Street Photography in Paris

60 feet under the ground of Paris, there is still room for the wildest reveries. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/125, ISO1600

As we ride to work or school, the same places unfold in front of our eyes day after day. Thoughts are never the same though, unless maybe when the majesty of the Eiffel Tower appears over the roofs of the city. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm CV Nokton at F1.4, 1/500, ISO800

… creators and the fashion industry are just the messengers. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/250, ISO200

… a woman contemplates the city unfolding under the metro elevated track.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 50mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/2000, ISO200

Wanna stand out in the crowd ? It’s all about the attitude.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/250, ISO800

On a late night in the Paris metro, a lone passenger rides home. Suddenly, a black mass raises in front of him and shoots him … click, thanks for the picture Sir.  (click on picture to enlarge)

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

Two men face each other on opposite platforms of the Etoile metro station. A woman slowly walks away as the man reaches for his pocket under the eyes of worried passengers. A modern French Western ? (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 75mm Summicron at F2, 1/125, ISO1250

A girl rests a few minutes in the underground under a billboard. The ad was apparently tagged by a rogue who added « Let’s stop working and sleep more ».  I guess the very good advice was applied on the spot by the girl.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F2.0, 1/90, ISO1600

As she waits for the next metro tain, this girl seems off to a less lugubrious place.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/90, ISO1600, ND filter

A woman remains lost in her thoughts with a finger pointing out. Is her unconscious longing for a ring to adorn it ? (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F2, 1/125, ISO1000

This girl found in the metro almost looked like a student of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft. Maybe she had just missed the train, leaving Harry Potter and his group begin new adventures without her ? (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 28mm Summicron at F2, 1/90, ISO640

Not quite a Hell’s Angel nor a Harley Davidson, yet this little scooter is definitely a great mean of transportation in the dowtown streets of Paris.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 28mm Summicron at F2, 1/180, ISO640

Indeed, this girl did not seem too keen on boarding the incoming metro train     (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 28mm Summicron at F2, 1/60, ISO640

As 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)

)

Leica M8 with 24mm Elmarit at F2.8, ISO640

If 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

Luckily, the metro train driver never had to break in urgency during this route. This carpenter would obviously have woke up on the floor as he mixed up the wooden and iron posts.   (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 75mm Summarit at F4, ISO640

An old lady stares at the rails of the metro while the young singer Berry looks up with a mischievous laugh.  A life behind, a life in front, part II.   (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 90mm Summicron at F2.8, ISO640

It is strictly prohibited to smoke in the metro so when people finally exit the underground world, they light one up as soon as they see the light.    (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with 85mm Jupiter 9 at F2.8, ISO160

all rights reserved on all pictures posted on this website

This shot was taken at the Franklin D. Roosevelt metro station where posters are currently hung to illustrate how the metro looked in the first part of the 20th century.  The stationmaster and his assitant seem to look endlessly at the passengers walking by while the girl on the vintage poster appear intimated by so much attention.   (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M8 with CV 40mm Nokton, ISO160.

Push, rush, mush, crush …. any of these words could describe the atmosphere in the Paris metro.  In this case, this new release poster fitted well the flow of passengers hurrying up to catch the next train.  (click on picture to enlarge)Leica M8 with CV15mm, 1/6th, ISO160