Jean-Michel Berts

Jean-Michel Berts has been a photographer since the age of 16, and has since gone on to gain international fame. Berts has been exhibiting in numerous art fairs: in Brussels, London, New York, Saint Tropez, Moscow and Hamburg. He has also worked on advertising campaigns for luxury brands including Lancôme, Dior and Cacharel.

For 20 years, Jean-Michel Berts has worked on various different themes. Four years ago in Vienna, Berts began a project focused on cities; drawing inspiration from photographers such as Norman Parkinson and Hugo Schmölz. Very sophisticated techniques were required; it took him more than a year to master them.

Bert's artistic imperative is to reveal to the viewer the whole subtlety and richness of the places he photographs. His choice of black and white only is very important to him and seemed inevitable to express his sensitivity. The photographs are taken early in the morning or at night. The absence of human figures on his photographs allows Berts to focus on manmade constructions, giving them a life of their own. The advantages of this technique come to light in his breathtaking photos of Manhattan, for example. If one day, very early in the morning, you see a blue-eyed fellow taking pictures of your city - who knows? It might be him.