CENTREFOLD / Twin set: Portrait of Mado and Monette, by Raphael
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.'The twins were getting pissed off by the time I took this picture,' says the French photographer Raphael Gaillarde. 'I'd been trailing them like a paparrazzo, fascinated by the way they walked and interacted with each other.' Tailor-made for Gaillarde's brief, which was to reveal a new perspective on museum-going at the Louvre museum, Mado and Monette - seen here looking towards the Rubens gallery - eventually warmed to the photographer and went on to pose for further shots.
The series won second prize for Arts Stories in the 37th World Press Photo competition and can be seen with other prize-winning photographs at the National Theatre until 1 July. Widely recognised as the leading international photography competition, the World Press Photo attracts entries from publications in over 90 countries.
This is Gaillarde's kind of story - big, beautiful and totally involved. And if the logistics often prove obstructive - the Louvre, for example, initially resisted his demands for access and lighting arrangements - Gaillarde is hard to shake off. 'The more difficult it becomes,' he says, 'the more I want to do it.'
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments