in 1853 a philanthropic society in Bailleul created a big event to gather funds to fight poverty in the city of Bailleul , north of France. Since then every family in Bailleul would prepare attires, costumes and join a giant parade in the streets of Bailleul. not just one day but for five days all activities are suspended and people follow the rules, and enjoy themselves sustained by marching bands and small musical groups, under the goodwill of the giant , symbol of our city Gargantua.

the last carival took place in 2020 just befor the Pandemic that froze the whole world ... in 2021 the carnival was cancelled on the verge of the surge that France was facing, the people in Bailleul were very frustrated ... I started this project between two lockdowns, I felt that even if there was no carnival this year it was necessary to make something to celebrate it ... virtually.
I offered to people who wanted to contact me in order to make a photoshoot in the way it would have been done for the very first carnival in 1853 using the technique available at this time : wetplate collodion.
I called it "carnaval fantôme" Ghost Carnival suggesting that in 2021 Carnaval took place in this form to relive hopefully in 2022 ...