Biography

Despite a promising scientific career, Jean-Michel Berts chose a different path—to become a photographer.  With his first Rolleiflex, he became sensitive to the effects of light.  Since the eighties he has worked as a still life photographer for several well-known cosmetics and perfume brands.  While involved in this field, he pursued a body of work with a more personal focus: to portray the essence of cities, reminding one of the grandeur of civilizations. As Berts explains, "Architectural construction is the cultural reflection of a civilization."  The abstraction of characters makes it possible to move human construction forward and thus reanimate its timelessness. From Paris to New York, and Venice to Tokyo, these sublimated cities take on a poetic, ethereal and dreamlike value through his eyes.

The richness of Jean-Michel Berts photographs also comes from his technique.  Using the Zone System of Ansel Adams, and with an exposure time between nine seconds and ten minutes, this method of overexposing negatives and under-developing them allows a stronger density, enhancing the contrast in black and white.

SELECT EXHIBITIONS

2012   BLIN plus BLIN, Montfort l’Amaury, France
               Envie d’Art, Paris, France
2011   City Portrait, Envie d’Art, London, UK
               City Portrait, Young Gallery, Knokke, Belgium
               Portrait de Villes Boutiques, Jaquet Droz, Paris, France
               New New York, Gallery Samagra, Paris, France
2010   Gallery 21, Tokyo, Japan
2008   Light of Cities, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery, New York, NY
               Outdoor Exhibition, Paris-Bercy, France
2007   Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris, France
2006   Embassy of France, Berlin, Germany
               Moscow, Exposition de l’Art et de l’Artisanat Français
               Embassy of France, Beirut, Lebanon
2005   Camerawork, Hamburg, Germany

The Light of New York

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Greenwich Village, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Greenwich Village, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
25 x 19 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Bow Bridge 2, 2006, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Bow Bridge 2, 2006
Gelatin Silver Print
15.75 x 22.75 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Chrysler Tower, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Chrysler Tower, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
21 x 16 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Manhattan Bridge, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Manhattan Bridge, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
15.75 x 23.5 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Gapstow Bridge, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Gapstow Bridge, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
15.75 x 23 in.
​Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Times Square, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Times Square, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
15.75 x 20 in.
​Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Flatiron Building, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Flatiron Building, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
13 x 20 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, The Light of Paris, Broome Orchard Street, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Broome Orchard Street, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
16 x 19 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Brooklyn Bridge 2, 2006, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Brooklyn Bridge 2, 2006
Gelatin Silver Print
15.5 x 21.5 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, Apollo, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

Apollo, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
20 x 16 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, IAC Building, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

IAC Building, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
16 x 20 in.
Ed. of 25

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Jean-Michel Berts, Light of New York, MetLife, 2007, Sous Les Etoiles Gallery

MetLife, 2007
Gelatin Silver Print
21 x 15.25 in.
Ed. of 25

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