Gens d'images

Gens d'images (also styled Les Gens d'images) is a French association loi de 1901 — a non-profit organization under French law — that brings together professionals and amateurs passionate about the image in all its forms. It was founded in 1954 by Albert Plécy, then editor-in-chief of Point de vue Images du monde, photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue, and Raymond Grosset, director of the Rapho agency. The association is headquartered in Paris and operates primarily in France, with an international outlook reflected in its history of international photojournalism conferences and its awards open to photographers residing in France. Gens d'images is best known for two annual photography prizes. Since 1955 it has awarded the Prix Niépce, which recognizes the work of a photographer under 50 years of age who is French or has resided in France for at least three years. It also awards the Prix Nadar, in partnership with the Bibliothèque nationale de France since its creation, which honors a book published in France devoted to photography, whether ancient or contemporary, in all its forms. From 1999 to 2013 the association additionally awarded the Prix Arcimboldo to recognize works of digital photography. Beyond its prizes, Gens d'images organizes monthly thematic workshops dedicated to photography or to individual photographers — past sessions have featured figures such as Christine Spengler and Yan Morvan, as well as themes like photography and the Arab world. The association has also convened numerous congresses on contemporary image issues, including a 1977 congress in Quebec, Canada; a 20th congress in 1982; a 2001 congress in Valenciennes on the theme "Aux frontières de l'image fixe !"; and a 2007 congress at the MEP (Maison Européenne de la Photographie) on "Enjeux de la photographie à l'heure d'internet." Its official website continues to publish news of award laureates, workshops, and image-related events. As a membership-based association rather than a commercial company, Gens d'images occupies a unique position in the French photographic ecosystem: it is a tastemaker, a prize-granting body, and a forum for reflection on photographic practice. Its long-running awards have helped launch and sustain the careers of numerous photographers, and its publications and archives document decades of French photographic history.

Gens d'images was created in 1954 by Albert Plécy, editor-in-chief of Point de vue Images du monde, photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue, and Raymond Grosset, director of the Rapho agency. It is a French association loi de 1901, a non-profit organization that groups professionals and amateurs passionate about the image in all its forms. From 1955 the association has awarded the Prix Niépce annually, recognizing the work of a photographer under 50 years of age who is French or has resided in France for at least three years. It also awards the Prix Nadar, in partnership with the Bibliothèque nationale de France since its creation, for a book published in France devoted to photography, ancient or contemporary, in all its forms. From 1999 to 2013 the association awarded the Prix Arcimboldo for works of digital photography. A major part of its early activity was the Journées internationales de photo-journalisme, held from 1959 to 1974. The first took place in 1959 at Boulouris, Saint-Raphaël, at the Centre universitaire Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, with participants including Jean Adhémar, Louis Dalmas, Jean Dieuzaide, Pierre Gassmann, Raymond Grosset, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Janine Niépce, and Albert Plécy. Subsequent editions were held in Boulouris (1960), San Pellegrino Terme in Italy (1961), and repeatedly at Porquerolles (1962–1967, 1971–1974), as well as Boulogne-Billancourt (1969) and Thoiry and the Tuileries in Paris (1970). These gatherings featured presentations such as Albert Plécy's "La photographie, art ou langage ?" (1961), Pierre Gassmann on laboratory techniques and Jacques Ostier on the documentarian (1963), Jean-Louis Swiners on scripto-visual semiotics (1966), Albert Monier on the postcard pioneer, Gérard Blanchard on advertising eroticism, and Albert Plécy on the grammar of the image (1967), Plécy's call for an image research center (1968), and Abraham Moles on art and the computer (1971) and the third generation of the image (1974). The association has also organized numerous congresses on contemporary image issues. In 1977 a congress was held in Quebec, Canada. The 20th congress took place in 1982. The 2001 congress in Valenciennes reflected on "Aux frontières de l'image fixe !" (At the borders of the still image!). In 2007 the congress was held at the MEP (Maison Européenne de la Photographie) on the theme "Enjeux de la photographie à l'heure d'internet" (Stakes of photography in the internet age). Today Gens d'images continues to organize monthly thematic workshops devoted to photography or to photographers — past sessions have covered Christine Spengler, Yan Morvan, and photography and the Arab world, among others. Its official website publishes news of laureates, workshops, and image-related events, including the Prix Niépce Gens d'images 2026 awarded to Alexandra Catiere, a workshop on photography festivals scheduled for 16 September 2026, and a Café images on 5 September 2026 with Marcus Brandao. The association's history has been documented in publications such as Claude Carrez's Le temps, matière de l'image ? (2006), Rebecca Flore's master's thesis L'association des Gens d'Images : témoins et acteurs des évolutions de la photographie en France entre 1954 et 1985 (2023), and Les Gens d'images, Prix Niépce - Prix Nadar, Une histoire de photographie (2025).

• 2026

  Alexandra Catiere wins the Prix Niépce Gens d'images 2026.

• 2013

  Prix Arcimboldo discontinued.

• 2007

  Congress at the MEP on "Enjeux de la photographie à l'heure d'internet".

• 2001

  Congress in Valenciennes on the theme "Aux frontières de l'image fixe !".

• 1999

  Prix Arcimboldo for digital photography established (awarded until 2013).

• 1982

  20th congress held.

• 1977

  Congress held in Quebec, Canada.

• 1974

  Last of the Journées internationales de photo-journalisme held at Porquerolles, Fort Sainte-Agathe.

• 1961

  Journées internationales held in San Pellegrino Terme, Italy.

• 1959

  First Journées internationales de photo-journalisme held at Boulouris, Saint-Raphaël.

• 1955

  First Prix Niépce awarded.

• 1954

  Association Gens d'images founded by Albert Plécy, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, and Raymond Grosset.

A historic French photography association and prize-granting body that promotes photographic creation and reflects on its practices.

• Prix Niépce

  Annual award since 1955 for a photographer under 50, French or resident in France for at least 3 years.

• Prix Nadar

  Annual award in partnership with the Bibliothèque nationale de France for a photography book published in France.

• Prix Arcimboldo

  Award for digital photography, granted from 1999 to 2013.

• Monthly thematic workshops

  Workshops on photography or photographers, e.g., Christine Spengler, Yan Morvan, photography and the Arab world.

• Congresses on image issues

  Congresses including Quebec 1977, 20th in 1982, Valenciennes 2001, MEP 2007.

1. 1Les Gens d'images – official websitegensdimages.com
2. 2Gens d'images – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Gens d'images – Wikipédia (fr)fr.wikipedia.org