Shadow & light
Welcome to the world of Fabien Olart, a French photographer capturing the beauty of everyday life in black and white.
About
French photographer Fabien Olart, born in 1982, discovered photography as a teenager through the work of Lee Miller, Dorothea Lange, and Sebastião Salgado. After studying communication and image, he joined the Hemis.fr agency, which specializes in tourism and travel.
Regularly published in the press (Le Monde, Détours en France, Maxi, Marianne, etc.) and in print (Gallimard, Hachette, Michelin Edition, etc.), his work is primarily produced in Europe. Represented by the Artsper gallery for art prints and a member of the Street Photography France collective, it is in black and white that his sensibility is most fully expressed.
Attracted by urban life, his work is characterized by spontaneous, high-contrast photography that plays with light and shadow. People, often alone, withdrawn, or contemplative, play a central role in the composition of his images.
Having exhibited in Paris, Venice or Dijon, he became an OM-System (formerly Olympus) ambassador in 2025.
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The story behind the photo
It was early winter, at the end of december. I had decided to make a day trip to Paris to prepare for an upcoming workshop. I took the 7:00 a.m. train so I could arrive early and head straight to the Trocadéro, hoping to avoid the crowds.
I arrived at the station at 8:30 a.m., jumped on the metro, and half an hour later I stepped out of the station. I walked the few meters that separated me from the square and then, suddenly, it hit me.
It was my first time discovering the Trocadéro. The winter light was low, soft, and absolutely perfect. I was in awe. My adrenaline started to rise. I could feel that I was about to create something special.
Without even realizing it, I had made a date with the sun… and the Eiffel Tower.
Photograph taken with the OM-3 by @omsystem.cameras
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L’histoire derrière la photo
C’était au début de l’hiver, fin décembre. J’avais décidé de faire un aller-retour à Paris dans la journée afin de préparer un workshop. J’ai pris le train de 7 h pour arriver tôt et filer directement sur la place du Trocadéro, avec l’idée d’éviter la foule.
Arrivé à la gare à 8 h 30, je saute dans le métro et, une demi-heure plus tard, me voilà à la sortie de la station. Je fais les quelques mètres qui me séparent de la place et, soudain, le choc.
C’était la première fois que je découvrais le Trocadéro. La lumière d’hiver était basse, douce, parfaite. Je suis émerveillé. L’adrénaline monte. Je sens que je vais créer quelque chose de spécial.
Sans le savoir, j’avais pris rendez-vous avec le soleil… et la Tour Eiffel.
Photographie réalisée avec l’OM-3 par @omsystem.fr](https://instagram.fsdv2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/762476088_18373417660233014_83846173310455235_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=RdVzA9CsmJEQ7kNvwE30b8U&_nc_oc=AdrKgpmubYn1GTgIAyaAE4LIIWXlNzq0U4nyLn8gfbmTXdE0V2XUIsPalMqMg3QjNNU&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=instagram.fsdv2-1.fna&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=bSsUC84iDekQH09WdIVJhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQLGFGkuzaq2oUkWzYlBd5nbYaFKwrdX1HXhYiCcwnm94OcJa6Ikpu1geis325EGJIwrQaaY0zTU&oh=00_AQEFfe-MtJiU350_ZzjjCCGCdgrgEjFczbGiE4m0RPMQRA&oe=6A8321D5)
![[series] Italy, Venice, streets solitude
#omsystem #venice #streetphotography #blackandwhitephotography #bnw](https://instagram.fsdv2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/731479610_18368338948233014_4974335753814410236_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=KZOyjQ0x1DYQ7kNvwEvvh8H&_nc_oc=AdrbcuFQoH9E94Z2wDu5KLuVXUO8ZVSYjvPzUUH1z1npc-H8XbSYQ5QCOul78mT6Zrw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=instagram.fsdv2-1.fna&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=bSsUC84iDekQH09WdIVJhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQJMxaGMd3PECHkXJxxQvjAsD1pWASbrVzFO5crC0LXFl9WRzt1oUwZgLsKsker3CdMMrXOV-g9S&oh=00_AQHv4oPJvZjSipYf2NMCzGz3rh0V5349nQcJdkQpnoRJaA&oe=6A8329F9)
![[series] France, Paris, from Paris with light
#omsystem #blackandwhitephotography #paris #streetphotography #streetphoto_bw](https://instagram.fsdv2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/730182775_18368020504233014_6299303457899242993_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Bdn2T9mK05IQ7kNvwH0OXTe&_nc_oc=Adr4wjYQC-htAkDALaZrbBltRomHa7Yf-PkE2nDZpAxXOs4FvghRoNGQuLoCKa3whBM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=instagram.fsdv2-1.fna&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=bSsUC84iDekQH09WdIVJhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQKiZRNOSrmR4mQrPkG6hrqor-i8zBbjgxGl4Du9kA6XB3RD1N2Lh8iP_IlLSnQAaXwjY5DxNN1b&oh=00_AQEX1NVWdTRuVWnHC9e1Tx--EgXT694QL-U5COanIsnTCg&oe=6A831C3F)
![[series] France, Paris, La Defense, Grande Arche
#omsystem #paris #blackandwhitestreetphotography #blackandwhite #streetphotography](https://instagram.ftlv23-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/728226010_18367604644233014_405096930084350915_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=uBySpWOketYQ7kNvwGFQMc9&_nc_oc=AdrToN-1Zg_Mh_1h7e-Jib2gskXn9J6kSZXhXdI6Dm6BTVb4FAWI_3SSR3ssb3LcEqc&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=instagram.ftlv23-1.fna&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=bSsUC84iDekQH09WdIVJhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQKurulPzeG42dBDf7SAkncN4vWREQCWZjHQ9TFurUUyyxp0CoRHdCSV6L2hKNl4nhgIv0NrmSFd&oh=00_AQGtd9bv9N5NXJXdHikFK02lhsh-bSkIWRqbI45fqd7Vwg&oe=6A833956)
![[serie] France, Dijon, daily life
#omsystem #blackandwhitephotography #dijon #blackandwhite #streetphotography](https://instagram.fsdv2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/723728499_18365280742233014_3854202730697738141_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=bgEJ2Bi0qcwQ7kNvwG-mNC3&_nc_oc=AdqhAGjlVWtsRfb9SBwUZd56DRcLmYhBWT0P1BFquyoPOVOQrtTNFnxA2fYxpg6e7iA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=instagram.fsdv2-1.fna&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=bSsUC84iDekQH09WdIVJhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQLD9qfTdy3xPLY4sKFKo3jLWv_9TTSYg0msA5_vPywh4ZQ4VWssGobX946gnzuQv5NvLqXdkr-V&oh=00_AQGIqyYqib1mq2vebxV_LhrXfeHpEPAurCH_dCmmkI-qnA&oe=6A8324BF)
