Departures of note

Jean-François Leroy was a French journalist and photographer who co-founded the Visa pour l'image international photojournalism festival in Perpignan in 1989 with Roger Thérond, and directed it for nearly four decades. Born in Paris, he was introduced to photography through his aunt, a chief editor, and began his career collaborating with magazines such as Photo-Reporter, Le Photographe and Photo-Revue, becoming editor-in-chief of Photo Magazine from 1985 to 1987. He also worked as a photographer and editor at the Sipa Press agency and became the agent of photographer Dominique Issermann in 1988.

Under his direction, Visa pour l'image grew into one of the world's most important photojournalism festivals, held annually in Perpignan and showcasing the work of leading conflict and documentary photographers. He also participated in organizing the "3 Jours en France" project with Yann Arthus-Bertrand in 1989 and acquired the Images-Evidence company in 2009.

Leroy was made a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters. He died in Paris on 31 August 2026 at the age of 69 following a long illness, just as the 38th edition of the festival he founded was opening.