Paris through my eyes...rewind ten years...

When I was living in Paris, on Rue Vieille du Temple in Le Marais, it was 2001-2002. Digital cameras were barely emerging as new tools, so going over to study photography, I had my dad's old Nikon F2, which, if I'm not mistaken, is the same age as me (you figure the math...because I will not!) I still have it and long to shoot more film, but the advent of digital and the easy workflow that comes with it, it makes shooting film more like a hobby. A chore that you have to set aside time and money which is quite sad really. 
There is nothing quite like the feeling of shooting a roll of film: Choosing what you want to shoot with: color, slide, black & white, figuring out the speed etc. Then you get to unwrap it and load it into your camera. You smell it (or at least I always did) cause it smells funny, you know? Carefully loading the little sprockets into the camera, tightening, closing the cover and advancing your film. Then you are ready to rock & roll. 
Older cameras are heavier and the click sounds just lovely to me. 
If you are lucky enough to have access to a darkroom, the journey continues after the roll is finished. You get to wind your film back into the roll, unload and then develop it, even further you get to make your own prints. I've been fortunate enough to do all of that. I hope to do it again sometime soon, because nothing helps you appreciate the art of photography more so that doing everything from start to finish. 
I scanned in some old prints from my days in Paris, since I am feeling especially nostalgic on this Bastille Day. I was a big proponent of the cross-process back in those days (hence the greenish hue), so enjoy....

Le Marais 

Jardin du Luxembourg

Right bank viewing Left

Jardin du Luxembourg

Le Marais

Jardin du Luxembourg

all photos by moi: the digital bird 

no photoshop

straight up cross-process

It's Bastille Day! Let's give thanks for all things French.....

I once lived in Paris. I studied photography in the early 2000's. Wow, it doesn't seem so long ago, but ten years! My my my, how time flies! I have a love for all things French, the people, the food, the culture, the architecture, the cheese (did you know that there are more French cheeses than there are days of the year?), the stylish french women, the history....I could go on and on.

We really have to thank the French for so much, high fashion, haute cuisine, umbrellas...even street lighting! I found all of this out when a friend gifted me 'The Essence of Style' by Joan DeJean. The book basically states that without Louis XIV, we would not be living as we do. It's really a great read filled with all sorts of cultural goodies and fun factoids to impress your friends and other people that you just want to impress ;).

Here is a link from 2005 on NPR of the author, Joan DeJean discussing the book with Renee Montagne upon it's release.

Photo Courtesy of: Amelie Dupont / Paris Tourist Office