Once he woke up in his flat and thought that something needs to be done with his life. He dropped out of university, to his camera and start looking for the inspiration on the streets of Paris. Nowadays this young and ambitious man owns a camera which every well-dressed and stylish lady wants to be shoot by. His name is Nabile Quenum, street-style photographer. However, it is nothing special about his camera. Nabile’s talent is what “hits the spot”.
Where are you from? What connects you with Africa?
I was born in Paris and then me and my family moved to Ivory Coast and after that to Benin in West Africa. I went to French private school there.
I know you made a photo shoot about Africa? What was so special about it?I was born in Paris and then me and my family moved to Ivory Coast and after that to Benin in West Africa. I went to French private school there.
It was personal. I went there to take pictures of indigenous people (Benin tribes). Most of them don’t care about fashion. For them it is more important that their culture might be gone. Because our civilization changes. We do not live in villages anymore. They have a special way of living. I get to stay in their houses for a few days and it was an amazing experience.
I know you made a photo shoot about Africa? What was so special about it?
It was personal. I went there to take pictures of indigenous people (Benin tribes). Most of them don’t care about fashion. For them it is more important that their culture might be gone. Because our civilization changes. We do not live in villages anymore. They have a special way of living. I get to stay in their houses for a few days and it was an amazing experience.
How do you look for inspiration? When do you know if that is what are you supposed to shoot?
It’s like falling in love… You don’t know when and how it would happen. It just happens. It is very hard to explain. For example, I don’t have my camera and feel the same. It’s me. It is the way I feel about the world. I grew up the way I grew up and I became who I became, and I have a possibility to meat such people… It all comes together. I hope you understood me somehow.
I guess, I did. It’s your second time in Ukraine. What did you like about this Mercedes-Benz Kyiv Fashion Days 2014 comparing to the previous one?
There are more people than last year. I knew that Ukraine was a cool country so I came but it was less people then. Now people know more. They come to the shows, they want to see the designers. Fashion gets more popular.
Did you make some street fashion photography here?
Yes. I got a chance to shoot on the main locations and after the fashion shows in other places.
How to become famous?
You just need to show people what you can do. Start, for example, from being someone’s assistant. Watch them doing different things and learn. Or you take pictures, you share it, you start having fans. It is that simple. My first pictures looked like ****. But then you get better. The way you see fashion – that’s what important. Passion is also a key. If you like what you do, just do it as much as you can.
Nabile's wesite
Photo by Konstantin Avramets