Bernard Testemale was born in 1958 in the small town of Soustons, France. He fell in love with the ocean and surfing as a teenager (in the 70s). A traveller at heart, Bernard’s work has allowed him to discover many countries on the 5 continents. He plunged into the world of professional photography in the early 90s, during the explosion of the surfing image. He has contributed to major surf magazines worldwide and shot advertising campaigns for some of the world’s leading surf brands. Today, as a film photographer, Bernard focusses on a complex technique known as ‘wet plate collodion’. Developed over 150 years ago, the imperfections and unforeseeable outcomes make up the charm of these timeless pieces of art. Through his work, Bernard aims to capture the diverse facets of the surfing community, and more recently, the mechanical universe — from cars to classic motorcycles and their characters. Whether using wet plate collodion, film, or Polaroid, it’s Bernard’s love for photography that propels him forward.
