Photographer Series: Behind the Camera With Nina Gibelin Souchon

There’s a fine line between photos that seem to make time stand still, and those that pulse with the energy of the moment. For the three years she’s been covering MUTEK, Nina Gibelin Souchon has walked that line masterfully.

Before returning to document another edition of the Festival, she reflects on her influences, the impulse behind capturing a moment, and a special memory from her very first stint as a MUTEK photographer.

Q&A With Nina Gibelin Souchon

How would you describe your photographic style? What influences or approaches shape your work?

As a MUTEK festivalgoer, I've experienced so many powerful emotions and moments of wonder. I always try to convey the subtlety of the festival's curation and the intensity of the emotions it evokes.

As for my influences, I really admire the work of Margot Lavigne. I'm especially inspired by the way she handles light and movement. I hope to get closer to the softness she manages to capture in low-light conditions.

What kinds of moments draw you in the most? Is it the composition, the emotion, the timing, or something else that inspires you to capture a scene?

I'm especially moved when the audience reacts passionately to a performance. I feel a responsibility to document those moments. What matters most to me is achieving the perfect alignment between the excitement in the room, the composition of my image, and the lighting coming together at just the right moment.

How do you balance an artistic approach with a documentary perspective in your photographic coverage of MUTEK?

I think a documentary perspective will never be the same from one photographer to another. We all have our own sensibilities, our own equipment, and our own attention to certain details. I always make my selection based first on what resonates with me personally, while still respecting the needs of the team. I also try to bring my own touch in post-production to enhance my perspective and emphasize what moved me most in the first place.

Can you share the story behind these photos? What was happening at the moment you decided to take them?

The photo of x/o with the wings is from my very first MUTEK coverage in 2023. I remember that moment as the instant I realized I was doing my dream job at a festival that truly means a lot to me. A few minutes later, I stepped outside to get some fresh air and ran into my fellow photographer Bruno, and we shared the joy of that moment together.

The alignment of events that led to that first photo feels almost unreal. I still feel incredibly grateful for the work I get to do and for the happiness it brings me.