Paris Stories ~ Part 3

On a typical day with my camera, in Paris or elsewhere, I go out empty and let the street surprise me. There are stories happening all around us. As street photographers, it’s our responsibility to see them and immortalize them in a frame.

Paris speaks to me, it revealed a few secrets to me in January when I was roaming its streets with my little camera.

Here are a few of those stories captured in a single frame, I hope you enjoy them…

A typical day in Paris for me always starts at the café with my camera.

Then I let the street surprise me with stories along the way.

Rue des Rosiers

French elegance knows no age…

Many beautiful people in Paris…

Music on the streets, even in the winter.

Cigarette and attitude

A moment of tenderness after school homework. Seen through the window of a cafe…

Passionate conversation on market day.

In step

Making choices… Push-ups or e-cig 😉

Metamorphose

Night reader

The intriguing play of reflections.

Mirrored image.

Rivals?

Making an exit…

Of course no sunny day would be complete without a few silhouettes… Feet and more feet!

Mysterious hallway

A story of bicycles.

Paris shadows.

And dancers kissed by the sun…

Downstairs… In my home away from home.

In case you missed them , here are Part 1 and Part 2.

Also, people often ask me a whether the people know they are being photographed or not. Although I am very close to them, I remain invisible as much as possible. Most of the time they do not know they are being photographed. The point is not to disrupt the story and ruin the shot. If they notice me after I take the picture, I simply explain to them that I am a street photographer and I am capturing slices of everyday life on the streets. They are usually very flattered by it.

I make a point to never photograph anyone in a embarrassing or vulnerable situation. It’s all about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary and respecting my subjects at all times. None of these images were staged in any way or they would not qualify as candid street photographs…

Thank you for visiting, I hope you take a moment to leave a comment below.

Tags: Fujifilm, Paris, street photography, Valerie Jardin Photography, X100T, XPhotographer

37 thoughts on “Paris Stories ~ Part 3”

clidnegosanu on April 3, 2016 at 1:58 pm said:

Hi Valerie,

I’m a photo journalist from Ireland, and an big admirer of your work. Whenever you have a minute, perhaps you can look at some of my work at http://goo.gl/2jG2N0 and give me a short feedback.
Thank you.

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Dave France Photo Tours on March 12, 2016 at 8:13 pm said:

Hey Valerie Jardin,

Wonderful pictures! I really like the first image with the guy sitting at the table writing. Who knows what he could have been writing! Great work 🙂

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thistleamy5 on February 18, 2016 at 7:39 am said:

Valerie – I love these pictures, I love your minimalist approach and that you use your photos to tell such rich stories. You represent what we yearn to do with our photography – capturing a moment in time – I think why you say you avoid burst mode and other techniques. You get that moment or you don’t – there is risk but when you get it – oh the joy. I enjoy your podcasts as well. Keep sharing and casting – photography needs teachers like you!

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Dawn Watson on February 10, 2016 at 11:10 pm said:

Wonderful storytelling with each image. I so enjoyed the October workshop and wish it had been the full week! I am working on a book of images made during this trip-love revisiting this special city and its people. Shooting B&W, being in the moment, capturing unguarded moments of connection…you continue to inspire, thank you!

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- Valérie Jardin on February 11, 2016 at 9:04 am said:
  
  Thank you Dawn, I hope we meet again!
  
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Eugenia A Parrish on February 10, 2016 at 9:22 pm said:

I have moved to a new city and you inspire me to go exploring with my camera. I see what you mean about not publishing any picture that embarrasses, etc. I hope one day to be able to buy a camera with a silent shutter so I won’t give myself away all the time!

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- Valérie Jardin on February 11, 2016 at 9:05 am said:
  
  Glad to hear that I served as an inspiration.
  
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Shon on February 10, 2016 at 4:18 pm said:

Wonderful images. I am so inspired by your work and because of it, I greatly look forward to my photowalks and what I might find. In fact, I just returned from Paris this morning. BTW: Concerning focusing…have you experimented with the Face Detection feature of the x100T when you are shooting from the hip and not looking through the viewfinder? Also, do you ever use the High/Low speed shooting modes instead of the Single image mode when you are not bringing the camera to your eye?
Thanks,

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- Valérie Jardin on February 10, 2016 at 4:33 pm said:
  
  Thanks Shon! I occasionally go into burst mode but I prefer not to, it’s just not the same satisfaction to get THE shot in a multiple frames versus getting it in a single frame. I do use the face detection on the camera, it comes really handy when you can’t look at the LCD. I hope you listen to my weekly podcast, we discuss a lot of these topics! http://thisweekinphoto.com/category/street-focus/
  
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Christof Timmermann on February 10, 2016 at 1:39 pm said:

Hello Valerie, your photos remember me to an wonderful weekend and showed exactly my feelings. Your workshop was so extraordinary good, because It was so interesting and informative to see, how you work and how much you see fotographicly. Again, thank you for all your advice, it was so helpful for me.

