To begin with, it can be said that Mathieu Birckel’s schooling was not brilliant. Each of his teachers had their own explanation, but none of them were valid; it was only much later that he discovered the cause of his problems.
He wanted to make photography, his lifelong passion, his profession. But after ten years, difficulties forced him to change direction, as he needed to earn a living and was not afraid of odd jobs.
It is not obvious at first glance when looking at his photos, but Mathieu has a disability. It was only when he reached his fifties that doctors diagnosed him with visual impairment, which, according to them, had always been present.
Today, he has reached a certain age, is free as a bird and continues to take the photos he loves, despite his visual impairment. He now chooses only immobile subjects. He has the genius to use only his less damaged eye to take his shots.
He concedes that, despite his misfortune, his impaired vision also offers him a gift: when he wants to take a picture, he sees only beauty, and his poor eyesight filters out the rest.
In his photographic work, often carried out just a few steps from his home, he likes to play with light. So he gets on his bicycle early in the morning or late in the evening, just before sunset, because to create beautiful images, you need beautiful lighting.
He regularly visits the same places in nature, which allows him to see them in a new light each time.
Above all, he loves the arrival of spring, a symbol of rebirth, when the trees are in bloom and play with the light.
Now, I encourage you to take your time and look at his work.
November 2025