Obviously, the busiest merchants today were the ones selling Champagne, Foie gras and oysters. Especially for the oyster merchant as an apprentice had to be trained in urgency to open help opening them. Oysters are a weird delicatessen for the foreign novice, but a way for many to celebrate the last dinner of the decade.
Wish you all a Happy New Year !
Leica M9 with 35mm Summicron IV at F2, 1/125, ISO200
What a better place than the ice ring in front of the magnificient townhall for a first skate. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/350, ISO160
Seems that this freaky little girl is all over Paris. Wander through the hallways of the underground, and suddenly her scary face will appear, a bus and here she is looking at you, … almost feels like she is after us. (click on pictures to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 24mm Elmarit and 60mm Hexanon.
When looking at this scenery with a lone wanderer, one would have a tough time to believe that only a few meters away, thousands are striding along the Champs-Elysées. Indeed, the park was closed due to risky slides … yes indeed, it seems that a bit of snow is very feared in Paris. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with with 24mm Elmarit at F5.6, 1/500, ISO160
As the night falls slowly over the Tuileries garden, a couple sneaks in before the gates close. Maybe for some naughty … snow games. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 40mm Sumicron at F2, 1/90, ISO640
Can’t say that the look of this girl was icing her companion, but maybe sending a magic spell. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/1400, ISO160
I found the reason why Santa Claus was lost (see post below) … he got stuck shopping for Miss Santa Claus. Merry Christmas to all of you! (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F2.8, 1/250, ISO160
Boulevard Haussmann where the main shopping centers lay is the place you don’t want to be the day before Christmas. Especially when you are late on your Christmas shopping. You will have to cross jammed streets, go against the flow of shoppers to finally enter the shopping “Nirvana”; the Galerie Lafayette and their famous monumental Christmas tree. (click on picture to enlarge)
All pictures with Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux at F1.4, ISO640
Maybe you should start to worry about the delivery of your Christmas gifts. It seems that Santa Claus lost his deers. Since most metro workers are on strike and the Eurostar train is still out of order, he is probably stuck in Paris. We are sorry about the inconvenience, Vive la France ! (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/4000, ISO160
Diam’s is the most famous French female rapper, so when is featured at the Olympia concert Hall, it is not surprising to see ticket scalping start hours before at the gate. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/40, ISO640
It’s the story of a guy … (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/500, ISO160
On Les Champs-Elysées, people sit on the terraces and look at passerby’s.
Leica M9 with 40mm Summicron at F2.8, 1/180, ISO160 (cropped)
Another great exhibit this winter at the Jeu de Paume showcasing Federico Fellini’s works through pictures and videos. I got so fascinated that at some point I thought his ghost had appeared, peacefully watching a short of “8 1/2″, one of his autobiographic masterpieces.
The exhibit (La Grande Parade) ends January 17th, so if you have the opportunity until then, don’t miss it.(click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 40mm Summicron at F2, 1/40, ISO640
Ride around the world or ride to … work ? (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 40mm Summicron at F2.8, 1/180, ISO320
Leica M9 with 40mm Summicron at F2, 1/500, ISO320
No more need to spray artificial white substances over Christmas trees on Les Champs-Elysées … the real snow is here. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/1400, ISO160
Be it for hot wine or chestnut, these treats will cheer you up. If only a few customers would show up. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/2000, ISO160
While walking down the Rivoli street, you might encounter this lovely girl. And if you are nice, she might give you a chocolate. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/250, ISO160
As winds get colder every day, it seemed to have brought this lady and her “wolf pack” all the way from Siberia. A ghost ? As you already know, even the snow is fake on … Les Champs-Elysées. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 75mm Summicron at F2, 1/1000, ISO160
Though it is a bit out of focus, this pictures portraits well the atmosphere within Paris today as cold air from Russia swept through the city. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/710, ISO160
For those that believed that there is a micro climate on the lower end of les Champs-Elysées where the Christmas market is located … sorry to have broken your illusion. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph at F1.4, 1/1400, ISO80