Sandra Chenu Godefroy
I am from Grenoble where I grew up, soothed by the sound of Alouette III rescuing mountaineers. I left the Alps at age 18 to study photography in Paris. A few years later, I joined the Gendarmerie as military photographer. It was an opportunity to travel, meet an awful lot of people … and understand the uniform wasn’t giving me what I was longing for: the freedom to make my own choices and to uphold my way of seeing the world.
I left the Gendarmerie in 2009, settling down as a professional photographer. I chose to specialize in « action photography » meaning I had to shoot in tedious conditions both technically and physically; from the glacier of Svalbard to the Fire-fighting Brigades tackling wildfires. I took this as a challenge, but not only.
Now aged 30, I’m still following this course of action and it has become a way a life. A mean to discover the world, meet men and women, and tell my experience in pictures.
Which training ?
I took photography courses but I didn’t stop then.
In my International High School, I had the pleasure of studying foreign languages (English and German). I joined the EFET (Ecole Française d’Enseignement Technique) where I studied photography for two years.
Since then I’ve been regularly following specific courses to upgrade to a BTS diploma and to be efficient in fulfilling multimedia tasks. As I am keen to understand the issues of the people I photograph, I was happy to attend the 78th workshop for the IHEDN Youth (Institute of Higher Education in National Defense).
Why choose to specialize in this field?
Action photography specialist
Because the security and rescue circles are said to be unreachable, especially to women. Because there a huge gap between the idealist-admirers of « The Right Stuff » and those who stick to their revolving argument filled with contempt.
Beyond the cliches, there are men and women who have made a choice. To serve a cause, a country, a uniform, most often for the greater good. Because it is their choice, they deserve all my respect.
I chose to dedicate my work to these units, their missions and their personnel.
A mascot: Tigger
Tigger the Adventurer: he is cheeky, lazy, conceited, mocking and whinges…
It’s what Man has best to offer all fitting into a 20 cm caricature: he collects girlfriends and selfies. A photography assistant of absolutely no use. But in spite of it all, he’s not that bad: he makes people laugh !
The naughty animal joined my team late 2011 and comes to each and every photo shoot. He has made some beautiful encounters to the delight of his Facebook fans.
Discover Tigger, Assistant and Adventurer on Facebook !
