Life through the eyes of a French lensman

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I met Antoine Verglas at a party in New York City recently. He danced up to me, took my hand and kissed it. Wearing a scarf round his neck, he spoke with a heavy French accent. My first guess was that he was just another party-going New Yorker, but there was something about him that did not allow me to excuse myself and walk away. It was probably the sadness in his eyes. Even amidst the chaos in the party, it seemed like his eyes were telling a story.

Turned out he was a fashion photographer who was responsible for changing the face of Victoria’s Secret campaign and transforming it into what it is today. Clearly, he was an important man. He asked me to shoot for him the next day even as we danced, but I dismissed it as small talk during a party night. I was wrong, as he followed up the next day, via email. I thought to myself that I was on a holiday, so why not take up the offer.
My friend and I walked into his studio at New York’s Meat Packing district to find Antoine with his hair gelled back and staring at his watch hinting that I was late. He was nothing like the man I had met last night. His swanky studio had pictures of celebrity models put up all over. We quickly discussed the shots and I took my place behind the camera. He shot like a thorough professional knowing just what he wanted out of his subject. I have shot with many photographers in the past, but this one was different. Later, we went down to a café and over a cappuccino I asked him what he thinks about when he is shooting. “It depends on the campaign, but for Victoria’s Secret, I try to bring out the sensuality, charm and capture the true beauty of the subject.”
Antoine studied in E.S.C School in Paris and went on to have a popular show in Paris about music and movies. Photography brought him to NY where he shot for some of the most prestigious magazines. He then opened restaurants — Fredricks and Budha Bar and co-founded Calypso in St. Barth. “I love to meet new people and invite new opportunities. I will pursue photography, but will always be open to newer options. I consider myself blessed and always look forward to the future. Life is not about dead ends,” he said. And what has this outlook taught him, I quizzed. “One learns from one’s failures. And that blondes have more fun,” he laughs off.