Street Photography in Paris

While you stare at dreamy worlds, life might pass by in your back. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/90, ISO1600

In the Tuileries garden, a baker takes a break and shares his bread with his most starving customer.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/1000, ISO200

Bad weather is back, but even then, there is always something lyric about Paris.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with CV 35mm Nokton SC at F1.4, 1/90, ISO800

In the Tuileries Garden, a mother helps her kid to choose the boat that will sail on the pond. Yet how can you pick on a winning boat when you don’t even know what the sea looks like ? (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/1000, ISO200, ND filter

Trees turn yellow,  leaves are falling as a fresh breeze sweeps through park. It’s time for an Autumn Blues. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1/4, 1/1000, ISO200

Six people sit in the Tuileries Garden and contemplate the main pound at sunset. An equal distance separates one another, probably respecting the unwritten law of personal space. One place, one second, but six different lives.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/500, ISO200

On Avenue de Rivoli, a girl spends long minutes on the phone. Was the serenade as good as the view on the Louvres Palace ?  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/125, ISO800

An isolated phone booth … in the middle of the woods ? Few of you will believe that it was actually taken this morning on one of the busiest avenue in the world : The Champs-Elysées.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/2000, ISO200, ND filter

Next to the Opera a waiter « takes a breath » at rush hour. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/500, ISO200 Tweet

On the Passerelle Debilly, a girl contemplates the sunset over the Seine River on the last day of Summer. And today the rain hit Paris. Autumn is here.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 50mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/500, ISO200

A traffic light. A suspended moment in the torpor of a hot summer day. One ride, two directions.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/4000, ISO200, ND filter

In Montmartre, a man climbs on top of a street light in to amuse the visitors jutted over the city. Paris now has its Statue of Audacity.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with CV28mm Ultron 1.9 at F4, 1/1000, ISO200

Be it flying high up in the air or towards the Champs-Elysées passer-bys, two nascent smiles were about to escape.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/1500 , ISO200

The Louvres palace rests magically over the umbrella of this girl. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/4000, ISO200, ND filter

Final exams are over, school is off and thousands students gathered on the banks of the Seine River to start  a Summer of party. Wine, cigarettes, laughs, music, flirts, feels to me like Summer of 92 was yesterday.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/90, ISO160

In wait for the letter that will start a long trip ? (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F8, 1/500, ISO200

Who said statues can’t be touched by one’s sorrows. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 75mm Summicron at F2, 1/2000, ISO160

As she waits for the painter to begin her portrait, a woman stares at the drawing of young boy. Suddenly she raises her hand and gently caresses his face.  Look closer, the boy is smiling.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/1500, ISO 80

Once upon a time, a young man was left broken hearted and pledged to let his moustache grow until he found true love again. It took him nine long years before he fell in love desperately with a beautiful girl. As a vow of love, she asked him to shave the mustache she was not fond of. He quickly surrended to her request and they lived happily after … stop stop … Why then did I encounter him yesterday in front of la Madeleine with his magisterial moustache grown again ???

No, I did not invent this story as this man participated a few months ago to a French reality show called « Love is blind ». A true story that seemingly had a bad ending. Did Mr Moustache find out that love does not need pre-requisites ? I hope it won’t take another nine years before he finally finds his soulmate. Good luck Mr Moustache.  (click on picture to enlarge)

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

Two kids play in front of the Mouling Rouge. Not really mimicking the show about to start but playing with the wind of the metro air vent.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/2000, ISO160