The concept behind our “Street photography in Paris” series is to present images from a complete street photo session, usually completed in a relatively short space of time.
By presenting a large proportion of the images made during each session (including the misses), the aim is to take you inside the head of a street photographer and share his random quest to freeze a few moments of life.
Although most images are self-sufficient and don’t necessarily need words to describe them, the context in which they were taken and the photographer’s intentions with regard to his multiple attempts and the results obtained are subjects that are rarely addressed.
Finding a visual or symbolic interaction between passers-by and elements of Parisian décor – architecture, posters, signage, shop windows, tags or sculptures – is a fascinating quest that can sometimes lead to pleasant surprises.
Discover our first short Parisian photo stories:
S T R E E T P H O T O P A R I S
The precepts of our “Street photography in Paris” series
Constrained space and time
The street photo sessions presented in each of the articles in this series take place in the same location or neighborhood in Paris.
They are generally very short sessions, lasting dozens of minutes.
Operating modes
Shooting in the streets and avenues of Paris can be done instinctively or programmatically, for example after spotting an element of the urban décor with which interaction can be hoped for.
Authentic Parisian street photography
There are many different ways to practice urban photography, but to respect the spirit of true street photography and leave plenty of room for the unpredictable human element, the creation of images with accomplices is outlawed.
Any attempt by the photographer to alter the reality of a street scene, such as posing someone directly or modifying an image after it has been taken, is unavoidable and must be indicated.
On this subject, here’s a testimonial from the photographer in our Lyon photo studio, France, who provided all the images for this article and who actively participates in the first subjects published on this blog.
I experienced the greatest photographic disillusionment of my life the day I learned that the image of the kiss at Hôtel de Ville had been “fabricated” by photographer Robert Doisneau for a commission from the American magazine Life about lovers in Paris.
Throughout my adolescence, this black-and-white image made me dream, and its poster hung prominently on my bedroom wall.
Of course, it’s still a splendid photo, and one that enabled a professional photographer to achieve fame with the help of two extras, despite a few lawsuits…
The good thing about this iconic street photograph is that, believing it to be authentic, it inspired me to do the same and try to capture fragments of the lives of strangers.
T.Allard
Contributing to Parisian street photography?
For documentary photographers, there are a number of private competitions and public tenders dedicated to the capital.
Le plus important est le concours national « Regards du Grand Paris » placé sous l’égide de l’Atelier Médicis et du Centre national des arts plastiques (Cnap) qui offre chaque année depuis 2015 des bourses à une sélection de photographes (sur dossier) pour documenter la vie des habitants de région parisienne.
**If you recognize yourself in one of the photographs published in this blog and wish to exercise your right to image and/or receive your own image, please contact us.
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