Street Photography in Paris

… stands the Sacré-Choeur. And thousands wandering souls. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 50mm Cron IV at F2.0, 1/200, ISO160

In front of the Royal Palace, scouts learn how to find their way out of the labyrinth.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 50mm Summicron at F2.0, 1/3000, ISO160

Summer feels almost here. Time to head out of Paris and time to take you the bike for the first rides of the year.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph at F1.4, 1/4000, ISO200

A Chamber music band plays in the Tuileries Garden under the eyes of an enthusiastic audience. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9  with 35mm Lux Asph at F4.0, 1/250, ISO200

In the middle of the crowd in Le Marais or crossing over the Pont des Arts bridge, riding a bike in Paris is the best. (click on pictures to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph at F1.4, 1/750, ISO160

Leica M9 with 75mm Summicron at F2.0, 1/2000, ISO320

A nice 1 kilometer long slope, slalom around the shoppers, here is the best place in Paris for riding a scooter : Les Champs-Elysées.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 75mm Summilux at F1.4, 1/90, ISO1000

How many good movie plots could start with that scene ?  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F2.0, 1/500, ISO200 (cropped)

Difficult to follow a conversation when one sits by the window of the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/15, ISO1600

It is always a special event in Paris when the Christmas lights are turned on the trees of Les Champs-Elysées. Braving the bad weather, a man takes his son out for a walk on the enlightened Avenue.  (click on picture to enlarge)

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

By the Seine river, entertainment areas were set up for the Paris Beach visitors. One of them is the longest babyfoot table in the West. A team definitely looks like it is missing a few valuables hand to counter the little boy.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/3000, ISO200

Paris Beach is on again on the piers of the Seine River for a full month. While obviously nobody will take a bath in the River, the sprinklers are here for a refreshing halt.  (click on picture to enlarge)

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

Today saw the arrival of the Tour de France on Les Champs-Elysées. It was the last one for superstar Lance Armstrong, so a large colony of fans had made the trip to show support and celebrate with him. Good-bye cowboy. (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/1000, ISO160.

I guess we all thought it at one point during our teenage years. Like this boy in Parc La Villette that stood apart from his family, probably thinking of his friends. Too bad he was missing on a great lunch.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/4000, ISO160, ND filter

Meanwhile women magazine overwhelm their readers about what activities to do during the World Cup, it seems that actually quite a few of them enjoy following the biggest show on earth. For the next three weeks, the Champs-Elysées will be invaded daily by fans flowing to celebrate their countries’ victories. Today was the turn of Portugal who actually only managed to tie Ivory Coast. I guess that in Portugal, any result is a good reason to go out in the streets and party.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/1000, ISO160

Bollywood productions are probably the most creative movies in the world. So when an Indian girl rode a pink scooter on Les Champs-Elysées,  nobody seemed too surprised by the scene. Maybe a little fact was more puzzling … the scooter was indeed powered by a very special engine.   (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/180, ISO1250

A few hours before the final of the French Rugby Championship took place this afternoon, a crew of kids enjoy a game in the Park Monceau. Sports played in parks is the most genuine kind. (click on picture to enlarge)

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

Ever tried to leave Paris for the weekend in May? You’ll only get the opportunity for a quick glance at the timetable before the crowd pushes you unrelentingly to the piers.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F2, 1/1000, ISO160

A chess game in the Luxembourg Garden … what better setting can one find ? Note that it should not be difficult to determine who was on the losing side.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 50mm Summicron at F2, 1/500, ISO160

In the Marais, a crew of friends enjoy a few ping pong games. When I was a kid, the loser always ceded his place at the table. If still the case nowadays, this young boy took the forced break with good humour.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/250, ISO160 ND filter

Believe or not, this scene was taken a few blocks away from the Gare du Nord train station. A neighbourhood initiative intents to bring back some of the spirit of backyards vegetable gardens of decades ago when many inhabitants  would rent small lots on the outskirts of the city. Therefore for a small annual fee, they can grow whatever they please right in the middle of a public place. Quite an unusual sight for the passer-by’s which wondered what a downtown Paris carot could taste like.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.2, 1/1500, ISO160, ND filter