Facing Paris / Préface :
All "humanists" photographers have tried to "steal a magical moment” there, in the street, during an improvised walk, sort of unstoppable “marauding” for some or just a hobby for others.
Of course, when we speak of "street photography" you immediately think Doisneau, Cartier Bresson, Boubat, Atget, Willy Ronis ... in France.
The Americans also have their heroes, Vivian Maier, Helen Levitt Lisette Model, Bruce Gilden....
These photographers have one thing in common, a sense of observation of course, but also a spirit of collecting.
They are like sentinels, witnesses of an era, a smuggler of dreams.
If we totally exclude the staging of an image, we must rely on random chance.
A "marauding" is a bit like fishing in the river, with the main topic ... The human and his amazing attitude ballet...
To do this, each photographer's has his technical code, its direct manner or more subtly the approach to its prey.
But the goal is not to share it, to see exhibited, his collection of rare specimens.
The fun, therefore, is it not primarily selfish?
It is a temporary immersion in a world invisible to ordinary mortals, yet in the eyes of all.
Today, everyone is a photographer, smartphones have opened up amazing possibilities, and we publish “throw away” pictures on flickr, facebook, pinterest, instagram ... Who live only for a "like"!
Photographic tools have multiplied, reflex, SLR, bridge, APS.... an arsenal serving "collectors" of the world.
YouTube becomes the Agora of testers of all kinds and "blogs" are sometimes very funny like "digit Tv", or very professional like Steve Huff or Pixfan...
But why this need to collect, freeze our society, capture a time?
For sport undoubtedly, the pleasure to be there at the magical moment when a picture tells a story, where the framing and light blend perfectly reflecting the emotion.
So, take no notice of the "pen", as long as the story is beautiful.
Here are a few gleaned images for Facing Paris, a modest art
