It snowed today - Happy New Year

Hello Snowden St - this is what the snow-den stuff looks like!
Actually - this was not at all like flaky fluffy snow which we had seen before.  Today it was more like bouncy rain, or styrofoam hail or frozen insect poo!   Weird....

Wow it's cold out there! It is currently -3 degrees.  Monday is going to swing from a chilly minus 6 degrees to a toasty top of 0 degrees! Ouch cold. How will I manage the big thaw?


 

Amandine

Paris set me free - Photos from Day 3

The forecast was for rain showers (which for once was accurate) so we planned a walk through the old Grand Boulevards - the covered shopping arcades in the 2nd arrondissment. 

We started at the Metro entrance at Palais Royal/Musee du Louvre - difficult to get a new angle on this odd structure.

We headed on to the Palais Royal to check out some modern additions to the ancien palais.

The famous colonaded courtyard was closed for rennovation - offering us only a peepshow of the contraversial art work.  That was a great way to frame these views!

Crossing the courtyard near Biblioteque National (a disco for books?) we came across some interesting juxtapositions - the Romans are still there!

Into the arcades which offered dimly-lit views of curios and Christmas lights, and curious views in windows where reflections seemed to misplace items.

Amandine

Paris Set me Free - Photos - Session Two

For our second day of shooting Parisiens, Sab and I met in the 10th arrondissment at the Canal St Martin (near Republic metro). We walked less than 2 km but covered a lot!  (sorry - more than 10 shots here!)

The day was overcast which has given me really saturated colours.  Here's a group of images taking advantage of colour and contrast. 

There was a bit of wind on the water, so we didn't get mirrorred bridges, buildings and boats - rather, the reflections were neurotic excitable images - they are fun, but really abstract and tell us little about the place they were taken.

The area is has a gritty character, with some great street art and street life - here are some images showing the interaction between the art and the local life.

Boo!

Hooked on reading

Keeping an eye on the dancers

Waterline/Skyline

Paris set me free - photos - session one

I am posting some photos from my photography course with Sab. I love Sab's street photography for it's humour and punchy composition - check it out at http://www.parissetmefree.com/


For session one we walked from St Michel along the Seine to Ponte des Artes and then back through to St Gremain des Pres. My homework tonight was to find some shots to show what I liked from todays work - no more than 10 shots from the day and some in series. So, here's my top 10 -


The first group are from our efforts to use movement as an objective....it is interesting to see the overexposure working so well.

The next group are of "people doing things in the street"

I like the relationship between the dog and owner - mirroring each other in posture, if not in smiles!  The second picture is great for colours and composition - but I'm not sure about her expression and what story it conveys.

Here's a contrast between a shot where reflection worked for me - and two where I was really struggling to prevent the reflections from taking away the story.

The next shot is frustrating - I liked the formality of the room and then the double reflection of myself - But, although it seemed like a good idea - the image is too busy so it gets lost and doesn't quite work.

Last two are"composition" shots that share the same colour pallette!

I liked the arch shot but was disappointed with the lower left corner (wishing it had been another branch, not the railing). I like the gutter puddle shot in a square format.

Thanks Sab - see you tomorrow - actually that's today... so good night!

Amandine