BIO

Biographie “La vie mode d’emploi”

still under construction , a mix of french and English , I will add more links everyday. Toujours en cours de traitement,

Life: “User manual”

Life: “Make it short”

Bio Exhibitions, books etc (under construction)

www.setboun.com instagram Facebook page Blog Linkedin search and download website  website gallery   Last news on my website  wikipedia: Michel Setboun  Amazon: books by Michel Setboun BNF french national library Ecrivain directeur artistique

Michel Setboun started as an architect and became a photographer in 1978 as a news and war photographer covering conflicts around the world for Sipa agency in Iran El Salvador, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel among others then Black Star agency, at the end of the eighties he started working on long term international stories, in Mongolia, Hong Kong Albania for Rapho  and Sygma. In 1990 he decided to work as a freelance Photographer, again on long term projects, He is still working for editorial but produce also fine art photography and books, His photography has been published in The New York Times, Géo, Life, and Paris Match, among others.   Since the  last ten years  he is focused on fine art, Books, exhibition or art installation

Francais

En 1976,, alors qu’il vient d’obtenir son diplôme d’architecte, Michel Setboun change de cap et part en Angola pour photographier la guerre d’indépendance. Trois ans plus tard, il publie l’un des premiers livres sur la révolution iranienne. Animé par une volonté tenace d’être là au bon moment, de préférence avant ses confrères, une seule chose devait désormais lui manquer : le temps d’être partout à la fois. Après l’Iran, ce fut l’Afghanistan, la guerre Iran Irak, le Liban, la Pologne. En 1982 il est blessé au Salvador, et en 1984 on lui remet le premier prix du world Press pour son travail sur l’expulsion des réfugiés du Nigeria. Entre temps il découvre l’Albanie puis la Mongolie, et commence à traiter des sujets à long terme, plus en douceur. il  suit les dernières années de l’empire britannique à Hong-Kong, Ses reportages apparaissent dans les magazines du monde entier et dans de nombreux livres. Il collabore avec les plus grandes agences photo en commençant par Sipa, puis Black Star, Rapho, Sygma, Corbis et enfin Getty. Ses photos de Khomeini, Saddam Hussein ou du pape font la couverture des plus grands magazines.  Mais c’est dès le début des années 90 qu’il devient photographe indépendant pour mener des projets à long terme, il continue à arpenter la planète pour des reportages au long cours.

Depuis  dix ans il se consacre aux grandes villes mythiques du monde ; Paris, New York, le Caire, Venise, Hongkong, Shanghai, Istanbul .

Depuis une dizaine d’années, je m’interesse plus particulièrement à des projets artistiques . livres, expositions et installations photographiques.

Life: “Make it large”

2022 on the way

Albania exhibition in Marubi Museum / November

from Nov 23 to february, More coming soon

Exhibition . Mongolia July

Festival Visions d’ailleurs. Mongolia July, link to be updated

Exhibition in Singapore mai 2022. “Notre dame de Paris”

In Singapore in may / Singapour exposition,

Exhibition in Iran

February

Iran révolution in the museum of contemporary art “The MOCA”. Tehran 

One hour TV program about my work during the revolution on docTV.Ir

Some new books and projects on the way 

At the top of Notre Dame cathedral  with Quasimodo.  Graphic project book V30

“50 years of Afghanistan” book project extract

interview on Kombini about Afghanistan

video under construction

Mongolia Graphic book

Albania between past and present,

La zone

Chateau rouge Couleur sur fond noir

L’afrique à Paris

Reportages

New York new

2021

Exhibition 

Festival Visions d’ailleurs New York 9/11 link July

Reportages

the afghans refugees in Albania, 

Paris under Covid, 

Iranian city in Durres

Portugal

2020

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition in Iran Kish museum in february

images of the exhibition

Solo Exhibition  galerie Mandarine , « Iran revolution » in March

Exhibition festival Visions d’ailleurs in July “Paris Dark light”

