Street Photography in Paris

While the sun rises over the Sacré Coeur, one could almost believe that it is the Taj Mahal shadows that appear  in the horizon   (click on picture to enlarge)Leica M8 with 75mm Summarit at F5.6, ISO160

As this Rose street vendor neared these two girls contemplating the Seine River, not much attention was paid to him. How many flowers a day must he offer, with a no as an answer ?    (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, ISO160

Pink is back ! Over the last two years, pink has slowly taken over the population of scooter helmets in Paris. It does give a retro style … to match the vintage style scooter of course.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at 1.2, ISO160

As the fisher seller had sprayed salt on the concrete to absorb the last refuse of the day’s merchandise, it seemed to have completely absorbed this man into deep dreams.Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO160

Did you know that ladybugs can be found in the underground too ? Especially when they are close to mate for a long term engagement. They gather with their friends female for a crazy night across the city.    (click on picture to enlarge)

Epson R-D1 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, ISO800

Sometimes one need to get very close to cars to get good angles for a picture. The driver of this wonderful Triumph had noticed and faked to have lost control to scare me … hopefully, it ended in a laugh    (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO160

This mime performing on the “Petit Pont” (Small bridge) by Notre Dame looked exhausted. He stared for a long time in the emptiness before taking a last puff of cigarette and returning to his endless immobility.       (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, ISO160

Now a yearly event in more than 110 countries, the “Fête de la musique” was created in France back in 1982 and always takes place on the first day of the Summer. Musicians are encouraged to invade the streets of the city and play all night long as thousands of wanderes go from one performance to the other. A bit isolated was this musician on “Le Pont des Arts”, though his friends would soon pay attention to his jam.       (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 35mm Summilux Asph at 1.4, ISO 640

When a mother takes her daughter out for a walk, the rabbit must come too.      (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 60mm Summicron at F1.2, ISO160

Ile des Cygnes (Swan’s Island) is a long strip of earth in the center of the Seine that starts at the Bir-Hakeim Bridge and ends at the Statue of Liberty. A great place for a walk or a chat enjoying the last rays of the sun.    (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO160

This worker was loading a truck with dismantled steel structures. From the distance, he looked like an artist slowly building his latest work of art.      (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 21mm Elmarit pre-asph at F5.6, ISO160

Paris is home to many art fair like the Salon Violet whose vernissage took place tonight. It is a nice opportunity to meet the artists, have a few drinks and sometimes be overwhelmed by a work of art.     (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 35mm Summicron at F1.4, ISO640

Diabolo Menthe is a typical French drink that mixes lemonade with mint syrup. The green color that results of it gives it  the look of a witch beverage, just like its name also indicates. Was this girl sitting in a terrace by Bir-Hakeim bridge expecting some kind of magical reaction from this potion ?

Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, ISO160

I always try to get out the beaten paths while wandering in unknown neighbourhoods. You sometimes encounter unexpected sceneries and situations. It is what happened early last Saturday as one of the first worshipper entered solemnly Saint-Lambert Church.     (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 21mm Elmarit Pre-asph, ISO160

“Like an elephant in a porcelain store” is a famous French saying meaning that someone is very clumsy. It wasn’t the case of this woman that was literally dancing over the fragile tableware she had on sale.         (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at 1.2, ISO160

Chantilly and its famous castle lays 40 miles away from Paris. Once a year, one of the biggest social event takes place there, the Prix de Diane horse race. This 166 years old trophy used to be a very exclusive gathering, yet since its main sponsor pulled off, it slowly has opened up to the general public. You will still see women with their best dresses and wearing the most elegant and exhuberant hats. Click here or on the picture to dive into this glamourous atmosphere.       (click on picture to launch slide show)

Leica M8 with mostly 60mm Hexanon

photographie photos rue street photography paris leica m8

Today I acquired a new lens, the Konica 60mm Hexanon 1.2. This is a very rare lens as only 800 were produced 10 years ago. On the M8, it corresponds to a 85mm field of view making it a great tool for portraits and close-ups. You will probably see a lot of shots taken with it in the future. I was lucky to find a beautiful subject for one of the very first shots taken with it.   (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, ISO160

By the Seine, a large group of friends gather to slam on their Djembe drums all night long. Luckily, the only neighbours they could eventually bother are the statues of the nearby Louvres Museum.    (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F2, ISO320

An abandoned office facility lays in the middle of the Ile Saint-Denis just outside Paris. Dozens of rooms have been tagged and destroyed by the gangs of the neighbourhood . A sofa lays on a side of the entrance path. Seems that  an invisible man is guarding the access to this urban art sanctuary.

Sigma DP2, 24mm at F2.8, ISO800

Tonight on Les Champs-Elysées, a man elegantly dressed in tuxedo was staring at the window of a fashion boutique. Was he contemplating a gift for his soon to arrive companion or phlegmatically choosing  an imaginary date among the glamorous candidates ?   (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 75mm Summarit at F2.5, ISO640