Streets become trails and cars only have two horses power. A man leads their way through the mountain. Paris feels so far away. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 28mm Industar 69 at F2.8, ISO&60
Archive for juillet, 2009
Countryside series VI : Of man and horses
Samedi, juillet 11th, 2009Countryside series V : Back to the past
Vendredi, juillet 10th, 2009One of the most cliché shots of Westerners on holidays in less developped countries : a farmer pushing a fully loader cart of food or goods. Yet this one happened in France, somewhere in a road leading to the gigantic Gorges of Verdon. Modernity and the race to productivity at any cost hasn’t reached every single place in this country, which is good news. Note that the shot was taken with one hand on the camera and one the steering wheel, not the best way to frame ;) (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO160
Countryside series III : Dogs watch petanque too
Jeudi, juillet 9th, 2009Petanque is the national sports in Southern France. As the sun set in wonderful Sault, even the dog was more captivated by the ongoing game then by the youngsters enjoying a romantic moment. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at F8, ISO160
Countryside series IV : The little guard
Mercredi, juillet 8th, 2009While the wars opposing Royalists and Republicans are long gone, it seemed that this tavern’s entrance was looked by an especially fierce little warrior. (click on pictures to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F5.6, ISO160
Countryside series II : Quiet Mondays
Mardi, juillet 7th, 2009Small typical towns often rely on tourism for a living. So on Mondays, as streets are empty and the tourists rare, dogs lay bored and waitresses search the eventual customers. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO160
Countryside series I : Abandoned pets
Lundi, juillet 6th, 2009Like many Western Europe countries, France has a lot of pets per inhabitants. So when summer holidays come, thousands are shamelessly abandoned as their owners do not want to take them along. This scene in Bras d’Asse (Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence) reminded me of that fact as the dog stood stoically next to a washing machine ready to be thrown away. Luckily, in this case, the dog was part of the trip. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO160
Street Photography in the Countryside
Lundi, juillet 6th, 2009As July arrives, the first of two waves of Parisians leave the city to head towards the provinces for vacations. I was one of them last week for a week vacation in Southern France. During the long drive, I definitely had time to reflect on the topic of street photography in the country side.
To me the main components of street photography are a human setting, a human presence (or hint of presence) that are linked through a story or a feeling. Therefore, even if street photography might have a urban connotation, it can certainly be performed in the country side, with of course, a few differences :
1) patience, a farm community main street is definitely not as busy as Les Champs-Elysées.
2) it is definitely a challenge to take candid shots when there are only two people in a street.
3) in Paris, someone with a camera is a tourist and clueless. In a village, photographers only come for the national newspaper. They expect to be in the front cover the next day
4) there are a lot of old women taking their dogs for a walk. Shot variety might especially suffer in villages of <100 people.
5) animals do not count as humans, look for other shots and read point #1 again.
6) having your companion pause as a stranger in a selected spot does not count, read point #1 again.
Jokes apart and to match the vacations period, I will start tonight a two weeks series on the topic of Street Photography in the Countryside. Hope you will enjoy the vision of a Parisian in the country side.
Why can’t I have everything ?
Dimanche, juillet 5th, 2009In front of a restaurant in Saint-Germain, a waitress has a look that matches perfectly the writing on her shirt. I wonder what she was looking at … (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, ISO160
Metro Flirt
Samedi, juillet 4th, 2009As they wait for the next metro train, a couple walks aside of the mass and have a gentle private chat. (click on picture to enlarge)
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Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO640
Pantheon Lovers
Vendredi, juillet 3rd, 2009With the Pantheon in the background, a couple is engaged in an intense discussion. Was the Cupidon contemplating the scene from Church of Gods ? (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 85mm Jupiter 9, ISO640
The great deal
Jeudi, juillet 2nd, 2009Though this ad promoted a great deal for a 3 nights stay in this hotel, it looks like the girl had another idea in her mind …. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon, ISO160
The free-rider
Mercredi, juillet 1st, 2009If you don’t pay your ticket in the metro, there is always a small chance you’ll get caught. It wasn’t the case of this girlthough as she kindly requested help of a underground controller because of a disfunctional gate. Some would have just jumped over the turnstile (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, ISO640
