Ah, Those Reticent Parisians
08.11.2012
One of the things Americans seem to believe about Parisians is that they are reticent, aloof, hard to approach.
In some ways, that's true, but it's just that they aren't Americans. Smiles here are earned, not just passed out freely. You know that ubiquitous yellow happy-face that first appeared in the U.S. in the late Sixties? Parisians keep their Metro faces on until you've said or done something that earns a happy face.
As for being hard to approach, if you walk up speaking English, and just speak louder when you're not being understood, you're not going to make friends in any land. But if you approach the French with some phrases in their language, like "Hello" (Bonjour) and "How are you?" (Comment ça va?), you're likely to get a smile and a Ça va bien, et vous? in return.
As a photographer, Richard is out in the streets for hours a day most days. His French is improving, but he's still shy about using it, and even shyer about just sticking his camera into people's faces.
But often the Parisians are not equally shy. Richard will take a photograph of some object, like these clouds above the Luxembourg Gardens, and a group of boys will run up and clamor to have their pictures taken.
Such "intrusions" happen surprisingly often, and people love to smile for the camera. Even more surprisingly, they don't ask for a copy. It seems to be enough that they got their picture taken.
This week's Paris Play is dedicated to those non-reticent Parisians, who, with gesture, word or deed, asked or demanded or cajoled Richard to take their picture. These are the people who chose to pose--some of them literally jumped in front of the camera. His notes on the photos are in the captions.
I'm having a cappuccino at a local cafe, and she just walks up and sticks her face in the lens. How could I say no?
This kid was the ringleader of the Luxembourg boys seen in color above. They were far too cool to ask for the photos, but the girl they were with asked for them, so I e-mailed copies.
This guy was the one who asked that I shoot him and his arms-folded buddy in the doorway above. I think they went to arms-folded school together.
He was saving a parking space for a patron of a neighborhood cafe. Good gig, done with panache.
I was shooting storefronts on the Boulevard Sebastopol, and she waved me over to immortalize her and her companion.
I thought he was annoyed that I was shooting his construction site, and we didn't have a common spoken language. But then he did this.
She liked her hat; I liked her necklace, which reminded me of street art.
There's a surprising amount of hazing in French schools, during which one is forced to dress up, or down, and be humiliated in public. This guy seems to be making the best of it.
Soccer (football, or foot) is the top sport here, but hoop dreams are moving up fast.
This is my favorite clochard, who lives under a building overhang on the rue St. Jacques. Always cheerful, a people person.
These friends were returning to a worksite that I had just finished shooting.
I was shooting the drama/comedy masks carved into the front of a theater building when she ran up, skinned knees and all, and struck this pose. I shot, and she ran off, giggling, pink backpack bouncing up and down.
Reticence, what's that? I did a sunrise shoot on Montmartre, around 7:30 a.m., and these folks were on their way home from partying all night. But first they had to pose. Later, he mooned me, but that shot is not for our family-friendly publication.
Reader Comments (28)
Much love back, Jane, and thank you. We love our fellow Parisians.
--Kaaren and Richard
Jennifer:
It is so hard to pick a favorite, but the little girl making the mask with her fingers was priceless. She lived totally in her own world, and let us share it for just that instant.
You may have anyone you like as a writing prompt. The man in photo two was the LEAST willing of all of these people, because he was doing the impromptu photo session at his buddy's request. He was working there, but I got the feeling that he also had a proprietary sense about the place, which is why I cropped the photo slightly higher than I ordinarily would, to show the house number, which he seemed to be guarding.
I blurred the reflection in the picture of the three workmen, and underexposed it a bit in processing, so it doesn't detract, but, yes, it's a self-portrait.
Thank you for your praise and your appreciation of this gift we try to bring to the world every week or so.
Many hugs,
--Richard and Kaaren
Dear Kaaren & Richard,
Wonderful post! And so true, what you say, Kaaren, about Parisians. I can't count how many smiles I experienced in my encounters with them, even with my rudimentary French. And, Richard, I love these photos for so many reasons - not only their artistry and humanity, but also in the way they capture the wonderful diversity of Parisians! Magnifique!
xo,
dawna
p.s. the children are wonderful, as are all of these, but I especially love the guy looking very dapper while holding the parking space...
Dawna!
Paris misses you so much, and all of these people are waiting to see you again. We've hired the dapper fellow to hold the space in the city's heart just for you.
Much love,
K and R
Great pictures! They give me a much-needed warm feeling about Parisians.
Richard,
Cropping to enhance, as you said, the soul of your subject is not an artistic crime; quite the opposite! Snobs, lol! We "crop" our stories, poems, documentaries, drawings...what you and Kaaren are doing with your collaborative art is groundbreaking. Funny how it was always in you, but I don't necessarily sense that you would have done this here. ???
Joan:
We are pleased to help you embrace your fellow French.
Hugs,
--K and R
Cassandra:
Thank you. How wonderful of you to be so effusive. We blush.
Yes, we couldn't have done this in Los Angeles, because I had grown tired of coping with the car culture. When it took at least thirty minutes of battling traffic to get anywhere I wanted to go (grocery shopping? the dentist?), and even more to visit friends or enjoy some entertainment venue, I wasn't going.
As we've mentioned on Paris Play before, the ability to walk anywhere we want to go, or to take the Metro or a bus if pressed for time, combined with the variety of things to do and see and the beauty on every street makes us weep with joy, and out of that joy comes this art form.
Sometimes, if you feel stuck, I guess you just gotta move.
Many hugs,
Richard (and Kaaren)