IMPRESSION
MORE THAN BOKEH: POETRY IN MOTION
ART 85mm F1.2 DG
by Tony Noël
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 125, F1.2, 1/6400s, 85mm
Movement has always been the common thread running through my work. It’s what drives me to photograph dancers, athletes, or simply people in motion. I love capturing what happens between two moments: a glance, a posture, a gesture. Those are the moments when emotions become genuine.
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 160, F5, 1/1600s, 85mm
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 125, F1.2, 1/8000s, 85mm
If there’s one focal length that has accompanied this journey for the past ten years, it’s the 85mm. My relationship with Sigma began with the release of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art, a lens that shaped a significant part of my photographic journey. Today, that story comes full circle with the Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art, giving me even greater freedom to tell stories through movement.
For this series, I worked with Anna, Marta, and Maxime. I never ask them to pose. Instead, I let them live the moment—walking, dancing, running, or simply being themselves. It’s within that spontaneity that I find the images I’m looking for.
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 100, F1.2, 1/2000s, 85mm
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 100, F1.2, 1/16000s, 85mm
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 100, F1.2, 1/16000s, 85mm
I’ve always enjoyed photographing subjects in motion. The energy they bring allows me to create compositions that feel both abstract and natural. To me, the 85mm is the perfect focal length for this approach. It allows me to capture both intimate details and wider compositions while maintaining a genuine closeness to my subjects without ever intruding on their space.
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 100, F1.2, 1/1250s, 85mm
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 200, F4.5, 1/320s, 85mm
The Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art quickly proved to be the perfect companion for this way of working. Its F1.2 aperture creates exceptional depth, naturally separating the subject from its surroundings while rendering light and textures with beautifully smooth bokeh.
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 160, F2.2, 1/640s, 85mm
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 100, F1.2, 1/6400s, 85mm
Even wide open, the lens delivers outstanding sharpness, preserving every detail with remarkable clarity, whether shooting in daylight or after dark.
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 80, F1.2, 1/4000s, 85mm
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 250, F1.2, 1/3200s, 85mm
What surprised me the most, however, is its compactness. For an F1.2 lens, it quickly disappears in use. I can walk for hours, constantly changing my perspective and reacting instinctively without feeling like I’m carrying such a fast lens. Its autofocus is both fast and precise, effortlessly keeping up with the movement of my subjects.
I like to leave plenty of room for the unexpected. I don’t try to control everything—and that’s exactly what makes an image feel authentic. With this lens, I never had to think about the equipment. I could simply trust my instincts and focus on what truly matters: telling a story.
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 125, F1.2, 1/10000s, 85mm
metadata
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
Sigma BF
ISO 125, F1.2, 1/6400s, 85mm
To me, a lens shouldn’t just deliver outstanding performance—it should disappear, allowing creativity to take center stage. The Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art continues a story that began ten years ago and now gives me even greater freedom to photograph what has always inspired me most: the body, movement, and emotion.
BEHIND THE SCENES
about
Tony Noël
Photographer
Based in Lyon, Tony Noël has spent the past 10 years developing a visual universe centered around movement, the human body, and light. Through a spontaneous approach, he captures moments where gesture, emotion, and movement come together to tell a story.
Today, he collaborates with brands such as Leica and Sigma, while exhibiting his work and leading workshops both in France and internationally. Whether shooting in the streets, in the studio, or out in nature, his work explores movement in all its forms with a constant pursuit of authenticity.
EXPLORE MORE
