Tales of Two Cities

Excuses, Excuses

I don't suppose lack of time is a good excuse for falling so far behind on my blog.  But truthfully, the hours, days and weeks have been filled since our return from Paris at the beginning of June and somehow blogging has remained the next thing I'm going to do on my to do list. 

The one exception is my posting of at least one new photo of Emily each week. 

Just last week, Em spent two nights and three days with us in the city.  Our time together was filled with fun, frustration and learning on all sides.  I do wonder, though, how I cared for two little kids 18-months apart when sharing the care of one 6 year old is so exhausting!  (It can't be that 40 years can make that much difference, can it?)

 Earlier this month I did my first product photo shoot for a neighbor who has a growing business making and selling artisanal chocolates. She and I had a lot of fun and the task gave me the opportunity to learn a bit about macro photography.  Check out her blog here.  I can attest that her chocolates are to die for!

Also, I am continuing my daily photo project.  I've missed a few days here and there, but am pleased by how consistent I have been so far. The consistency is in the posting, I hasten to add, not in the quality of the pictures, which varies with my mood and the luck of the shutter.  See the latest photos here.

Since returning from Paris, I have been trying to master the newest version of PhotoShop (CS5) and to harness the power of LightRoom3.  While I have been using PS since CS2, LR is relatively new to me. 

Anyone will tell you that LR has a steep learning curve, and they are right. I have found LR3 to be a sophisticated and very complex program offering powerful database capabilities and surprisingly versatile post processing functions.

The road to understanding how to use CS5 and LR3 and developing an efficient work flow has not been an easy one and there have been times when I have been frustrated to the point of madness.  I am smitten though.  And the more proficient I become, the more enamored I am.  Perverse, I know. But  that is the way it goes with passions.

Yes, give me LR over whips and chains any day.  (Just testing to see if you are still reading.)

It is hard to believe that it was only 10 years ago that I got my first digital camera, a 3 megapixel Canon point and shoot.  Innocently, I thought that it would make picture taking simpler and, even funnier in retrospect, I thought that doing photography would be cheaper. I was intrigued by how nifty it would be to be able to take unlimited photographs without having to buy tons of film and pay for processing. 

The costs of migrating regularly to more and more sophisticated camera bodies and acquiring nicer and nicer lenses not to mention investing in better and better computer equipment and more and more advanced computer programs never entered my calculus.  

It didn't take me long to realize that I had much to learn, not just about taking photographs, which was a given, but about turning my photographs into a finished product. It is amazing how much intellectual, technical and artistic work is involved.  But the biggest surprise was how much I grew to enjoy the entire process. Taking and processing photographs has turned out to be one of the unexpected pleasures of my life.  

But I digress.  What I started out to say is that, despite the demands on my time (real and self imposed), Part Two of our adventures visiting Chateau d'Ecouen, home of the wonderful Musee national de la Renaissance, is coming soon.  I promise.  Meanwhile, you can read Part One  if you missed it.

Meanwhile, I leave you with this recent image of summer in the city.  Stay cool and enjoy the summer, wherever you are in the Northern Hemisphere.  For my Aussie and NZ friends, I hope your winter has been full of warm moments.

Sunday Street Performer - Place de la Contrescarpe

In the Métro

Odéon Métro - Spring 2009

Rue de Rivoli - Spring 2009

Postcard du Jour #3 - Retrospectives

One of the enjoyable aspects of Paris life is that so much entertainment is available for free:

Strolling through the Jardin des Tuileries enjoying the magnificent views, contemplating the sculpture - classic and modern - people watching,  or simply sitting on a bench basking in the sun;

Wandering through Pere Lachaise cemetery, the largest green space within the city limits of Paris;

Discovering the quiet peacefulness of the interior courtyard  of the Hopital Saint-Louis;

Enjoying the panoramic views from the terrace on top of Jean Nouvel's Institute du Monde Arabe.

Exploring I.M. Pei's pyramid inside and window shopping at eclectic shops in the Louvre de Carrousel cost nothing (though you have go through security to get to the Louvre lobby).  Most churches are open to the public.  Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur are well known but others, like l'église Saint-Paul Saint-Louis in the Marais district, are not only historically interesting but house important art. 

One place that can always be counted on for high quality exhibits can be found along the rue de Médicis side of the Jardin du Luxembourg on the elegant fence  known as les grilles du Sénat. (The French Senate meets in the Palais du Luxembourg.)

