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
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
This is the writing of a bold tagger that defied the tidy look of Mr Clooney. Yet, not enough to challenge his stoicism … what else ? (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph at F2.8, 1/180, ISO160
France has traditionally been home to many of the world’s most famous sailors. To do so, they start to practice in their earlier years. While kids in Brittany definitely have an advantage due to their proximity to the sea, Parisian kids learn patience as their boats slowly cross the even waters with little help from the wind. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph at F5.6, 1/1400, ISO160
It seems that hats are back in fashion in Paris as this scene taken this morning in the Aligre market seems to suggest. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F5.6, 1/125, ISO400
In order to protect the main places of the Champs-Elysées against potential riots during the World Cup celebrations last night, several hundred officers were placed at key entrances. It was indeed also the case in front of famous Lido Carbaret. Maybe under the influence of the glamorous place, the leftmost policeman seems to be starting a little dance step. Obviously, it did not end in a French Can Can but I can’t help imagine the scene. (click to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph at F2.8, 1/20, ISO1250
As the Eiffel Tower suddenly appears in the sight of this little boy, he is so overwhelmed by the heigth of the steel structure that he does not even bother to remove the Cocher’s hat that just slid on his face. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/3000, ISO160
“Bella, I am so tired, this city is so big and we still haven’t found the Institut de France” …
“Bello, even after all these years, you never stop to surprise me …. look behind …”
Leica M8 with 35mm Lux Asph, ISO160 (click on pictures to enlarge)
This scene makes me think of a potential scene in Cohen’s Borat movie : “In Kazakhstan, man always drrrrive cozy, warm and drrry. Woman always goes in back .. yeeah, no prrroblem, she check if police not coming” (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 28mm Summicron at F2.8, 1/250, ISO160
This butcher shop located in a strange building appeared be a meeting point for many. Just like this old man that licked his lips just as the thought of the treats found inside the shop. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8, ISO160
The economic crisis also seems to have hit the luxurious hotels such as Le Meurice on Avenue the Rivoli. In normal times, Mercedes and Ferraris would normally be seen in front of the Hotel and valets would take great pleasure in driving them to the car park. Wasn’t the case this time as these two valets seem to be playing “Rock Paper Scissors” in order to pick which of them will get the honour of parking that little … toy. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 28mm Summicron at F5.6, 1/350, ISO160
“I just picked up your new lamp. Great no ? No kidding, you are going to cook ‘ Lapin à la moutarde’ for lunch ?!!! Great honey, be home in a few minutes.”
Of course, this speech is made up but the expression of this man made me think of these 60’s French movies with famous humorists Bourvil and De Funès. The scripts were probably less sophisticated than most of today’s movies, but they were great at representing the every day life of a normal French citizen.
.
Leica M8 with 28mm Summicron at F2.8, 1/250, ISO160
A street magician performs a show by the Seine River. He asks a kid to pull a piece of paper out of his mouth. It turns out to be an endless thread. If one would rewind the scene, it would look like an iguana that just caught its prey. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/1500, ISO160
In 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
Though 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
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
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
“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
The last thing you want in street photography is to have your subjects look at you and change their attitude. So you have to shoot very quickly. I thought it was the case when I took this snapshot of a terrace on Avenue Rivoli as the last sun rays of the day hit the clientele. But obviously, I got spotted. So how many people spotted the photographer ? ;) answer below the picture (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 35mm Summilux Asph, ISO320
Answer : 5 persons (provided the girl with the sunglasses was looking in that direction too)
Never a good idea to be lost in your inner world in unattended streets, a big mean cat could be waiting at any corner …. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO160