A French native (Paris born and Brittany raised), Bastien started out as a student of philosophy and language theory in Rennes before falling in love with photography and spending a full decade in the American Midwest, first studying the medium (MFA, Southern Illinois University Carbondale), then teaching it for 5 years as an Assistant Professor at Governors State University in Chicago.

In 2011, he and his wife Virginie Lamarche moved to Vancouver in beautiful British Columbia to launch VNB, a young independent company offering high quality services in commercial & editorial film photography, fine art consulting & instruction, as well as unique analog photography workshops. VNB also offers one-of-a-kind event photography services specializing in Large Format Calotype photography turning special occasions into sublime portrait tableaux. Captured on paper, Calotypes are black-and-white silver gelatin prints featuring soft definition with great evocative power, deep blacks with creamy skin tones delivering authentic 19th C. Victorian aesthetics. To date VNB proposes a fun Calotype PhotoBooth & Darkroom Pop-up, as well as stunning 8x10 Calotype Narrative Portraits (self-portrait example on the left).

In December 2012, VNB expanded the scope of its activities by launching FotoFilmic, an independent global publisher of emerging film photography talent worldwide, and its first annual Contemporary Film Photography Competition: FotoFilmic'13.

The competition's 2nd edition - FotoFilmic'14 - has just started with a 1st February 16 SHORTLIST deadline! Exhibitors this year will have their work showcased in 2 different galleries, cities and countries: at the 'drkrm Gallery' in Los Angeles, California in August and at the 'Back Gallery Project Gallery' in Vancouver, BC in early October, 2014.

To submit work and learn more about FotoFilmic'14, visit us at http://fotofilmic.com/submit/