The concept behind our “Street Photography in Paris” series is to present images from a complete street photography session, usually in chronological order.
By showcasing many of the photos taken during each session (including, at times, some that didn’t turn out quite right), the goal is to give you a glimpse into the mind of a street photographer and share in his unpredictable quest to capture moments of everyday life.
Although most images are self-sufficient and don’t necessarily need words to describe them, the context in which they were taken and the photographer’s intentions with regard to his multiple attempts and the results obtained are subjects that are rarely addressed.
Finding a visual or symbolic interaction between passers-by and elements of Parisian décor – architecture, posters, signage, shop windows, tags or sculptures – is a fascinating quest that can sometimes lead to pleasant surprises.
Discover our first short Parisian photo stories:
S T R E E T P H O T O G R A P H Y P A R I S
The precepts of our “Street photography in Paris” series
Constrained space and time
The street photography sessions featured in each article of this series were, for the most part, shot in a single location or neighborhood in Paris and over a short period of time.
In most cases, these sessions lasted only a few dozen minutes.
Operating modes
Shooting in the streets and avenues of Paris can be done instinctively or programmatically, for example after spotting an element of the urban décor with which interaction can be hoped for.
Authentic Parisian street photography
There are many different ways to practice urban photography, but to respect the spirit of true street photography and leave plenty of room for the unpredictable human element, the creation of images with accomplices is outlawed.
Any attempt by the photographer to alter the reality of a street scene, such as posing someone directly or modifying an image after it has been taken, is unavoidable and must be indicated.
On this subject, here’s a testimonial from the photographer in our Lyon photo studio, France, who provided all the images for this article and who actively participates in the first subjects published on this blog.
An iconic street photo
“I experienced the greatest photographic disillusionment of my life the day I learned that the image of the kiss at Hôtel de Ville had been “fabricated” by photographer Robert Doisneau for a commission from the American magazine Life about lovers in Paris.
Throughout my adolescence, this black-and-white image made me dream, and its poster hung prominently on my bedroom wall.
Of course, it’s still a splendid photo, and one that enabled a professional photographer to achieve fame with the help of two extras, despite a few lawsuits…”
The positive takeaway I get from this icon of street photography is that, believing her work to be authentic, she inspired me to do the same, and I’ve been trying ever since to capture, in my own way, snippets of strangers’ lives.
T.Allard
Contributing to Parisian street photography?
For documentary photographers, there are a number of private competitions and public tenders dedicated to the capital.
The most significant is the national competition “Regards du Grand Paris,” organized by the Atelier Médicis and the National Center for Visual Arts (Cnap), which has been awarding grants each year since 2015 to a select group of photographers (based on their applications) to document the lives of residents in the Paris region.
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