We spent yesterday walking the streets of Paris and visiting the famous spots we’ve had the pleasure to see many times before. Paris is choc-full of instantly recognisable monuments and symbols, and on a sunny day is a photographer’s dream.
Add to the mix tens of thousands of tourists on any one day and you get the inevitable: people stopping at every street corner, by every fountain and in front of every building to strike another pose and add yet another image to their over-burdened data cards.
Having observed with interest the lengths (and in some cases the depths) to which people will go to create that memorable photo, I was drawn to photograph those people who were taking the photos. Here’s a little selection of my own pictures, giving a snapshot of the photographers out on the Paris streets yesterday.
Did they really put these pillars there for this? Yes, I think they did
See a statue with a strange expression? Only one thing to do!
The sly photographer trying not to get caught out... look behind you!
One flying Parisian wasn't too impressed with this photographer
Back a bit...
By the Arc de Triomphe, the traditional Japanese pose
At the Trocadero, where the best poses were on display
That old pose again
The equivalent of the Leaning Tower 'push'
Another classic pose
So that's what those pillars are for...
'Quick, Notre Dame on your right, three o'clock!'
Start 'em young - some Russian kids have better gear than most adults
If everyone spent as much time relaxing and simply enjoying the scenery as they do trying capture ‘the moment’, they may come away from their travels with better memories than those caught in their happy snaps.
Having said that, I suspect that travelling without a camera is even less likely these days than travelling without a mobile phone and laptop/netbook. God knows, I drag all three with me when I travel.
Jim
That last one sure looks confident! I don’t know many kids with such equipment, or as you said, adults! Always funny to look at either the stupid poses or the concentration of photographers.
Awesome clicks Andy…..:)
Always fascinating. Paris is again on the radar for a summer trip. The tourist pic is an interesting thing: a truly ‘been there and got the T-shirt’ photograph.
And no matter how much you love documentary photography, you just can’t help but take the default tourist snaps – and why not? If you are not a resident, you are a tourist!
Couldn’t help but think of this Martin Parr classic:
http://flashflood.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/martin_parr1_10001.jpg
Cheers,
Mp