Michel Brault, a veteran photographer who documented local life in the western Var region of France for over two decades, has died at the age of 77. The former photographer for Var-Matin République was known for his pioneering work in color photography and his distinctive sense of humor that colleagues fondly remembered.

Brault was part of the first wave of young photographers hired by Var-Matin République in the 1970s. For more than twenty years, he captured the daily lives of residents in western Var, working first at the La Seyne agency and later at the Toulon office located on Lafayette Boulevard. His work provided a visual chronicle of the region's people and their stories during a transformative period in French journalism.

Colleagues remember Brault as a tall, elegant figure with a fine mustache and abundant hair who always carried himself with style. However, he was notably unconventional in his approach to equipment. "He didn't carry a photo bag. He put his cameras in a leather bag stuffed with foam because he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He often wore a large raincoat. Michel had class!" recalled his former colleague Patrick Blanchard, who joined the newspaper in 1979.

Blanchard described Brault's personality with warmth and humor: "He had his own little character and humor like Mister Bean, sometimes a bit uptight, but he was a good comrade, a good friend. I have very good memories. It was a time when we experienced a lot of things together and he was always part of the celebration!"

In the early 1980s, color photography began appearing in French press columns, marking a significant shift in the industry. For photographers who were still developing their photos in darkrooms, the profession became more technically demanding. "We weren't forced to switch to color right away. Michel was one of the first to take the risk along with our colleague Gérard Raynaud," Blanchard noted with admiration.

As a pure local photographer, Brault found joy in highlighting those whom fame forgot to touch. He made his mark with an unusual and innovative exhibition: displaying some of his images on buses throughout the Toulon metropolitan area's transit network. This itinerant exhibition brought his photography directly to the public in an unprecedented way, making art accessible to everyday commuters and residents.

In 1998, Brault decided to take advantage of the buyout clause when the daily newspaper was acquired by the Nice-Matin Group. Following his departure from the editorial staff, he gradually and then permanently distanced himself from journalism. After suffering from health problems for several years, Michel Brault passed away at the age of 77. The editorial team at Var-Matin extends its sincere condolences to his daughter Carol, his family, and his friends.