Reunion and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon at the heart of one of the biggest nature photo festivals in Europe

The Zernié spider, scorpion, the green lizard from the top of Maïdo, the straw tail or even the tightrope walker… some of the endemic species of Reunion Island. Dn one of the biggest stands of the festival, Jean-François Bègue presents 39 photos, a glimpse of the beauty of the endemic animal biodiversity of Bourbon Island.“This is the 5th time I exhibit here at the Montier-en-Der festivalexplains this Reunion artist, amateur photographer. Usually, I apply like other thousands of professional and amateur photographers. But this year, the organizers came for me! And I am delighted to offer this new exhibition of my photographic work on the special wildlife of my island.“

And for good reason: the theme of this 27th edition of the festival was biodiversity in France.

“We absolutely needed photos that present overseas wildlifeexplains Régis Fournel, the president and founder of “Montier festival photo“, one of the three biggest photo festivals in Europe dedicated to the animal world and nature. “We cannot talk about France without taking into account our overseas territories. Even less so since the greatest French endemic biodiversity is found overseas. And knowing the magnificent work of Jean-François Bègue, I could not present this 2024 edition without offering the public the expertise of this talented amateur and his teams.”.

Because the naturalist photographer who has more than 200,000 photos that he has taken on animal and plant species unique to Reunion Island – “it's a way of documenting local powers over these typically Reunionese species.” – came to Haute -Marne with a whole team: six people (professionals and amateurs), all invested in preserving nature on the island. A delegation came at its own expense to this festival. “We spent some 15,000 euros to make the prints, transport them and pay for our plane tickets, insists Aurelie Dubard-Grondin, president of the O'Sphere association in Entre-Deux. It is a passion to defend our beautiful and unique nature “.

“We are there both to answer visitors' questions and to lead workshops and debatescontinues Olivier Clain, one of the pillars of Plant'Ali. The nature on our island is exceptional. However, we are not going to hide it: our biodiversity is disappearing because of invasive plants and certain animals introduced voluntarily or not into Reunion. Thanks to our work in the field and thanks to photos, we try in our own way to defend the environment. Our environment also attracts curious people and nature enthusiasts to our island.”.

In a side aisle of the exhibition, two spaces dedicated to workshops. Starting with that of Charlotte Druguet, scientific illustrator at Étang-Salé, who presents watercolors of invasive exotic species at the meeting: “The drawing is lighter than the photo and the observation of each species is quicker to recognize it, because I highlight the important detail(s) of the plant to recognize it. And so: act as quickly as possible to remove it from our environment.”

Next to Charlotte, a 4th grade schoolgirl from Reunion runs another workshop for children and schoolchildren visiting the fsummer: “Nature is our lungsinsists Lauviah Grondin, 13 years old. I am trying to motivate young people like me here to also mobilize to protect our environment and nature, as I am doing for the meeting with some 300 other children. I'm happy to have come here to share my experience.”

I hope that many children from mainland France will also mobilize here like us at the meeting, because if our nature deteriorates, then we will no longer breathe.”

“This is one of the evolutions of our festivalcontinues Régis Fournel. Animals without flora and without nature are no longer enough to defend them through wildlife photography. By acting for nature, we allow these magnificent animals to survive. This is why we created all these workshops, these debates, these conferences and these round tables during the four days of the Festival. And we are very happy that overseas people come here to Montier-en-Der to show it“.

Showing the beauty of nature is the job of Grégory Pol, explorer photographer. A former navigator and diver in the French Navy, this specialist in the marine world discovered Saint-Pierre and Miquelon in 2012 during a three-year mission to the archipelago. Since then, he has returned there very often and has become a profound defender. “I even became an SPM-Fier ambassador, the Network Entrepreneurial Initiatives Forum – the archipelago's development agency, recognizes the former soldier. This atypical archipelago remains too little known, including in France.”

Many people who see my photos think that SPM is located in Scandinavia or Greenland. Thanks to my photos, exhibited or in my books, I help make people want to go to this archipelago that I love so much. And there are so many beautiful things to see there, including among the animals.”

Gregory Pol presents 25 striking shots of nature and local fauna, such as the portrait of this excited owl – a snowy owl – or this Arctic hare – emblematic animals that capture the attention of visitors and festival-goers. “I will continue to photograph nature at SPM, because the archipelago is also facing global warming. And it’s important to show it, insists this adventurous photographer“

Nearly 41,000 visitors strolled the aisles throughout the four days of this festival which has become legendary among pros and amateurs alike. Nearly 3,200 applications this year for only around a hundred photographers selected and exhibited a few steps from Lac du Der, the second ornithological site in mainland France after the Camargue.

Next year, it’s time for animals and astronomy. Reunion Island will already be present again with the work of photographer Luc Perrot who lives and photographs the sky in Reunion Island. Candidates for the 2025 edition have until January 31, 2025 to present a photo project linked to next year's theme… Notice to amateurs et overseas professionals !