The exhibit now on display features 80 of the best photographs from the past 30 years of Figaro Magazine.  Our first visit was a wash out - literally.  Rain, sleet and hail- a hazard of outdoor displays - sent us scurrying for cover. (See the Paris Photo du Jour for April 14.) We were so impressed with what we saw before we had to make a strategic retreat, that we knew we would have to return.

On a recent Saturday, pleasant weather enticed us to try again.

Following a leisurely meal at Balzar, one of our perinneal favorites in the Latin Quarter, we strolled down Boulevard St Michel toward the Jardin du Luxembourg.  The streets were crowded with people taking advantage of the nice weather.  The positive energy from all of the activity put a bounce in my step and a smile on my face.

Walking by the Place de la Sorbonne we were intrigued to discover an outdoor exhibit of  Marc Riboud photographs taken in the Sorbonne area during the 1968 social and political upheavals known simply as mai 68. 

Riboud's large black and white prints capture the mood of the students (dancing around a burned out car, for example), the amazing extent of property destruction, and the measures taken by the police to deal with the protesters (riot police with shields; tear gas etc.).

France has seen many violent demonstrations since, but never anything approaching the scale of mai 68.  The resulting changes to French society were profound, although don't ask me to explain the details because I am still struggling to understand.  Suffice it to say that the power that students wield today in the shaping of French social and economic policy - even well before they are of voting age - dates back to this watershed event. 

In contrast to the Riboud collection, the photojournalistic works on the Senate fence are in color and the subject matter varies widely.  Some works are incredibly beautiful, others so touching that they bring tears to one's eyes.  Not one is trivial in its content.  And each is an outstanding photograph that can stand on its own as art.  Truly inspirational.

Exhibits like these two retrospectives are common in Paris.  Sometimes you read or see ads that alert you that they are there. Sometimes you just stumble across them.  Many are free.  They are one of the joys of being in this city.  They are one of the reasons we continue to return.

It's Always Something...

We had an easy trip from Boston to Paris.  Both of us snoozed, though for once I got some real sleep courtesy of skipping dinner and a drug boost (Lunesta).  We arrived 10 minutes late, disembarked at a gate so we didn't have to take a 25 minute  bus tour of Charles de Gaulle airport to get from our 747 to the terminal, whipped through passport control and didn't have to wait too long for our luggage.

All squared away, our attention turned to finding Monsieur Misery, whom we had engaged to drive us into the city. He arrived almost immediately bearing a sign with our names on it. (See photo.) Although he meets us at the airport each time we come to Paris, the placard was a first and I'm not sure how I feel about that.  I mean, is he afraid we won't recognize him or that he won't recognize us?  Probably the latter.

Dawn slowly turned to gray daylight as we drove into the city.  (The trip into Paris is always interesting with  Jacques at the wheel, but with only Sunday traffic to deal with, it was a less exciting than usual.)  In no time, we were at home in "our" little apartment on the rue des Bluets.

After a short nap (it was very hard to keep our eyes open, especially with gray skies threatening rain), we went out to lunch with our friend and landlord, Bill, at one of our lunchtime favorites, Les Philosophes on the rue Vieille du Temple.  Then it was off to meet friends from Versailles, June and Robley, for a concert being held at the Carnavalet Musuem - or so we thought.

With lots of time to spare I occupied myself with snapping shots of the lively scene in the Marais on a Sunday afternoon.  (See the first of my Photos du Jour for this trip in the gallery on the right.  Be sure to double click on the photo to see a copy of the entire picture.)

As 3 o'clock approached, we headed to the Carnavalet.  After walking along the rue de Sévigné where the main entrance can found, we discovered that the museum was closed for Armistice Day.  (Yep.  today is November 11!)    Darn, I thought, I got the locale wrong.  We walked the not inconsiderable circumference of the Carnavalet looking for concert venues, but came up dry.  There was nothing for it but to hike briskly to the nearest subway (Chemin Vert on line 8) and get ourselves home to confirm the venue. Once back in the apartment, the mystery was solved.  I had not  been mistaken about the locale.  The concert was at the Carnavalet.   (Point for me.)  Alas, it took place yesterday.  (Minus 5 points for me.)

Just when everything is going right, there is always something to remind me that I am fallible. 

We ended our first day in Paris with a light supper accompanied by wonderful champagne grown and produced by Alain Navarre of Reuilly.  (Thank you, Bill !)

Nous sommes arrivées!

Photo of the Day

I have added a new feature called Photo of the Day, which you can find at the top of the side bar to the right.  My plan is to post one photograph taken each day we are in Paris to supplement my less frequent Postcards du Jour.  Let me know what you think!