Returning to Arles in France for the sixth consecutive year, Sigma is proud to highlight an intimate documentary work by photographer Thomas Savary for its 2026 edition.
Each May, the village of Allanche in the Cantal region awakens to the rhythm of hooves and bells. Nearly 40,000 people gather to celebrate an age-old tradition: the transhumance of Salers cattle to high-altitude pastures. Immersed in the heart of this vibrant event, the photographer captures the transmission of a living heritage.
Equipped with the Sigma fp, valued for its discreet format, Thomas Savary blends seamlessly into the crowd, moving closely among the breeders. This freedom of movement allows him to observe authentic scenes of daily life without altering the shared moment.
At the crossroads of documentary and fine art photography, his vision leverages the acclaimed color rendering, a hallmark of Sigma cameras, to faithfully translate the warmth of the herds and the luminous sweeping plateaus.
The series unfolds as a chronicle centered on gestures passed from one generation to the next. The weathered hands resting on a shepherd’s crook, a child diligently brushing their animal, or the pride of a breeder guiding his herd, all sketch the contours of an inherited tradition and the profound importance of legacy. Thomas Savary’s images reveal the simple, evident beauty of the bond uniting people, animals, and the land.
By bringing this rural reality to the heart of the festival’s opening week, the exhibition invites viewers to pause and experience a celebration where fleeting fervor meets timeless permanence.
Supporting this project naturally echoes Sigma’s deep appreciation for regional roots, celebrating stories anchored in lived and inhabited landscapes. It also reaffirms Sigma’s active commitment to emerging photography, championing artists who take the time to observe, document, and preserve memory.
Practical Information
Location: 21 Rue du Pont, Arles
Dates: July 6–12, 2026
Opening reception: Wednesday, July 8 from 6 PM, in the presence of the photographer and the Sigma teams.
Websites & Contacts
thomassavary.com
sigma-photo.fr
About Thomas Savary
Thomas Savary is a photographer and director based in Paris.
Self-taught, he blends his artistic sensibility with an exacting approach to technique. Having honed his craft in an analog darkroom, Thomas cultivates an intimate and documentary perspective at the intersection of emotion and the intangible. He seeks to show what we often fail to look at closely enough: the passage of time, subtle gestures, the strength of traditions, their transmission, and the richness of reality.
With a particular affinity for artisanal crafts, he focuses on hands, faces, details, and the subconscious to underscore the beauty of humanity and the living world. Ultimately, Thomas does not invent a universe; he reveals the beauty of the one that already exists.
