C’est ma vie from one of the famous chansonniers, Adamo, plays on my stereo and suddenly my eyes mist over as I realize I’m finally leaving Paris. I stare at an old image I took of the Rue the Grenelle in the rain, the street I’ve lived in these past five years, and think of all the things that have happened during that period in which I’ve grown to love Paris, many of which I’ve shared with you on this blog. (read more)
Another still from the same wedding proves the title of this post. Well, at least as far as weather is concerned. And, okay, there are certain limits too. Lightning striking the photographer would be one and others that come to mind are the groom being swept away in an avalanche or the bride flying off in a hurricane. Oh, and I do hate getting wet. But for everything else: the badder, the better. As long as it isn’t too cold, that is.
It’s been a while since I shot a wedding, but last Thursday it was time again to pack some 10 kg of gear and head to Amsterdam. This shot here was taken in the beautiful garden of Museum van Loon on the Keizersgracht. It’s one of my favorites of the day. Udo & Femke, have a great honeymoon; it was a joy working with you!
While this might at first glance look like a fashion shoot, complete with props such as a derelict caravan, the harsh reality is that this 17 year old girl, recently recovered from tuberculosis, lives with her parents and two brothers in a cardboard shack just a few kilometers north of posh Paris in the hope of finding a better future here than back in Romania. You can read more about her in the summer edition of Wordt Vervolgd, the Dutch monthly of Amnesty International, in a feature on the dark side of major tourist attractions.
While you are still whistling to the tune of French chansonnier Jacques Dutronc’s hit, I present you with another installment in my «Paris s’éveille» series: it’s 05:51 and the old Conciergerie on the Île de la Cité glows in the early morning light, some 10 minutes before sunrise.
Many of the readers of this blog will immediately start to whistle to the tune of French chansonnier Jacques Dutronc’s hit when reading the title of this post (translated: it’s five o’clock, Paris awakens). Last Saturday I too woke up at five to shoot awakening Paris and from the stark beauty of the city that sparkles in the first rays of sun to the sidewalk cafés getting ready for business, from the lone man sitting contemplating in an empty square to the young and frivolous adolescents who are finally admitting the night has come to an end: it’s spectacular. Expect more of it in the weeks to come and in the regional Dutch newspapers, accompanying a story of friend and journalist Olivier van Beemen, sometime this summer.
I’ve discovered a new niche market: shooting the favorite bar of somebody who’s leaving Paris. In this case the somebody was the press officer at the Dutch embassy and her favorite hangout this tiny bar called Le Fanfaron, in the lively Bastille area. It features run-down furniture, red lights (not for the obvious reasons), walls plastered with whatever owner Xavier found in the gutter and the air is filled with all the greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll tunes, played on good old vinyl of course. Highly recommended!
Say what you will about French President Nicolas Sarkozy, just don’t criticize his smashing Sarkozettes or you’ll have to deal with me. You’ve already met Rachida Dati, so now I present the beautiful Mrs (alas, fellows) Rama Yade, Secretary of State for Human Rights, with whom I shook hands today. Besides doing an excellent job, I noticed she has remained a very amiable person. Suffice it to say I won’t be washing my hands for a long time (something I obviously haven’t done since April 2007).
If you don’t know the Alsace region (see our recent sentimental journey): here are some shameless but well-deserved plugs. If you like the image above, love hiking and need some peace and quiet, you can stay at Les Alisiers, a charming family-run hotel tucked against a hillside, and watch deer and fox emerge from the forest while having dinner. In the daytime, either hike around the rural countryside or buy some of the best Alsatian wines at our old favorite Jean Sipp in historic Ribeauvillé or at our new discovery Albert Klee in nearby Katzenthal. And that ends this commercial break.
We started our stay in France some five years ago tucked away in a small and messy hotel in Strasbourg where we had to put the bed up against the wall each day to be able to walk around the four square meters we had to our disposal. Nonetheless, we have fond memories of both the city and the Alsace region and so we went back on a four day sentimental journey, this time enjoyed some good hotels, had wonderful meals, strolled through the countryside, visited our favorite wine growers and drove back to Paris yesterday rested, happy and with 120 bottles of wine in the trunk of our car to make sure the happiness will stay with us for some time to come.
