“The photograph itself doesn’t interest me. I want only
If I visited an exhibit for an hour for every hour that I were here (1008 hours), I would not even come close to seeing all there is to see art wise in this amazing city! There simply isn’t enough time. However, I am literally around the corner from The Henri Cartier-Bresson foundation. Lucky me! The current exhibit is a showing of street photography documenting the “American Dream in the 30s and 40s” by the man himself and his inspiration, Walker Evans. I don’t know if you know this, but Henri Cartier-Bresson is my biggest influence and in the top five of my all time favorite photographers. He actually coined the phrase the “decisive moment’. He also said: “In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little, human detail can become a Leitmotiv.” and “We photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing, and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth can make them come back again. We cannot develop and print a memory.“ He was obviously a brilliant man of deep pathos, and I love about everything he says in relation to the craft of photography, but this last quote is probably my favorite and the most freeing from the confinements of perceived perfection: ” The photograph itself doesn’t interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality.” The images that I made today are a tribute to this quote and to getting back to the soul of my work—which has always been and always will be, about documenting and seizing time and the human condition—I have always been a street photographer at heart.
Julie,
My sister in law who lives in Denver just told me about your website. I was just in Paris last week and I’m mourning my return. I often have a hard time returning from Europe as I immediately embrace their amazingly simple yet fulfilling lifestyle. I can’t get Paris out of my head. It’s as painful as if I’m heartbroken. Seeing your photos made me smile and then nearly cry as I know exactly where many of these places are and was literally just there! I feel so pulled to go back that I can’t get it out of my head. It’s more than a vacation spot indeed. Your “sabbatical” inspires me. I’m already working on a quick return with a much longer stay. I love the Jack Kerouac quote as well. It suits me as it seems I may not be living the molded life that others around me are, but I may be getting closer to following my own “mold”. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy your time there, your journey and this amazing city. Thanks for sharing it! It’s inspired me!
These are so, so, so good! Just fascinating to see the life and vibrance of the people in Paris. I’ll be there soon!
I always really love seeing your work. Its so right on- so inspiring and full of emotion. I can’t wait to catch up with you once your back! As much as I’d love to have you back soon- keep shooting. We need to see the kind of beauty your capturing.
j-
Also- I love the Amelie antenna! Right on ladybug!
Such amazing photos!
Julie- A) I miss you. B) I miss Paris. C) I miss you. D) I am jealous of your days. E) I can’t wait to go back. F) We need to go on another trip overseas. And last, did I mention that I miss you!? But concerning the photography, it is as fabulous as its author.