Second Solo Exhibition in COD Tirana, Albania « from dictatorship to democracy » 

Albania exhibition in COD Tirana 2020

Albania exhibition in COD Tirana 2020

Albanian TV 1

Albanian TV 2

Albania on TV 5

Albania on TV 6

New Book 1

 “New York Photo-Graphies” at editions de la Martinière

Albania from dictatorship to democracy

New Book 2

Albania the book of the exhibition extract

Albania; The end , The beginning

Reportages

The world under Covid

France several stories

Iran

Portugal

Albanie

2019

New Book

« Iran revolution » editions des Arènes link

Video On France inter « l’instant M » with Sonia Devilers

Entretien avec Michel Setboun – Retour sur la Révolution iranienne de 1979

Exhibition 

Curator

Solo Exhibition  galerie Mandarine , « Iran revolution » in march

Exhibition galerie D by art Paris October

Exhibition festival Visions d’ailleurs July

Solo Exhibition at the “belle Hortense” Dec

conférence

interview by Vif Photo

Reportages

Paris soleil vert under Covid V6  in colors

Paris covid in NB V4

Albania

New York

Londres

Iran

France several stories

2018

Exhibition

Solo exhibition: « Paris Lumière Noire» in Australia jan 2018

Solo exhibition  in COD Tirana, en Albanie Juillet

Albania exhibition in COD Tirana 2020

Albania on TV 4

Albanian TV 3

Exposition in Vision d’ailleurs festival

Exhibition « New York en marche »  june/ july

Exhibition ice rain on New York exhibit

New Book 1

Monographie « de la dictature à la démocratie »

New Book 2

 « 40 years of photojournalism »  VoI 2 publication in China

Interview

Iran Subway 20 mn on France  inter national radio

With the pseudonym Pierre Muscat

Sabyl Ghoussoub write about my books Iran and « Paris Lumière Noire »

Publication 

about Tehran subway

Reportages

Albania

londres

france stories

Corsica, 

2017

Exhibition 

« Paris jolie capitale »  at The Gallery Hegoa  Paris June 2017

Solo Exhibition in Roissy airport Paris : « Paris dark light»  . May  – dec 2017

Solo Exhibition in Hong Kong : « Paris dark light» exhibition at the Harbour city Hong Kong in May  2017

Video/ interview 

Anne Kerner /artvision for the exhibition « Paris lumière noire » 

Chinese version

Publication 

12 pages story about The book «  Paris Lumière noire » in Corriere de la serra Italy

10 pages story about Iran published in « Paris Match »

Reportage 

Corsica

Paris stories

Londres

Iran

Italy

Hong Kong

Corsica

2016

New Book 1

Iran « Days of revolution «  in English and Persian December 2016 

New Book 2

« Paris lumière noire » éditions de la Martinière. October 2016  

« Paris lumière noire » the book. trailer

New Book 3

 40 ans of photojournalism Vol III  génération Agences at the éditions de la Martinière 

Exhibition in Iran

Solo Exhibition  in Tehran : « Days of revolution » exhibition at the artist Forum . December 2016

Conférence  at the artists forum Tehran voir

Press TV interview février 2020 

Le film 52 minutes from Eiffel to Azadi

Movies in Iran about my work 

exhibitions in Paris and France 

Exhibition « New York » at the Galerie  D by Art Paris December 2016

Solo exhibition at galerie AB Voir «  Paris lumière noire » October 2016

Solo exhibition in Paris  « Paris Shanghai » city hall of the XVI september 2016

Shanghai VS Paris  pictures of the exhibition

Paris VS Shanghai Part 2 Paris VS Shanghai part 3

solo exhibition Voir « New York enquête d’identité » September 2015

Exhibition gallery Yann Arthus Bertrand 50 photographers of the eighties

Exhibition in Albania

Solo Exhibition in COD Albania

 “Albania under communist dictatorship” august 2016

Reportage 

Albania, Iran December 2016, 

Morocco shadows July 2016

Marseille

venise

Brittany

Londres

2015

Reportages

New york

France

Corsica

Marseille

Maroc

Portugal

2014 

Exhibition 

New York in Samhart gallery Montreux

Interview 

video at Visa pour l’image about the book 

40 years of photography generation Sygma

Qu’est-ce qu’une agence photo? on radio France Inter  

Reportages

Londres

iran

Marseille

venise

Corsica

Singapour

Thaïlande

2013 

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition September Teheran museum

