Once upon a time: September of 1989.
It was the fairy tale of the year. Two friends Michel Decron and Jean-Francois Leroy, under the leadership of Roger Therond, the mythical boss of Match and Photo and at the request of the municipality of Perpignan launched a festival dedicated to Photojournalism.
It was an almost immediate success. The following year, the best of the profession, photographers, agencies, picture editors from all over the world came together to be surprised and passionnate .
Jean Francois Leroy showed us all that was most impressive, resuscitated and rediscovered names that had been forgotten or were unknown to the professional, Arles was slowly fading, Perpignan became the place to be. An ultra liberal tone was sometimes too strong or even caricatural but was tolerated: the festival was sumptuous, amazing and true.
It still is today but the world has changed. 30 years to show the other side of the mirror, that nobody wants to see now.
Bravo Jean-Francois for this tenacity.
It’s always true: the sad songs are always the most beautiful!
Jean-Jacques Naudet
Visa Pour l’Image – Perpignan 2018
09.01.2018 / 09.16.2018