Eric James Guillemain reveals the stars in a different light

With his first monograph, French photographer Eric James Guillemain immortalizes some of cinema’s greatest figures from an unprecedented angle, somewhere between glamour and raw truth.

Known for his intimate approach and sharp eye, Eric James Guillemain unveils 200 previously unpublished photographs in his book Backstage Dreams – The Secret Door to Sets(Editions Damiani). Through these images, he captures those suspended moments when celebrities reveal themselves, far from the frozen postures of traditional photo shoots.

The legacy of Peter Lindbergh and a quest for authenticity

A former assistant to Peter Lindbergh in New York, Guillemain has retained the importance of natural light and total lack of control over the subject. He photographs his models in unexpected moments: between poses, backstage, in studios bathed in artificial mist, where the boundary between reality and staging is blurred.

Backstage Dreams features icons such as Sophie Marceau, Isabelle Huppert, Sigourney Weaver and Robert Pattinson, as well as new faces like Anya-Taylor Joy, Suki Waterhouse and Phoebe Tonkin. Certain photos, such as those of Sharon Stone and Vanessa Paradis, perfectly illustrate his quest for the true moment.

Behind the cinema lights

As well as portraits of the stars, Guillemain is also interested in the sets themselves. In a superb shot at Paramount Studios, fans, projectors and panels become the main characters.

Inspired by Eugene Smith, who followed Charlie Chaplin on the set of Les Feux de la rampe, Guillemain strives to reveal what’s hidden behind public performances. His work is thus in the tradition of cinematic photojournalism, seeking less to sublimate than to capture the truth of artists.

Eric James Guillemain, Backstage Dreams – The Secret Door to Sets(Damiani editions), €50

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