The press conference of the ADIDAEPP (Association for the Defense of the Interest of Donors and Beneficiaries of the Former Photo Asset) ended at noon Thursday July 7th in the Cour de l’Archevêché in Arles, smothered by the sun of the South of France, at noon.

A dozen of black dressed beadles get ready for the ritual that will set the pace of a photographic event worthy of its name.

In all, it’s about a protest. About the indignation against the ancient practices by all kinds of users of photographs. Stop the unconscionable contracts!, Stop the “Reproduction Rights”, etc. The reader can see on the flags, or even better, visit the UPP site (Professional Photographers Union) to browse the catalog of legitimate claims. Nothing else to say there.

This Thursday, clearly at the ‘cocktail hour’ of the forum (and also the hottest time of day) our greatly devoted beadles decide to start the procession. The worshippers from the church of Saint Photography are numerous in town, many actually practicing, the proof is the cameras everywhere.

The beadle is however shocked. The number of demonstrators-photographers is equal to those photographing photographers: around twenty on either side. A play of mirrors in the style of Lucien Clergue.

This morning, as a consequence of the very touching tribute yesterday evening in the ancient theater to Roger Thérond, the worshippers of Saint Photography have all turned into staff of Paris-Match.

The smile of the little cow falls out of the frame: We are only left with the copyright’s coffin. What bug has bitten these beadles to celebrate – in their defense – another funeral.

As if the very numerous real burials would not be enough!

Our churchwarden will be shocked once again: why are the representatives of the profession so keen on burials? To win the battle it is necessary to be optimistic, persistant, but also good humor and enthusiasm!
The UPP beadles finally run to the crushing defeat, as the combative humor must be accompanied by laughter.

Michel Puech

Note CNERTL (Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales – National Center for Textual and Lexical Ressources) - BEADLE, noun, masc. [Cleric] Secular employee or official in charge in a general manner of preserving order in the church at services, and more precisely to precede the clergy in the processions and to facilitate the passage among the devotees.