Jean-François Camp – « Persia through the ages »

“Like many others, I received my first camera as a teenager and immediately perceived its magical power. Shy by nature, but drenched in pride, I loved breaking the ice with this little black Bronica that allowed me to freeze a smile, stop time, and build a book of memories that would never leave me again.
Equipped with this formidable weapon, I set off to conquer the world, first in the heart of France, inviting myself to the Breton craftsmen to document “La Maison des Métiers d'Arts”, then in Europe to organize Linguistic Centers. Then I went on to America, where I spent three years honing my technique at the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Having been deeply impressed by Sabrina & Roland Michaux's first book “Afghanistan”, I set off by car for Asia with the sole aim of arriving in Kabul.

After many adventures, I arrived at the mythical Kabul Hotel at the end of July 1971. The discovery of Afghanistan and then Iran radically changed the course of my life, as the following year I settled in Teheran for ten years, until the Islamic regime forced foreigners to leave this immense country. Nevertheless, I returned every year until 1995.

These photos are like the forgotten traces of a long life lived under the burning sun of ancient Persia; they bear witness to a certain metaphysical quest for the passage of time, for past civilizations that endure in our Western culture, through the desert wind...”.
Jean-François Camp

Born in 1946 in Perpignan, France.

After training at the School of Visual Arts in NYC / USA, JF Camp became a photographer for the Ministry of the Environment in Teheran, Iran, where he settled and opened a professional photo lab in 1975. At the same time, he participated in the production of 10 60-minute films on Iran under the direction of Jean-Marc Leuven for Antenne 2. From 1979 to 1981, he covered the Islamic revolution in Iran, which he and his family also experienced. On his return to France, he became Sales Director of the Publiphoto laboratory in Paris. But five years later, in 1986, he decided to create the DUPON Bastille laboratory in partnership with Pascal Hérold. In 1997, JF Camp bought out Pascal Herold's shares and became the main shareholder in the DUPON laboratory, which he sold to the RC Concept group in March 2018.

He has supported the Visa pour l'Image festival from the outset, becoming one of the festival's long-standing laboratory partners in 1990. In 2000, together with Jean-François Forchantre, it created the Planète Albert Kahn prize, and began supporting numerous initiatives dedicated to auteur photography. In 2002, he became the appointed laboratory for Rencontres d'Arles for four years. In 2010, together with Elisabeth Bret Sayer, he created “Un photographe pour Eurazeo” (A Photographer for Eurazeo), endowed with 10,000 euros and an exhibition at the Hôtel de l'Industrie, of which he is president of the jury.

In 2012, it acquired the iconic Parisian laboratory Central Color, which became Central Dupon and gave rise to the creation of a veritable Images division: Central Dupon Images became the privileged partner of the biggest cultural events and photographic festivals in France and abroad, as well as institutions and museums such as the MEP, INA and the Centre des Monument Nationaux. This location is animated by a program of exhibitions for photographers and meetings with the public.

In 2016 he created the Centre International du Photojournalisme in Perpignan as part of the Association Visa Pour L'Image, of which he became Vice President.

In 2018, with Annie Boulat, he takes over the Cosmos agency gallery and creates Espace DUREV to enable photographers to exhibit and sell their work.

In 2019, with Jean Luc Monterosso, he conceived the Prix de l'Académie des Beaux-Arts William Klein, endowed with 120,000 euros, the first winner of which will be Raggu Ray, the great Indian photographer and member of the Magnum agency.