We'll Always Have Paris

I recently went to Europe for a landscape photography workshop. (More on that in another blog entry.) My husband had never been to Europe, so I dragged him along (he's good at entertaining himself while I'm obsessing over photos) and we scheduled a one-night layover in Paris. As luck would have it, one of my friends was also planning to be in Paris on the day we arrived, so we scheduled to meet up for lunch. I knew we would be jet-lagged and somewhat disoriented, but I also knew I could not spend even a few minutes in Paris without my camera. Instead of hauling all my gear, I decided to take just my camera body with a 50mm lens. After all, the great Henri Cartier -Bresson , who was known for capturing the moment, shot only with a 50mm. And it was light weight enough and unobtrusive enough that I did not feel like I was "working."

I think it's good to work under forced restrictions sometimes. Sometimes it can be hard to let the camera just become an extension of oneself without feeling self-conscious. The 50 mm is a great working lens for practicing what Bresson described: "To take a photograph is to align the head, the eye and the heart. It's a way of life."

The Man on the Metro

As we rode into Paris, a little drowsy and jet-lagged, I envied the man on the Metro's ability to snooze while the world whizzed by.

MetroMan

Paris is for Lovers

After a fabulous lunch of soufflé, Michael and I walked around Paris for a couple of hours before heading back to our hotel to rest for an early morning flight. We had lunched at a café very near the Pont des Arts - known world wide for the lover's locks that cover it. I had not seen it in my previous trips to Paris, so while Michael gazed at the Seine, I walked to the bridge to capture a few shots. My favorite of the lot encapsulates the feeling one gets in Paris - the City of Light really is a city made for lovers.

Paris is for lovers

Here are some additional images I shot while traveling in and around Paris. You will see I loved the signs, the deco designs, the window displays and more. Eiffel tower 1

Paris Deco-2 Paris Window-baby shoes window shopping in Paris window shopping in Paris hat

On the train