New Book 

40 ans de photojournalisme Vol II  “génération Sygma” édition de la Martinière

Interview 

by iran press TV in Globish English.   In spanish

Reportages

Corsica

New York

istanbul

Lisbon beginning of Serie noire

Iran exhibition and movie about my work

paris stories

France stories for a new book with Pouget

2012

New Book 

40 ans de photojournalisme Vol I  “génération SIpa” édition de la Martinière

Interview 

on TV5 monde voir

On France info voir

Reportages

New York stories

Turkey Istanbul beginning of a new project

Iran

Corsica

italy ,

afghanistan communist

india, 

pakistan, Iran Irak war, Mitterrand

2011 

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition Museum of modern art  Iran Tehran ,, Exhibit and prize for his work during the Iranian revolution February – Mars.

Exhibition in Pinya China

Reportages

New york

China

Iran stories

Indonesia Sonde islands

Maroc attentat in Marrakech

2010

New Book 

“Le Caire renaissance d’une ville” at the éditions de la Martinière September

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition 2010 may exhibit at the opera of Ulaanbaatar Mongolia 

exposition Mongolie à l’opéra d’ Oulan Bator

Reportages

Mongolia

New york

Corsica

France

2009 

New book 

Venise at édition de la Martinière

« Venise» at the éditions Abrams USA September 2009

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition Contemporary Arts Museum. Iran Ahwaz . exhibit about iranian revolution, 

Exposition sur la révolution iranienne. Ahvaz Contemporary Arts Museum. Musée Ahwaz

Reportages

Venise for a new book

Russia children fashion in St petersburg, 

Boston

Cap code, children fashion

Corsica

Guyana for nat Geographic

France, Doubs, Brittany, Normandy etc

2008

New  book 

« New York vertigo » voir  at the éditions de Agostini Italy december 2008 in italy

« New York vertigo » voir  at the éditions de la Martinière September 2018

« New York vertigo » voir at the éditions Abrams december 2008 in USA

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition Moscow, exhibit “Paris seen from bell towers”

Grande exposition  “Paris , la balade  des clochers” à Moscou 

Reportages

Venise,

Maroc

Netherlands for GDF

Mongolia

Corsica

Cuba children fashion for a catalog

Italie

New York stories

Advertising

campagne publicitaire Kronenbourg

How to use a can of beer as a camera and the results…

2007 

New book

« Paris vu des clochers » voir at the éditions de la Martinière September 2007

« Paris view from bell towers» voir at the éditions Abrams december 2007

« Paris bell tower» at the éditions Abrams december 2007

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition China Festival .Pingyao Festival. rétrospective

2007 Exposition rétrospective  en Chine.  Festival de Ping Yao 

Reportages

New york several trips

Argentina Buenos Aires

Tunisia Lost tribes

Berlin

Québec

Antarctica

Cairo for the coming book 

Dunkerque for GDF

Paris seen from bell towers

2006 

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition Mongolia at club aventure gallery

Reportages

Cairo stories on the way

Paris bell towers

Corsica

Mongolia in Winter

Louxor story

Sweden Stockholm

Capo Verde

Maroc

New york

Albania

Belgique

Portugal

Corse, 

Ilan halimi

Algeria.  return for Geo magazine

2005

New Book 1

« Mongolie rêve d’infini» at the éditions de la Martinière September 2005

New Book 2

« Paris éclairage nuit » at the éditions Livandi

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition Qatar Doha . Paris Exhibit

