Created in 1955 by the Gens d’Image association, the annual Prix Nadar recognizes a single outstanding work of photography published in France over the course of the year.

Presided over by Anne de Mondenard, Scientific Director at the Mission de la Photographie in the Ministry of Culture, the jury is comprised photographers, editors and critics from the world of photography. Among the hundred candidates, the jury awarded the Prix Nadar 2011 to Jean-Christian Bourcart’s Camden, published by Images en Manœuvres in Marseilles. Bourcart, who also wrote the texts for Camden, received the Prix Niépce in 2010 for the ensemble of his work.

Camden is a portrait of the most dangerous city in the United States. The photographer chose to document Camden in an attempt, “to see past the statistics and stigma... Personally, what I’ll remember from this adventure is that there isn’t more violence in Camden than anywhere else. It’s just more raw, less concealed by hypocrisy and cynicism.” The jury called attention to, “the power of the photography, with texts that perfectly reflect the images...”

The principal aim of the Prix Nadar is to reward the publication itself. Images en Manoeuvre, despite its success with titles dedicated to D’Agata, Engstöm, Plossu and Windenberger, has been consistently underestimated. They took the risk to publish a book on a fascinating but difficult subject, giving it a spare white cover adorned with only its title.

The Galerie VU’, which represents Bourcart, will offer a limited edition (15 copies) of the book accompanied by a numbered print signed by the photographer.

Bernard Perrine

“It sounds absurd, but I just went on the web and searched for the most dangerous city in the United States. I wanted to find that strange energy that gets unleashed in places where the rules no longer apply. I wanted to show that it’s still possible to approach other people, no matter how distant and foreign they seem to us. At the top of the list was Camden, New Jersey, two hours from New York, right outside of Philadelphia. I had no idea what I would find there. I thought, at worst, I could hide under a blanket in my car and take pictures through the window... Maybe all I did was reinforce the stereotypes instilled in us by the media. But I did come back in one piece.” Jean-Christian Bourcart

Prix Nadar 2011
Camden
Jean-Christian Bourcart
photographs and text

Images en Manœuvres Éditions
Marseille

24 x 32 cm French-style
144 pages
100 photographs (CMYK prints)
45 €
ISBN : 978-2-8499-5203-0
In English and French