A short report about this year's Visa Pour L'Image via Matt Shonfeld

Visa this year was exceptional. I can only speak of my personal experiences of course, and this year was only my second time. I guess the first time you go to Visa you are so eager to meet everyone you NEED to meet, you don't really relax and enjoy the event. Now without the worries of having an agent, I had the opportunity to meet photographers and editors from all over the globe. The exhibitions were truly inspirational and the event gives you the option of hearing these photographers recount their lives and answer questions about their reasons for taking on such projects and photographing them in the way they did.

As always, even the talented veteran of photography picks up something. Canon unveiled their new toy the 5D to an appreciative audience in Perpignan this year. Philip Blenkinsop collected the Visa D'or for the second time quite deservedly and the parties were magnificent especially the closing party funded and sponsored by Canon.

This year was also the first time the night shows were presented digitally. The photographs were beautiful, with such incredible reproduction quality.

A few years ago there was some doubt to the survival of Visa pour l'image but I can't see that there is any issue for the foreseeable future. Photographers call this Mecca and they make their annual pilgrimage to this small Catalan town. Hotel beds were being reserved for next year and for sure unless barring an earthquake, tsunami or war I'll shall return.