Arles Encounters: Our Selection of Beautiful Photo Books 2026

The Rencontres d'Arles photography festival, running from July 6 to October 4, 2026, is highlighted by "Libération" with a selection of compelling photo books.

Olivier Metzger's "Somewhere Somehow" is presented as the realization of the photographer's dream. Metzger, who died in 2022 at age 49, was unable to complete this project before his passing. The book, released alongside an exhibition of his work, captures his distinctive talent. The photographs evoke a nocturnal atmosphere, featuring subjects like an American convertible, a woman in a fur coat in a cinema, and a figure resembling Tilda Swinton against an almond-green backdrop. The reviewer notes the influence of artists like Helen Lewitt and David Lynch, describing Metzger's work as "fantastic photography" and "nocturnal tableaux."

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Somewhere and Somehow, with a text by Eric Reinhardt, Actes Sud, 128 pp., 35 €.

Geoffroy Mathieu's "Atlanta in Two Feet on the Ground Atlanta" explores the experience of being a pedestrian in the United States, particularly in Atlanta. Mathieu encountered and photographed individuals who walk out of necessity, including the homeless and those marginalized by car-centric culture. Echoing Robert Venturi's "Learning from Las Vegas," Mathieu offers a fresh perspective on the city's commercial strips and the overwhelming signage. The book portrays individuals like Marvin, Warren, and Billy, who walk extensively in the car-dominated city, sometimes to the point of needing foot care. A portion of the book's sales, two euros per copy, will be donated to the Harriet Tubman podiatric clinic.

Bérangère Fromont's "République" focuses on the youth culture of skaters in Paris's Place de la République. Shot in black and white with stark lighting, the photographs emphasize close-ups of young faces and bodies, with the grain of the images merging with the texture of skin. Fromont has been documenting this social body for years, capturing many boys and some girls. The images are tightly framed, highlighting details like a nape, an earring, a chain necklace, and shoulders.

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Atlanta in Two Feet on the Ground Atlanta, Buildings Books, 108 pp., 35 €