Michel Honaker press portfolio by Andrei Kovalev: a man stands in an open field beneath bare winter branches.

Michel Honaker

In January 2017, the French publisher Éditions Denoël commissioned me to shoot a press portfolio for the writer Michel Honaker.

Michel Honaker looks up through bare branches, his coat collar raised.

Michel Honaker looks up through bare branches, his coat collar raised.

I visited Michel on his own ground, at his house. His personality and a gloomy winter day in the Île-de-France woods set the tone for the rest of our work together.

Michel looks back over his shoulder on a country road at dusk.

Michel looks back over his shoulder on a country road at dusk.

A film still subtitled “Don’t you feel it?”: a man sits on a metal rim in a dark, flooded room.

Michel sits on a tree stump in a dark winter wood.

A film still subtitled “Don’t you feel it?”: a man sits on a metal rim in a dark, flooded room.

Michel sits on a tree stump in a dark winter wood.

I believe a portrait must grab attention, raise questions and echo cultural references. It should stop the eye and tell (or withhold) a story.

Michel stands in a field under bare branches, hands behind his back.

Michel stands among bare branches in a winter wood, looking into the camera.

Michel lies in a heap of cut branches, holding his collar to his face.

Michel stands in a field under bare branches, hands behind his back.

Michel stands among bare branches in a winter wood, looking into the camera.

Michel lies in a heap of cut branches, holding his collar to his face.

While we were playing around, we also shot a short video sketch: Michel says the title of his new book again and again, a teaser for its launch.

Michel stands among bare branches in a winter wood, looking into the camera. — Teaser for Michel Honaker’s new book, 2017. Directed by Andrei Kovalev

Michel lies stretched out on a pile of branches at the edge of a field.

Michel lies stretched out on a pile of branches at the edge of a field.

More of my work with writers and publishers →