becoming a medium that is above all serving artists and their interests.

Artsper: The best places (museums, fairs etc.) for seeing photography?

Benoit Baume: At the moment, Paris Photo of course. But also: the Rencontres d'Arles, Images festival, Singulières de Sète, the Circulation festival in Paris, Visa for the image, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP). And let's not forget the specialised galleries and of course, the Fisheye Gallery in Paris and Arles.