Vlogger and photographer Baptiste Plichon

Vlogger and photographer Baptiste Plichon – Friday Focus

by Christopher Osborne.

Photographer Baptiste Plichon splits his time between vlogging and an analogue only wedding photography business.

Photographer and vlogger Baptiste Plichon

Photographer, vlogger and teacher Baptiste Pilchon is 29, and from France. Baptiste is a true analogue photography enthusiast. He claims to be shy, however, comes as both thoughtful and enthusiastic.

Baptiste has been creating video content since he was 15. In 2017 he started making still images, and after a few months of shooting images with a digital camera, he had become bored. His wife Jenn was already a keen analogue photographer, and so is responsible for him catching “the analogue virus”!

Today he splits his time between vlogging and an analogue only wedding photography business.

Double exposure challenge. © Valériane 2021

His channel “EMGK Photographie – Photographe argentique” (EMGK Photography (Baptiste’s online pseudonym) – Analogue photographer) has 17K subscribers. Episodes are released on a weekly basis.

The breadth of subject matter is both impressive and unusual for an analogue channel. Previous episodes include developing in Cafenol, shooting a €100 roll of Aerochrome film, choosing a film scanner and what to buy a film photographer for Christmas.

There is no doubt that Baptiste spends a considerable amount of time researching each episode. He is a natural teacher, and is always naturally calm and upbeat. Each subject is explained at a level that will appeal to both beginner and reasonably experienced analogue photographers. His experience as a videographer shows. Each episode is professionally edited, and this makes for an educational and above all else enjoyable experience. The only negative point that I can think of is that I should have paid more attention in French lessons in school. (update: Baptiste will now subtitle new episodes for those of us whose minds wandered in “cours de français!”).

“EMGK Photographie – Photographe Argentique” can be found at https://www.youtube.com/c/EMGKPhotographie

Lomo Purple challenge © Nicolas Berté 2021

In addition to the Photographe Argentique channel, Baptiste and Jenn run a subscription based community “La Box Argentique” (The silver box).

Subscription costs a modest €25.00. Participants receive a challenge box every two months. This contains a roll of film, beautifully illustrate challenge cards, and a member print selected from the previous round.

Each box contains two challenges. Each participant can participate in one or both. These are normally of varying difficulty so that there is something for everyone. The challenges are designed to appeal to a broad range of experience and skills.

There is a community website where members can post questions. These can either be answered by other members or by Baptiste and Jenn. Members can also upload images for critique. Every month there is a community Zoom meeting where members have the opportunity to come together, ask questions, share ideas and techniques. The first concentrates on the contents of the box and the next challenge and the second is a critique of work made for the challenge.

The group is well run, and Baptiste’s passion for teaching is a great asset. Baptiste and Jenn work hard to strike a balance between technical and thematic challenges. Ever the perfectionist, Baptiste spends considerable time researching each challenge so that he is able to impart meaningful and accurate advice.

“La Box Argentique” is an interesting “product” sitting in a unique place between traditional training and leisure entertainment. For the French speakers amongst us this is well worth a look!

“La Box Argentique” can be found at https://boxargentique.fr/

If you would like to read about another vlogger, here is a link to an article on Ari Jaaksi https://silvergrainclassics.com/en/2021/11/shoot-on-film-ari-jaaksi-friday-focus/

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