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- Valérie Jardin on February 10, 2016 at 1:42 pm said:
  
  Thank you for the nice comment Christof! I keep very fond memories of the camaraderie of the January group. The only regret is that it was a weekend workshop and not a full week! It is so good to hear that you left with renewed vision and inspiration.
  Au revoir, until we meet again!
  
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Kevin Buchanan on February 10, 2016 at 10:18 am said:

Valérie – wonderful photos! I discovered you via your podcast, and you’ve been inspiring me to dabble more in street photography. I’m also an X100-based photographer – I rolled with the original X100 for a little over four years and just upgraded to the X100T.

Keep up the lovely work!

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- Valérie Jardin on February 10, 2016 at 12:07 pm said:
  
  Hi Kevin! Glad you enjoy my podcast and thank you for visiting my blog too!
  
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fotoeins on February 10, 2016 at 4:19 am said:

I love these images, Valérie. To me, they’re like a respectful nod to the great (street-) photographs in Paris from the early 20th-century.

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- Valérie Jardin on February 10, 2016 at 12:07 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for the kind words, I am touched!
  
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allentimphotos2 on February 9, 2016 at 9:12 pm said:

I really enjoyed your series. The cafe images seemed to be the most intimate.

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- Valérie Jardin on February 10, 2016 at 12:08 pm said:
  
  Thanks! That’s probably because I’m very close to my subjects, often sitting at the next table.
  
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  - allentimphotos2 on February 10, 2016 at 11:54 pm said:
    
    It works very well and you’re welcome.
    
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Mike's PhoBlography on February 9, 2016 at 7:17 pm said:

Fabulous.

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- Valérie Jardin on February 10, 2016 at 12:09 pm said:
  
  Merci Mike!!
  
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Allison on February 9, 2016 at 7:07 pm said:

Such great inspiration here! Thank you, I loved all the mini stories behind each photograph…

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- Valérie Jardin on February 10, 2016 at 12:09 pm said:
  
  Thanks for visiting Allison!
  
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brickthomas on February 9, 2016 at 6:37 pm said:

That was very nice! Thanks for sharing.

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- Valérie Jardin on February 9, 2016 at 6:54 pm said:
  
  Glad your enjoyed the post!
  
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Sheila Bodine on February 9, 2016 at 5:46 pm said:

Great series, Valerie

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- Valérie Jardin on February 9, 2016 at 6:53 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sheila! January in Paris was a pretty good crop image-wise. I was inspired!
  
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Marshall on February 9, 2016 at 5:13 pm said:

I was just going to ask you about whether they see you shooting at such close range. I had a similar opportunity to photograph a young couple sitting across from me at a cafe, but it was almost impossible to raise the camera from the table without eyes noticing!

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- Valérie Jardin on February 9, 2016 at 5:14 pm said:
  
  I shoot at 23mm (35mm equivalent) and I don’t use the viewfinder.
  
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John Merson on February 9, 2016 at 5:11 pm said:

You know for the last three weeks I have been shooting and reading and deleting and reading and shooting and maybe I am beginning to see. Your pictures…….I have a ways to go.

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- Valérie Jardin on February 9, 2016 at 5:16 pm said:
  
  Dear John,
  Rome wasn’t built in a day and with passion and perseverance you will grow as a street photographer. Keep shooting. And, talking about Rome, I’ll see you there soon! 🙂
  
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Klaas on February 9, 2016 at 4:50 pm said:

Beauriful pictures!!!

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- Valérie Jardin on February 9, 2016 at 5:16 pm said:
  
  Well, thank you my dear! 🙂
  
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Jane Lurie on February 9, 2016 at 4:07 pm said:

Beautiful images, Valerie. You really know how to capture the moment.

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- Valérie Jardin on February 9, 2016 at 5:17 pm said:
  
  Thank you Jane, it’s all about following your heart and being in tune with the simple moments.
  
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  - Jane Lurie on February 9, 2016 at 5:19 pm said:
    
    So true!
    
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southamptonoldlady on February 9, 2016 at 3:54 pm said:

Your photos are wonderful. The subject and the skill of capturing the light and shade.

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- Valérie Jardin on February 9, 2016 at 7:02 pm said:
  
  Merci beaucoup!
  
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