Reportages

Dubai

Mongolia,

Afghanistan in Paktia province

italy , 

Corsica

New York stories

Monaco stories

La Courneuve for Stern

Mauritanie désert

perpignan , Arles

2004 

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition Foire de Paris. Exhibit giant images in 3D 

2004 Exposition dans le cadre de la foire de Paris tirages géants 3D

Reportages

Mongolia in deep winter

London

New York

Cairo beginning of the story and the book

Los Angeles with lalo Schifrin

Albania for Geo

Senegal with mouss Diouf

2003 

Reportages

Cors teica

Marseille stories

Venise

Mongolia

Maroc jordanie, italy , 

Afghanistan communist india, Pakistan, Iran Irak war, Mitterrand un

2002

New Book 1

« Mongolie rêve d’infini» at the éditions de la Martinière September 2002

New Book 2

« the twin towers of New york» voir at the éditions Fabre september 2002

Exhibition

Solo Exhibition New York  Staley and Wise gallery. Soho, etc..

Reportages

Mongolia with Albina du boisrouvray

New York with Albina du boisrouvray 

Russia on the Volga river for the Figaro magazine

Maroc festival du cinéma

Italy

New York stories

Mongolia eagles

2001 

Reportages

poland zalipie

Switzerland Albina

bruxelles aznavour PDV

Madrid

Greece

Paris seen from bell towers stories

Portugal and palacio fronteira PDV

Korea

9/11 in New York several months

Trieste for PDV

Publications

New York publications in magazines

jordanie, italy , afghanistan communist india, pakistan, Iran Iraq war, Mitterrand

2000 les années Solo représenté par Corbis puis getty 

Reportages

Scotland

Île de Man; looking for Godard for the Figaro Magazine

India with Albina du Boisrouvray

Ethiopia Lallibela

saint Nazaire for VSD

Benin with soeur julia  Aguiar point de vue

Mongolia for point de vue

Phillipines with the new president Arroyo

1999 les années Sygma

Reportages

Kosovo

Albania refugees

Norway lapland

Tunisia lost tribes of Israel

New york several stories

ZambiaKawakaba wedding in 

Monaco stories

Nantes for Geo mag

Clermont ferrand

Toulon for the Figaro mag

1998 

Reportages

Sweden with Taslima Nasreen

New york several stories

Israel Lost tribes around the world

Al Waleed

kenya with Cynthia Moss

Monaco stories

Turquie Istanbul efes kussadasi

Grece

Venice

Afghanistan with Najibullah

France stories

1997

New Book 

« Monaco , des travaux et des jours » book of the exhibition in Monaco 

Exhibition

Solo exhibition  in Ministère de la culture Monaco « des travaux et des jours » septembre 

Reportages

New york several months

Monaco stories

Hong Kong Handover several trips

GB winchester 

1996 

Reportages

Canada with the indians haidas with the interview 

Chine

Hong Kong several months

Macao 

Israel  beginning of story around the world “ Lost tribes of Israel “ for GEO

1995 

Reportages with Sygma

Monaco several Stories

India rajasthan for grands reportages

Mexico Chiapas rébellion for the Figaro

Mongolia

Hong Kong

China

Jordanie, italy , afghanistan communist india, pakistan, Iran Irak war, Mitterrand

1994 les années Rapho

Reportages with Rapho agency

Monaco stories

Hong Kong before the handover several trips and stories

Mongolia in winter

Romania

Belfast for Marie claire

French Riviera

1993 

Reportages with Rapho agency

Monaco stories

Albania for Geo

Mongolia several weeks

New york several weeks

Lyon for geo magazine 50 pages

update coming

1992 

Main Reportages with Rapho agency

New york several weeks

Hungary and yugoslav  war for marie Claire

Monaco story

Mongolia

update coming

1991 

Main Reportages with Rapho agency

Albania rebirth of God

New york story

Mongolia several weeks

update coming

1990 

Main Reportages with Rapho agency

Roumanie for the Figaro

Saudi arabia for the figaro magazine

Albania

Marseille story

Mongolia, the end of communism

Turkey with Ozal

Scotland

Chypre for grands reportages

french politic Mitterrand

1989 

Main Reportages with Rapho agency

Monaco beginning of a several years story for Geo magazine 50 pages and other mag

