Paris
From a Southern Photographer’s Point of View
I am just a simple guy from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For those not familiar with this little gem on the eastern seaboard of the U.S., it’s a tourist-based town two hours away from our state’s capitol, Columbia. Home to quite a few award-winning bakeries, world class chefs, and of course …. Myrtle Manor (a terrible trailer park show on TLC). We were once a scout location for Disney World before they decided on Orlando, we are home to one of the biggest flops in theme park history (Hard Rock Park), but we have a unique lifestyle unlike anything else I have seen. Very relaxed, but commercialized. Delightfully tacky at times, but chock full of wonderful little treasures that locals consume without the knowledge of all the passers-by. I say all that to say this: When you are used to the crazed hurry that is the American lifestyle, it’s a wonderful break to spend some time in the City of Lights.
I have spent extended amounts of time in different parts of the U.S., Costa Rica, Australia, England and different parts of France and no one has the relaxed nonchalance of Parisians. The entire city is a work of art that everyone stops to take in. The fact that I can be standing on a bridge over the Seine beside a local who is taking in the same view as me says a lot.
The accordions, violins, and saxes made for a wonderful soundtrack to my walkabout in Paris. This gentleman in particular was extremely nice. I sat in and listened to him for a while. The expression on his face says it all. His passion came out through his music so easily.
In America I see artists from time to time, but most of the time they are selling quick and dirty landscapes or cartoon depictions. Paris is a place where people just sit to work on their art with no interest whatsoever in selling it while they are sitting there. An artist with a torn up sketch board covered in oil paints and gesso taking a break to take a drag off his cigarette is just so bohemian in nature and fun to witness.
On another occasion I was watching a chalk artist paint an installation, and though there were crowds all around him, he was very focused on his art. He had worked hard all day and was around ninety-five percent done with his piece. Instead of getting to the point where he was tired and annoyed, he was relaxed and knew that he had spent his day doing what he loved: creating art. Right across the street from the Louvre I might add.
Paris needs to be on your list for all the reasons you can’t think of. Yes there is amazing architecture, museums, art, food and all that, but there is a feeling in the air that will change it all for you. I will never forget the experiences that changed the way I look at my art and business.
Thank you for reading
