After shooting all those politicians in Paris, forgive me for thinking there wouldn’t be any left for the rest of the world; hence the surprise. These here would be trust-busting European Commissioner and, according to Forbes, one of the most influential women in the World: Neelie Kroes, and Dutch state secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport: Jet Bussemaker. They met with me today in Brussels so I could upgrade my handshaking network and now I’m up to date again.

Even if you don’t have any knowledge of the Dutch language, I still heartily recommend buying the book “In Parijs” by Olivier van Beemen (cover depicted above). Why? I shot the cover image, portrayed the author who in daily life is correspondent in Paris and provided several images inside the book. At just €17.95 you’ll never get another chance to have an authentic Emile Gregoire in your home for less! An added boon for Dutch speaking people is that it’s highly entertaining and provides a solid background of France’s evolution in the past 7 years. Needless to say, I’m very proud of both Olivier’s terrific accomplishment and my tiny share in it. You can find more info and order a signed copy here.

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.

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).

Summertime / and the living is easy / fish are jumpin’ / and the cotton is high.

It’s one of those quintessential songs, like Autumn Leaves, made immortal by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong on their classic “Porgy and Bess” album. Especially the “fish are jumping” part made this a favorite when I regularly went big game fishing with my father in the early 90’s. I thought of it yesterday when I saw all those people taking it easy during the first day that had that leisure summerly feeling to it, with temperatures reaching a bit above 20°C (70°F). Today I’m afraid “Here’s that rainy day” is more appropriate.

Megalomanic structures are a part of daily life in Paris. From the sheer size of the Louvre and the harrowing height of the Eiffel Tower to the colossal columns of the Pantheon (shown above): there’s always a magnificent monument to leave you in apprehensive awe. And thus I conclude my bright bout of artistic alliteration. A wonderful weekend to absolutely all of you!

Yes, I know it’s still winter and I do vividly remember March 2005 when I went hunting in Friesland, the north of the Netherlands, and we had a metre of snow and it was freezing close to -20°C. So I know it’s wishful thinking but it sure looked like spring to me and so it did to everyone in Paris today with the sun shining and temperatures reaching almost 15°C. Should the world end tomorrow: today was wonderful. I love spring in Paris.