Raymond Depardon, a photographer of reality

Raymond Depardon, the multi-talented photographer and journalist, celebrates his 83rd birthday on Sunday 6 July. From war reportage to street photography and politically committed documentaries, let's take a look back at the career of this master photographer, whose work has left its mark on people's minds and social ideals.

“There's nothing more universal than a photographer - it's someone who makes photos for everyone,” Raymond Depardon told Radio France. Born into a farming family, Raymond Depardon has used his camera to photograph and film the world through the ages. Moving from one continent to another with a multitude of subjects, this renowned photographer takes a direct look at our world, where the trivial and the ordinary are his watchwords.

A look back at key moments

Born on July 6, 1942 in Villefranche-sur-Saône, France, Raymond Depardon obtained his first 6X6 camera in 1954. Originally intended for his brother, this little camera would play a key role in Depardon's life. Living on a farm in a rural environment, these early photographs are those of his daily life. From animals to soccer matches and family photos, Raymond captures his surroundings.

Working as an apprentice in an optician's store in Villefranche-sur-Saône, Raymond began training with Louis Foucherand in 1958. The following year, the young photographer joined the Dalmas magazine agency. His career was launched and his quest for the world opened.

His first trip was to Africa, to follow the SOS Sahara expedition, which brought him fame as well as publication in Paris Match. Depardon knew then that the world was waiting for him. From the Algerian and Vietnam wars, to Chad, Biafra and Prague, the photographer was on the lookout for everyone's views and stories. In 1966, he set up his own agency called Gamma. This gave him greater control over his images and his subject matter, although it is no longer in operation. In 1979, Depardon joined the legendary Magnum group of renowned photographers.

And what about video ? If Depardon is known for having a camera in hand, audiovisual productions are never far away. He made his first short film, Venezuela, in 1963. A few years later, in 1974, he made his first feature-length documentary. 1974, une partie de campagne, about Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's campaign, was released in 2002.

Travelling the world and telling stories, Depardon has won several awards for his work. In 1985, he won the César for best short film for New York, NY . In 1991, he won the Grand Prix National de la Photographie. And in 2024 he won over La BnF by winning the annual award, a first for a photographer.

A commitment

Beginning by photographing his everyday life, Depardon developed a certain commitment to and curiosity about the ordinary. Shy and humble by nature, justice, rurality and solitude are his favorite themes. From the photograph of the young man on the Berlin Wall, to those of children playing in a park in Glasgow, to his many shots of the French countryside, Depardon approaches these subjects to capture their very essence. In 2003, he even obtained exceptional authorization to film hearings at the Paris Criminal Court: 10ᵉ Chambre - Instants d'audiences. A documentary that will be shown at Cannes in 2004, reporting on the French justice system at its heart.

With his direct view of the world, Depardon has filmed what is known as diversity. His camera has crept into every nook and cranny, in France and abroad, in search of authenticity. With a great career behind him, Raymond never tires of photography and remains humble about his work. ‘What could be better than dreaming of having a 400 square metre photo on the rue de Rivoli? (...) I was a photojournalist, so it was never my life's goal to exhibit,’he told AFP at his exhibition of photographs taken during the Olympic Games between 1964 and 1976 in the run-up to the Paris Olympics.

Depardon's reality

With his direct and sharp eye, Depardon's life and experiences have influenced these photographs, making his framing unique. "My past, my culture, my background, my solitude, my love life are all elements that determine the way I frame and see things. It's quite painful," he says.

Because real photography is an art form in its own right, adapts to each person's reality, creating different perceptions and changing angles. "I think that the very essence of a photographer is to betray reality. You just have to master that betrayal, and it has to be consistent with yourself... I think I betray certain things. But I try not to betray myself", Depardon explains.

With numerous short and feature-length films, photographs and books to his credit, Depardon is a photographer in his own right, whose eyes are always searching for glimpses and stories, conveying the world in all its diversity.

To find out more about the photographers who have left their mark on the ages, read all our articles on the subject on our online platform.