Beik0n | Centers of Interest

Photography

Visual composition and storytelling

I started taking photography more seriously in 2019, when I bought my first DSLR. Since then, it has become one of my main hobbies and the original reason this website exists.

I mostly enjoy portraits and details, although I rarely limit myself to a particular subject. Photography has changed the way I look at ordinary places and moments: I pay much more attention to light, composition and small details that I would probably have ignored before.

I also enjoy the process of going through a series afterwards, finding the few images that really stand out and working on them without trying to turn them into something they were not.

Music

Creation and appreciation

Music has been part of my life for a long time. I play piano, guitar and percussion, with varying degrees of seriousness depending on the instrument and the period.

I enjoy learning pieces, but also understanding how they work: recognising patterns, picking out melodies by ear or simply trying things until they sound right. I tend to move between instruments rather than focusing on mastering just one.

Most importantly, I play because I enjoy it.

Computer Science

Learning and applying technical concepts

I started programming well before it became my job, and it is still something I do outside of work.

What I enjoy most is understanding how things work underneath the abstractions I use every day. During my studies, this led me towards subjects such as compilers, assembly, operating systems, cryptography, malware analysis and computer security.

My personal projects are usually much more practical. I tend to start with something I would like to have or a problem I would like to solve, and then build around it. This website and La Vigie are two examples.

Students' Association

Leadership and community engagement

Student associations were a significant part of my time as a student.

I was president of a photography club and involved in a magic club. I also worked on partnerships for a student association and took part in the logistics of Anim'Est, a large student-run convention in Nancy.

These were very different activities, which is probably what I enjoyed about them. They gave me opportunities to organise events, work with people outside my usual circle and take responsibility for very practical things that simply had to get done.