Rungis market story

New york, belgium, Lille

Marseille story

Irak

French politic

1988 

Main Reportages with Rapho agency

Argentina for the Figaro magazine

Marseille several months story for Geo germany and france

Albania the last days of communism for geo

Yougoslavie, the last days, for Actuel

New york

french politic,

1987 

Exhibition in Arles

Albania in Rencontres d’Arles 

Main Reportages with Rapho agency

Mexique story

Guatemala

New york

Albanie the last days of communism

Korea story on several years,

1986 les années Black Star

Reportages : Black star France is dead, I join Rapho

War in Honduras with american army, Time magazine

Brazil two months

mexique for the Figaro magazine

Korea story on several years, 

1985 

Reportages with Black Star France

egypt

Yemen for actuel, 

Afghanistan two months with the moudjahidines of haji Latif

prisons in Sweden for the figaro magazine

Yalta for the figaro magazine

french politic

1984 

Reportages  with Black Star, 

i quit Sipa and we create Black Star France with Jim Natchway, Reza, Laski , Suau , Manoocher, Bocon Gibod

Brazil several months, 

Iraq war and saddam hussein, 

Philippines Aquino, 

India gandhi 

Pakistan Zia ul Haq tribal wars in Pachtounistan, 

Netherlands, french politic

1983 les années Sipa

Prix 

1er prix World press photo pour un reportage sur les réfugiés quittant le Nigeria

first prize of the world World press photo for a story about the refugees leaving Nigeria

Une photo de Khomeyni a été choisie comme une des cent photos du siècle.

Reportages with Sipa Agency

Benin, Nigeria refugees 

Ghana, togo,Costa rica with the pope, 

Iraq war

war in el salvador , guatemala, Honduras, 

Poland with the pope , belgium Haiti, Venise ,French politic

1982 

Reportages with Sipa Agency

Mexico, Honduras war

wounded in salvador civil war, 

china sea with boat people, hong Kong,Singapour,  Thanilande, 

palestinians in greece 

portugal with the pope, 

Poland , jaruzelski , 

Reagan,New York,etc. 

1981 

Festival 

“visa pour l’image” : Marseille,

Reportages with Sipa Agency And Black star

Albania under communist dictatorship

pope in poland, 

poland with walesa, 

Greece , Morocco, 

Marseille several months in for a special story

Netherlands, egypt,  french politic

1980 

Reportages with Sipa Agency

Iraq war,

jordanie, 

afghanistan communist 

india, pakistan, Iran Mitterrand, italy , 

1979

first  Book 

« Iran, l’éclatement » at the editions du Sycomore

Reportages with Sipa Agency

iran revolution , 

pope in poland, 

spain, italy, Inde,, Pakistan, 

Afghanistan two months with the moudjahidines 

L’Afghanistan communist coup d’etat etc.

1978 

Reportages with Sipa Agency

Afghanistan, Iran, Kerguelen, italy with the  pope, reunion island etc.

1977 

diplôme . 

architecte DPLG certificate  in december 1977

Reportages with Sipa Agency 

thaïlande , Hong Kong, birmanie, philippines,GB, bangladesh, Malaisie, Inde etc

1976 

Reportages with Sipa Agency 

lebanon civil war, portugal, Angola révolution and independence , chypre, israël

1975 

Reportages with Sipa agency, I am still a student in architecture at the “ecole des Beaux arts” in Paris during my vacation time, I am going to war. 

Portugal, belize mexique guatemala,  Angola révolution

1970 to 75 coming soon…