A Special Exposition of the Paris Pages:

Paris in Stereo - Page 1

Colonne de Juillet - 4th arrondissement - This pair was taken on 14 July 1995. The Place de la Bastille had been blocked off - somehow related to the military parade on the Champs Elysées. So there were none of the cars which make this square a dazzling display of Formula I prowess. This, together with the marvelous blue sky, made for perfect conditions. Althought stereo pair cameras exist, I do not have one. I take two individual images with the same camera - shifting my position slightly before pushing the shutter for the second image. So the cars zipping around the Colonne de Juillet would have caused problems, since they would have moved between exposures. La Fête National of France however, kindly obliged and solved this problem for me. (single image)

Opéra Bastille - 12th arrondissement - The Colonne de Juillet is right next to the Opéra de la Bastille, so this was the obvious next target. Some military vehicles were parked in front of the Opera - again, due to the 14 July celebrations. People were hanging around in front of the building, and their constant shifting would make it difficult to take my two images. So I aimed upward toward the first level of the Opera House. The people up there were mostly draped over the railing and staying still. After getting the reflection of the Column framed in the window, I snapped off two images without any problem. (single image)

L'Eglise des Petit Pères - 2nd arrondissement - On a magnificent winter day in January 1995, I took the métro to the Bourse (the Paris Stock Exchange is right there), and then started to walk south. Place des Petit Pères is a quiet hidden little square which isn't particularily remarkable. Townhouses surround the square and on this day, cast their shadows across the façade of the church.

I wouldn't say that this place is "off the tourist track" since nothing in Paris really is, but it certainly isn't one of the main attractions of Paris. You won't find it discussed in many guides either. The square has a police station, an antique dealer, and L'Eglise des Petit Pères. Thats about it; not even a restaurant. I didn't manage to peek inside of the church, but probably it was as plain as the square. Maybe this is what made me immediately warm to this little space - unremarkable, hidden away - a metephor for most of us. (single image)

Pont Alexander III - 7th / 8th arrondissement - Built for the World Exposition of 1900, and named after Czar Alexander III of Russia, this is one of Paris' most photographed bridges. Its ornate iron work, together with the unfettered view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance, as well as the fact that the sun sets in the same direction make it ripe for photograhic exploitation.

On this particular day, I had to wait quite some time for others to take their snap shots before I could take mine. One couple placed their son next to the name plate of the bridge, and snapped away several photos while I stood by and smiled. "He's named Alexander too" said the father. (single image)

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