Every summer now, for 36 years, the town of Arles in the south of France welcomes photographers and photography lovers from all over the world for a truly amazing and wonderful celebration of photography.

This year it includes 55 exhibitions; 27 workshops; and multiple conferences, debates and thought-provoking presentations. The exhibitions and events are thoughtfully presented in an incredible range of venues scattered throughout Arles: gothic churches, abandoned factories, 4th-century Roman ruins, sprawling mansions, public squares, and on and on. The opening week was July 4 - 10, and most of the exhibitions continue through September 18.

The next issue of Lens Culture will feature some of the best work from this year, along with interviews with the celebrated and not-yet-famous.

In the meantime, here are 55 photos as a sort of personal diary of the people and places around the events.

— Jim Casper