Personal photography
I see photography not just as the activity of producing images/art/a record, but also as a bridge between our internal landscape and the external world we selectively engage with. While we cannot directly photograph thoughts or emotions (yet), our choices in subject matter, composition, and timing reveal the invisible threads of our inner narrative.
The recursive aspect of the scene attracted me: taking the photo of a couple looking at a photo showing someone taking the photo of a group of people in front of another group having their photo taken.
I like the perspective of the wide angle lens. It stretches the boat that os already quite long. Traditionally, these boats transport coal, gravel, and stones up and down the river.
I find sometimes weird what people abandon in the street. How can you abandon your shoes? Do you go home bare feet?
The Notre Dame in the background is pre-fire. The book sellers (“bouquinistes”) traditionally sell old second hand books and art.
In today’s world, we’re constantly bombarded with photography. The perfectly curated, Instagram-ready images that tell a story in a single frame. But one of the most important things I’ve realized in the last few years is just how significant it is to take photos of the people around you. Not the posed, carefully staged portraits we think of as “important” pictures, but the candid, everyday snapshots that capture the essence of who these people really are.
The last time I was there, the boat had gone. I presume the parking spots are at a premium and there is fierce competition.
You have to be there pretty early on a Sunday morning to see the place as quiet as this. I found the jet canons interesting and I liked the fact that they were aimed straight at the tower.
As I said before, I’m not a social media person. I often find myself questioning whether I should try harder to be on those platforms and what they could possibly give me.
In an age where photos are posted daily (hourly? Minutely? Secondly?) on platforms like X and Instagram, it’s easy to overlook the deeper intentions behind each image. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on this: why people take the photos they do, how they approach it, and what they see in those images. And as I’ve navigated these thoughts, one platform has kept me coming back: Substack.
The ability of humans to specialise in a specific skill always impresses me.
