Here is Phot’Aubrac which takes place this year from 20 to 23 September in Aubrac, it is a sublime place in the middle of the Massif Central in France; For Hans Silvester, Phot’Aubrac is the most authentic French photographic festival. Francois Puech, its organizer tells us its story.
Jean-Jacques Naudet
Phot’Aubrac was born of conjunctions, of aligned planets. Everything starts in 2003 in Nasbinals, on the Aubrac of course. Five friends (especially girlfriends), driven by their desire to create a cultural event that would animate the area, launched a photographic festival. Among the exhibitors, one of them naturally imposed himself: Renaud Dengreville. wild life photographer, trapper of images as he defines himself, he lives on the plateau.
But in the following years, faced with the magnitude of the task, the founders gave up.
Chapter two: Jean-Pierre Montiel stops in Aubrac in 2012. Sport Photographer of motocross, enduro ( which he practiced), bi-cross, mountain biking, windsurfing … he likes to find and give to see the “heart of the action”. He is very involved in the organization of the famous Rencontres Photographiques d’Arles. That day, between Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhone, he chose to wander, go down through the Massif Central and stops in the Aubrac. As an amateur of the fine (very fine) life, he is seduced by the beef rib (d’Aubrac) that is served on his plate, rents a room and discusses, generously as usual when it feels like being home. At the mention of the Rencontres d’Arles, his hostess took the ball with the leap: she is none other than one who tried the photo adventure in Aubrac. She offers, suggests, encourages Jean-Pierre Montiel to take over; which he does.
Chapter Three: Two years later, while he is a little exhausted by the huge work generated by this event that has already expanded, Maurice Subervie is one of the exhibitors, requested by the Tourist Office of Nasbinals. Big success, it must be said. Aveyronnais born in Rodez, well known for his postcards from Greece since 1979 and creator of a publishing house of postcards and photo books in 1985, he offers his help to Jean-Pierre Montiel for Phot’Aubrac whose program seduces every year thousands of visitors.
François Puech
Phot’Aubrac
September 20 – September 23, 2018
