Paris Colors
Colorful motifs from all over Paris.
Épice
Co-founded in 1999 by the Danish duo Bess Nielsen & Jan Machenhauer, Épice is a brand dedicated to producing wearable art. With remarkable designs & quality fabrics, the scarves made by Épice are guaranteed to earn a special place in your heart. Their flagship design boutique is located within the gardens and arcades of the Palais Royal in central Paris. The shop itself is beautifully designed and offers an endless number of photographic possibilities.
Here’s a link: http://en.epice.com/
Paris Pictures
Here are a few links to some popular photo shops and photographic museums.
La Grande Épicerie de Paris
This legendary Paris market is the home of over 30,000 gourmet food items. Its fantastical displays of chocolates, pastries, biscuits, cheeses, fresh fruit & vegetables, wines, teas, and deli goods are a delight to see. This landmark of Parisian gastronomy attracts lovers of fine food and curious visitors from all over the world. It’s an incredible place to visit and a colorful and always changing setting for discreet photography.
Here’s a link for more information: http://www.lagrandeepicerie.com/en.html
Village Motifs
In Provence the village is art! There are often beautiful scenes to be found in every corner of a town. Everyday things and common places take on a unique appearance that can become little works of art. Finding and photographing these special scenes can be very rewarding.
More Paris Motifs
These are just a few images from my many walks around Paris. There are hundreds of interesting venues all over the city that provide excellent opportunities for photography. I'm never overly burdened with the requirement of "content" or "narrative". For me, a good photograph is more about composition, color, and light, and less about its story.
Paris Street
Paris, the early home of street photography, continues to provide inspiration for photographers from all over the world. One of its earliest practitioners was Henri Cartier-Bresson, a French humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography, and an early user of small 35 mm still cameras. He pioneered the genre of street photography and conceived of photography as capturing a decisive moment. His work has influenced many photographers.
In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little human detail can become a leitmotiv. — Henri Cartier-Bresson
Here is a link to the Henri Cartier-Bresson museum: http://www.henricartierbresson.org/en/
repetto
Rose Repetto created her first ballet shoes in 1947 and soon after opened the first repetto workshop near the beautiful Palais Garnier Opera. The company gained fame from creating the "Cendrillon" ballerina flat for French ballet dancer and actress Brigitte Bardot’s 1956 film Et Dieu créa la femme. In 1959, Rose Repetto opened a store at 22 rue de la Paix that remains open today. The store is a joy of style, design, and color and a wonderful place to see.
Here are some repetto links:
Paris Motifs
Here are a few more images from my many walks around Paris. There are hundreds of interesting venues all over the city that provide excellent opportunities for photography. I'm never overly burdened with the requirement of "content" or "narrative". For me, a good photograph is more about composition, color, and light, and less about its story.
Colorful Provence
Everywhere you go there is color; sometimes it's subtle and muted, other times it's rich and bold. And the unique Provencal light brings it out for all to see. Color has a language of its own and can provide additional emotion and meaning to your photographs. Here are just a few examples of the delightful color that can be found all over Provence.
Provence Markets & Shops
Weekly markets have always been a valued tradition in Provence. They usually take place near the village square and are attended by locals and tourists alike. These markets, as well as the local shops and artisan studios, provide wonderfully visual subjects for the photographer's lens and an enjoyable place to wander. Here are some links for market days in Provence:
http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/en/way-life/provencal-gastronomy/agenda-markets-provence
Village Art
Finding hidden village motifs is always a pleasure and certainly a challenge worth taking. It's surprising how many different aspects of village life are represented in such imaginative and creative ways. Here are some images from just a few corners of the Luberon.
Angelina - Salon de thé
Angelina is the famous Parisian tearoom, located on the Rue de Rivoli, known for its old fashioned hot chocolate (le chocolat chaud à l’ancienne l’Africain) and its beautifully mirrored Belle Époque interiors. Coco Chanel was a daily visitor who was often seen sipping chocolat chaud at her regular corner table. It’s a wonderful and comfortable setting for discreet photos or for just watching the many interesting patrons enjoying this special place.
Here is a link for more information: http://www.angelina-paris.fr/en/
The Luberon Part ll
This region of Provence features a dozen or so hill towns within easy reach of one another all offering their own special charms. Here are images from Bonnieux, Cucuron, Gordes, Goult, Lourmarin, Menerbes, Roussillon, and Saignon.
Here are some links for more information: http://www.luberon-en-provence.com/village-luberon.html & http://www.theluberon.com and a link to Peter Mayle’s author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19316.Peter_Mayle
Provence Mailboxes
Every village home has a mailbox and each one is unique. The variety of styles, colors, and decorative motifs appear to be endless and seem to reflect more about the character of the owner than the actual utility of its purpose.
Roussillon Village Redux
Roussillon, a small hill town in the Luberon area of Provence, is famous for the rich deposits of ochre pigments found in the clay near the village. The large quarries of Roussillon were mined from the end of the 18th century until 1930. Thousands of people found work in the quarries and factories. Nowadays the mining of ochre is prohibited here, in order to protect the sites from degradation or even complete destruction. The rich warm colors of this popular village make it a very special spot in which to wander and take pictures.
For information: http://otroussillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/ang_village.html
Here are two very interesting books featuring Roussillon: https://www.amazon.com/Village-Vaucluse-Laurence-William-Wylie/dp/0674939360 & https://www.amazon.com/Lisettes-List-Novel-Susan-Vreeland/dp/0812980190/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468008774&sr=1-1&keywords=lissettes+list
Windows & Doors
I've always been amazed by how beautifully French villagers treat and decorate their windows and doors. They seem to express so many varied and pleasing themes while always maintaining a fine balance with their surroundings. Here are a few examples of photographs taken from just a handful of Provence locations.
The Luberon
This region of Provence features a dozen or so hill towns within easy reach of one another all offering their own special charms. Here are images from Bonnieux, Cucuron, Gordes, Goult, Lourmarin, Menerbes, Roussillon, and Saignon.
Here are some links for more information: http://www.luberon-en-provence.com/village-luberon.html & http://www.theluberon.com and a link to Peter Mayle’s author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19316.Peter_Mayle
Roussillon Village
Roussillon, a small hill town in the Luberon area of Provence, is famous for the rich deposits of ochre pigments found in the clay near the village. The large quarries of Roussillon were mined from the end of the 18th century until 1930. Thousands of people found work in the quarries and factories. Nowadays the mining of ochre is prohibited here, in order to protect the sites from degradation or even complete destruction. The rich warm colors of this popular village make it a very special spot in which to wander and take pictures.
For information: http://otroussillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/ang_village.html
Here are two very interesting books featuring Roussillon: https://www.amazon.com/Village-Vaucluse-Laurence-William-Wylie/dp/0674939360 & https://www.amazon.com/Lisettes-List-Novel-Susan-Vreeland/dp/0812980190/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468008774&sr=1-1&keywords=lissettes+list
