Finistère. The former RG police officer became a photographer

Farmers, fishermen, Red Hats, Yellow Vests… Over the past decade or even a little more, the opportunities to come across Richard Roudaut in a demonstration in Finistère were not lacking. One of the last dates back to the end of January 2024.

On the front line of the protests

A year ago, the farmers mobilized again, blocked the RN N165 expressway near Ergué-Gabéric, and led punchy actions. That day, a small group was stationed at the entrances to the administrative city of Ty Nay in Quimper.

Richard Roudaut was then a police officer in the service commonly called general information (RG). He was on alert in the face of a potentially explosive situation. When the demonstrators decided to move their tractors towards the Leclerc hypermarket in Gourvily, Richard Roudaut asked them: “What the hell is this? »

In Breton, this familiar question is contained in a single word: petrazo. It is also the name of the Instagram account of the former civil servant, retired since September 2024, after thirty years of service.

Attraction for the sea, fishing

At 59, Richard Roudaut is now photographer. He “loves” portraits and close-ups of details. His style? “I have always been fundamentally human. I try to transcribe it in my photos. » He also claims “respect and humility”.

He was in his previous job. At the RG, he was in charge of economic intelligence throughout Finistère. “That included fishing, farming. But also economic intelligence. » Through meetings, Richard Roudaut became a specialist in the fishing industry. Locally and well beyond the borders of Brittany.

I am a hard worker. I always wanted to understand what was happening. Why was it okay, why was it not okay. To get this information and take it further up, I would go see people.

Contact and trust

His approach allowed him to build relationships of trustwith interlocutors sometimes getting into it. “When I was with the RG, everyone called me by my first name. Since I retired, that hasn't changed and my entire network is intact. »

He kept this sense of contact for the photo. “In my family, my father was good at painting; my sister for music… When I was younger, I enjoyed writing and photography, but I never imagined I would get started one day. » The turning point comes in 2021.

I went to see an exhibition by Stéphane Lavoué at the Port-musée in Douarnenez. It was a shock, a revelation. I told myself I wanted to do that.

Richard Roudaut then went to an applied arts school. But it takes a bit of time. He prefers meetings. The human.

His collaboration with the regional fisheries committee since the beginning of 2025 is an illustration of this. The photographer wants to work over time, with confidence. Which allows him to offer another look. “It’s like in my previous job. In certain situations, you have to take a step aside. »

His photos do not leave anyone indifferent on social networks including Instagram.

Poetry and sweetness

The photographer has other projects in sight, including one on the place of women in the fishing industry. Recently, a caterer requested him; the Béliers de Kemper, the basketball club, also for a conference by Cédric Villani in Quimper. “I don’t want to take anyone’s place,” insists Richard Roudaut.

However, he has his little grain of salt to add: “In my photos, I try to bring poetry and softness. ” Of positiveAlso. This is the meaning of its work alongside the fishing industry.

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