Street Photography in Paris

A boy stands apart at a metro station. Was he trying to remain unattented and go for the longest slide in his life …  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/350, ISO160

Twenty years from now, will the little dreamer be on the cover of a magazine or on top of the best sellers charts ?  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F2.8, 1/125, ISO160

Seems that we are on track for a long and harsh winter. Snow hit Paris again today, yet even in these conditions, the women of Paris know how to be glamourous.

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/4000, ISO160

Few French can resist to eat into a fresh baguette on the way home. Such a intense moment of happiness!  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/350, ISO160

A gypsy woman plays an instrument in front of the Centre Pompidou, the temple of modern art. Can a picture including a banner on subversion be subversive ?   (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux at F4, 1/180, ISO500

While thousands queue to climb on the Eiffel Tower … other go for a solitary walk among the puddles

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/4000, ISO160  and 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/350, ISO160

It did indeed look like this man was preparing for a robbery of the famous Bulgari jewelry. Obviously, I am not sure he would have taken a lunch break if it was its real intentions.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/4000, ISO160

As this lady starts bargaining with a street vendor for a cheap rubbish, the whole family gathers around her to make sure this is a fair deal. Italians ?  ;)  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/500, ISO160

Oysters have all been eaten and Christmas tree are thrown away. Holidays are gone, tomorrow is gone. Feels like jumping in the Etna Volcano, just like Poet Empedocle whose verses can be read on these walls of Menilmontant.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summicron IV at F5.6, 1/125, ISO640

On their way to the horse betting bar in the Menilmontant neighbourhood, this sympathetic man and his dog gladly took the pause for a picture. Obviously, the dog could not restrain himself to go for a big drooling lick on the nose of his owner.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summicron IV at F4, 1/250, ISO160

The Eiffel Tower is 120 years old. Not bad for a structure that was not supposed to be dismantled after twenty years. To give it a proper celebration, a special lightning show made of 120′ooo bulbs was shown every night during the last three months. Last night was the last representation of that long birthday so thousands gathered for a last look and to welcome the New Year. Some even managed to get some intimitacy among the crowd.  (click on pictures to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph at F1.4, 1/4, ISO1000

Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph at F1.4, 1/15, ISO1000