Louis Nespoulous: Photography at the service of rivers

With "Poissons d'ici", the Atelier Nespoulous is offering an unprecedented photographic inventory of freshwater fish in France.

Gone are the Épinal images: replaced by high definition, faithful colours and shots designed to reveal the beauty of living things.

© Louis Nespoulous

A project born of a childhood filled with illustrations

From Cahors, with the support of the Lot Fishing Federation, he has just signed the very first photographic inventory of freshwater fish in France: a project at the crossroads of science, art, and nature education.

It all began with a childhood memory: a book of fish pictures, endlessly perused, which combined visual fascination with biological curiosity.

Years later, while everything seems to have been archived, classified, and digitised, there is no photographic inventory worthy of the name for French freshwater fish.

A technical feat and an aesthetic gesture

To photograph the fish, Louis Nespoulous worked with technicians from the Lot fishing federation. Each fish was captured and then placed in a special aquarium, where it was photographed alive. The aim was to show the animal in a natural position, as if it were swimming in the wild.

The shots were taken against a black background, without flash, so as not to disturb the animal. The current in the aquarium allows the fins to unfurl. There is no retouching: each photo shows the fish as it is, with its scales, gills, and colours. The result is both highly detailed and aesthetically pleasing.

"This wildlife is so fascinating that it really deserves to be better known by the general public."

A project committed to nature

Louis Nespoulous has photographed around fifty species. This represents around 90% of the fish found in French rivers, including invasive species. Only a few migratory fish are missing, such as salmon and shad, because they are more difficult to catch.

This project also has a militant dimension. Part of the sales will be donated to an association that protects migratory fish. The photographer aims to highlight the importance of preserving aquatic environments, which are under threat from pollution, dams, and global warming.

An educational and artistic tool

These photographs are not just for lovers of beautiful images. They also have an educational purpose. A large poster showing the fish in the Lot's rivers has been created for schools. The poster will be used to raise awareness of these species among children.

The photographer aims to highlight the importance of preserving aquatic environments, which are under increasing threat from human activity.

Discover it online

All the photos can be seen on the website www.poissonsdici.com, where you can also buy prints. To find out more about the photographer's work, visit nespoulous.com.