Frederic Mouchet
Frédéric Mouchet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 1, 1967 Bobigny, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Citizenship | French |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Spouse(s) | Sandrine |
| Awards | French Geographical Society Prize for the bilingual book "L’Australie des explorateurs français - The Australia of the French Explorers". |
| Website | www |
Frédéric Mouchet (born June 1, 1967) is a French freelance reportage photographer known for his work in documentary photography that explores the intersection of humanity, environment, and traditional cultures. He is recognized for his in-depth photo essays published in GEO, GRANDS REPORTAGES, and other international outlets, and is the author of two critically acclaimed books on Australia’s cultural and historical landscape.
Early Life and Background
Frédéric Mouchet was born in Bobigny, France. A self-taught photographer, Mouchet discovered his passion for visual storytelling at the age of 20 during a solo photographic trip to Senegal and Gambia. Despite limited resources and challenging conditions, including bouts of malaria, his experience among the Jola people of Casamance solidified his desire to pursue a career in documentary photography.
Career
Throughout the 1990s, Mouchet balanced photography with a series of temporary and non-career-related jobs to support himself while undertaking global reportage projects. In 1998, he became a regular contributor to GRANDS REPORTAGES magazine, producing numerous stories across Asia, Latin America, the United States, and Africa. Since 2013, he has also been a frequent contributor to GEO magazine, with a particular focus on societal themes and the relationship between humans and their environment.
His photographic work often documents the resilience and wisdom of Indigenous cultures, including the Aboriginal peoples of Australia, the Ainu of Japan, and the Māori of New Zealand.
Publications
Mouchet is the author of two books:
- L’Australie des explorateurs français – The Australia of the French Explorers (Somogy Éditions d’Art, 2015) – This bilingual book juxtaposes his contemporary photographs with the 18th and 19th-century sketches of French naturalist explorers along the Australian coasts. The work earned him the French Geographical Society Prize and was the subject of a popular exhibition at the State Library of South Australia, which attracted over 12,000 visitors.[1][2][3][4]
- Australie aborigène, Walkabout (Glénat, 2019) – Created in collaboration with his wife Sandrine, a French diplomat and co-author of the book’s texts, this work explores the profound connection between Aboriginal communities and their ancestral lands. It gained media attention in early 2020 during the devastating Australian bushfires due to its insights into Indigenous fire prevention knowledge.[5][6]
Selected Press Publications
- Audacieuse Osaka, GEO France (2025)
- Hokkaido, la fierté aïnoue, GEO France (2021)
- Terre d'Arnhem, dans le vivier de la culture aborigène, GEO France (2020)
- Australie, le Far West existe encore, GEO France (2018)
- Maoris, le temps de la reconquête, GEO France (2016)
- Sur la trace des explorateurs français, GRANDS REPORTAGES (2015)
- Powwows, GRANDS REPORTAGES (2003)
- Transumatra, GRANDS REPORTAGES (1999)
Awards
- French Geographical Society Prize (2016) – for L’Australie des explorateurs français[7]
Personal Life
Frédéric Mouchet is married to Sandrine, a French diplomat who has collaborated with him on various projects. The couple has traveled and worked together extensively, particularly in Australia and Oceania.
References
- ↑ "Australia: the French explorers". National Library of Australia Catalogue. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ↑ "Australia: The French Explorers". Amazon. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ↑ "Australia: the French explorers". Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) Catalogue (in français). Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ↑ "Australia: the French explorers". BnF Data (in français). Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ↑ "Australie Aborigène". Glénat (in français). Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ↑ "Australie aborigène". Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) Catalogue (in français). Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ↑ "Australie: le continent rouge". Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) Catalogue (in français). Retrieved 3 July 2025.