A photographer from Chartres, France has successfully completed a charitable project, selling out his photo book dedicated to local music festivals and donating nearly $5,000 to two charitable organizations. Dominique Joly, the volunteer photographer behind the initiative, recently sold the final copy of his unique publication, raising a total of $4,600 that was split equally between two local charities: the Chartres Popular Relief organization and the Chartres Reception Center (FAC).
The book, titled "Sonic Memories," features 250 black and white photographs presented in a vinyl record format. "This book is composed of photographs I took during festivals like L'Paille à sons, L'Paille à sonique, Jazz de Mars and others," Joly explained. The distinctive vinyl album format makes the publication a unique collector's item for music and photography enthusiasts alike.
The fundraising campaign required significant persistence and patience from the photographer. The subscription drive was launched in December 2023 on the HelloAsso platform, followed by direct sales that continued for nearly a year and a half. The extended timeline allowed interested buyers to gradually purchase copies of what Joly described as a "solidarity gift." "Today, the last copy is sold and I'm delighted," the volunteer photographer stated upon completion of the project.
Both recipient organizations have already put their donations to practical use, investing in equipment that will enhance their services to the community. The Chartres Popular Relief organization used their $2,300 donation to purchase a weighing pallet truck, which will improve their logistics capabilities for distributing aid. Meanwhile, the Chartres Reception Center allocated their matching $2,300 to upgrade the lighting and sound equipment at their Aéronef concert hall, located on Hubert-Latham Street in Chartres.
The Aéronef venue regularly hosts concerts that are always open free of charge to all residents of the reception center. These improvements to the stage equipment will enhance the quality of these performances and create better experiences for the center's residents who attend these cultural events.
This charitable photography project represents the second such initiative by Dominique Joly. In 2021, he had previously published a photo book titled "Chartres Confined," which documented the city during the COVID-19 lockdown period. That earlier work was sold to benefit three Chartres-based associations: the Chartres Popular Relief, the Education Without Borders Network 28, and MRAP Chartres (Movement Against Racism and Anti-Semitism). The success of both projects demonstrates Joly's ongoing commitment to using his photography skills to support local charitable causes while preserving important cultural moments in his community's history.
