eyedea - our collections

Our Collections

GAMMA

Gamma’s arrival in 1967 was the product of photographers’ dreams. It was the dream of independence, responsibility, recognition and freedom. Current affairs at the end of the 1960s gave a fantastic boost to this young agency: May 68, Biafra, the Soviet invasion of Prague, Vietnam, the arrival of private radio stations were all subjects that Gamma photographers covered enthusiastically. 35 years later, the same dynamism and the same determination motivates the news photographers that, following in the footsteps of their elders, continue the tradition and ideals that have forged the agency’s credentials.

Certainly, the “news” best expresses Gamma’s constancy throughout its years of existence, whether in relation to news on the burning issues, wars, conflicts, revolutions and all the brutal convulsions suffered by our planet, or in relation to magazine news, with well thought out reports that point out both the splendours and miseries of our world. The agency owes this photographic record not only to its salaried staff and to all its independent authors but also to all its contributors, motivated by different passions but all striving towards the same goal of capturing the moment’s most symbolic image.

Rapho

The Rapho agency, known for the quality, diversity and renown of its author - photographers, is among the most famous agencies in the world. Created in 1933 by Charles Rado, closed during the war and then reopened in 1947 by Raymond Grosset, it is also one of the oldest photographic press agencies. It has often played the role of forerunner in areas such as the defence of the photographers’ rights. It represents some of the greatest French humanist authors that have marked the history of photography, such as Robert Doisneau, Willy Ronis, Sabine Weiss, Edouard Boubat, Jean-Philippe Charbonnier and Janine Niepce. Similarly, Rapho has been able to bring together a team of contemporary photographers all motivated by their enthusiasm for travel, the variety of cultures and the different faces of the world. Their work, which is published world-wide, is present in all areas (press, advertising, cultural exhibitions, publishing, business) and is regularly rewarded with the most prestigious prizes.

Keystone
Set up in 1927, Keystone was the first large illustrated report agency to have offices throughout the world (London, Berlin, New York etc). From the outset, it produced a great many stories on all continents and on all types of subject (arts, sciences, everyday life, industry, major political, sporting and cultural events). It also acquired numerous collections that have enabled it to constitute its own collection of over 15 million photographs that are a witness to history, personalities and arts over a period reaching from antiquity to the present time (1985). From the Russian revolution to the advent of the 3^rd Reich, from the First World War to the signature of the Camp David Accords, the bulk of the 20^th century is illustrated in the Keystone collection.

Hoaqui

The character of Hoa-qui is bathed in the fraternal spirit of its founders, a group of photographers that took pleasure in coming together, more in order to share their vision of the world than as a commercial distribution structure. The prime objective was to encourage people to travel, to visit other cultures and experience the mysteries and attractions of the world. The spirit of Hoa Qui has clearly more to do with enthusiasm than with marketing. Its heritage today still constitutes the strength and vitality of Hoa Qui, enabling it to develop a photographic collection with a richness and diversity that has given it international renown. Although having gradually evolved towards a position as a general illustration agency, it is in its original speciality of travel and ethnology that it has been repositioned within the EYEDEA architecture.

Jacana

Created in 1967 by the animal photographer Jean-Philippe Varin, Jacana now unites numerous French and foreign photographers around the same single passion: photographing nature. Having rapidly become the benchmark photographic collection for the living world and the environment, it owes its renown to a rigorous and scientific approach. Today it offers a uniquely rich collection that covers the living world from the tops of the trees to the deepest abyss. With a view to offering even more beautiful and varied images, Jacana, although always looking for new talent, has signed distribution agreements with reputed foreign collections such as the Nature Picture Library and has joined forces with Grandeur Nature.

Explorer

Originally created within Jacana to develop a sector devoted to geography, Explorer rapidly expanded its collections to other iconographic fields. After having signed a number of independent authors, Explorer began to represent specialist collections notably the exclusive distribution of Spot satellite images. Within EYEDEA the collection has progressively repositioned itself as the branch devoted to human activities, science and technology.

Top

Created in 1970 from the archives of the magazine Réalités (1947-1976), the agency first represented the work of its most regular contributors such as Edouard Boubat, Jean-Philippe Charbonnier and Michel Desjardins. In the 1980s, its collaboration with the magazine Maison et Jardin, enabled it to gradually build up a collection specialising in travel, decoration and the representation of the architectural, cultural and tourist heritage of France and of other countries, subsequently extended to include gastronomy (restaurants, chefs, recipes, wine and produce from around the world). With this solid experience behind it and an established position in this particular segment of the illustrative photo market, Top within the Illustration Créative EYEDEA collection is now an associated with the society and lifestyle branch.

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