A stunning photograph of the Saint-Jacques Gate in Parthenay has won the departmental prize in the 2025 "Ma région en images" (My Region in Images) photography contest. The winning image, captured by Olivier Drochon, a resident of Saint-Pardoux-Soutiers, features the historic gate and its reflection, impressing the jury with its artistic composition and clear identification of the location.

This marks the second time in recent years that a photograph of Parthenay has claimed the departmental prize for Deux-Sèvres. In 2022, Philippe Boussion's image of the capital of Gâtine region also won the contest. The competition, organized by the Territoires Nouvelle-Aquitaine association since 2021, aims to showcase and promote the region's heritage with one simple criterion: the photographed location must be easily identifiable.

The 2025 edition of the contest attracted significant participation across the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, drawing 864 amateur photographers who submitted a total of 5,433 photographs. Each participant was allowed to submit up to twelve images, demonstrating the enthusiasm for capturing the region's diverse landscapes and architectural treasures.

The competition recognizes winners at multiple levels, designating one laureate for each of the twelve departments in the region, along with three grand prize winners. This year's three regional champions include Célia Vachieri for her photograph of the Île de Ré bridge, Sylvain Mura for his image of Bordeaux, and Patrick Labregere, who captured a neighborhood scene in Limoges. These winning photographs represent the diverse beauty and character found throughout the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

In addition to the main competition, the Institut du goût Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Nouvelle-Aquitaine Taste Institute) selects special recognition awards in each department. For Deux-Sèvres, Jean-Paul Chartier from Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan received this honor for his photograph taken in the Marais Poitevin wetlands, which was chosen in the "Nourishing Landscapes" category, highlighting the region's agricultural and natural heritage.

Looking ahead, the 2026 edition of "Ma région en images" is scheduled to run from July 1 to September 30, with details available on the Territoires Nouvelle-Aquitaine website. The contest continues to serve as an important platform for amateur photographers to celebrate and document the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, encouraging residents to explore and appreciate the beauty of their local environments through the lens of photography.