TIP 5: Paris Is All About People There’s something quite different about the French, and about Parisians in particular. Parisians are a proud race (yes, I do mean race. They seem be a species all to themselves). They dress for success almost all of the time. Rarely will you see a male Parisian wearing shorts, and rarely will you see a lady dressed in anything other than a dress or skirt and blouse. The men seem to prefer jackets and ties, even on the warmest of summer days. Parisians think nothing of taking time to rest at any hour of the day—literally falling asleep wherever they happen to be. The park bench seem to be a favorite spot, but cafés, Metro seats, monuments, and church pews are almost as popular. Needless to say, the people of Paris offer a thousand-and-one opportunities for interesting images. The man you see asleep on the bench in the gardens of Saint Germaine du Pre does, I think, sum it up very nicely. He is obviously at peace with the world. TIP 6: Paris Is A Different City At Dawn We all know there’s something about the light just before and after dawn that will turn even an average image into one that’s just a little bit special. So, no matter where I go, I always manage to crawl out of bed at least once before dawn to take advantage of the soft tones and pastel shades of the early morning. There are considerations when planning an early morning shoot. First, never do it the first day of your visit. Spend a couple of days scouting for the best spots. Second, check the weather forecast. A dull, overcast sky is no fun at 4:30am. Third, be sure to arrive at your chosen spot early. Fourth, remember to take a tripod and fast film (400 ISO, at least) or choose an equivalent setting on your digital camera. Fifth, try to plan your shots in advance and be ready to move quickly: the light changes rapidly in the early morning and you may have only seconds to grab that once-in-a-lifetime image. Finally, don’t go alone. You never know what you might run into in the early hours. TIP 7: Paris By Night Is Spectacular Again, it’s all been done before. So, can you really find something different in a city that’s been shot so extensively for so long, even at night? I think the secret lies, once again, with the people of Paris. The city itself is eternal, but the people are ever-changing. They seem to love being out and about, even after dark. You’ll find lovers, tourists, teen-agers, and, yes, even photographers. The trick is to place your subjects in a spot that will enhance an otherwise dull image. The best possible use of the human form at night, in my opinion, is to use it in silhouette. Candid shots of people are often difficult to make work. In silhouette, however, they all seem to work. Just be sure to adjust your ISO. Getting There Most major airlines offer service between Paris and large American, Canadian and European cities. The trick is find an inexpensive ticket. Travelocity.com, Expedia.com, and other online companies offer special, seasonal deals and last-minute specials. Book well in advance to take advantage of early-booking discounts. Getting Around For economy, speed and ease, the Metro is hard to beat. $60 per person should provide at least a week of travel. If you can handle the rush of city traffic, you might consider renting a bicycle. Here are a couple of options: • Paris à Vélo Sympa, 37 Boulevard Bourdon, near the Bastille (01-4887-6001) rents city bikes—heavy bikes with 4 to 7 gears and an upright riding position. They have "city tandems" and also lead bike tours of Paris. www.parisvelosympa.com. • Paris Vélo, 2 Rue du Fer-à-Moulin, fifth arrondissement (01-4337-5922), rents city bikes, as well as hybrids and mountain bikes. www.paris-velo-rent-a-bike.fr. The People Contrary to popular opinion, I found the people of Paris friendly, well-mannered and ever willing to please. And don’t worry if you can’t speak the language. Even the Parisians that don’t speak English will find a way to communicate. Photo Tips If you are using film, take what you need with you—film is expensive in Paris. If you can, have your film processed in Paris. Airport security in France will refuse hand inspections and will insist on screening unprocessed film with high-powered machines. Make sure you carry sufficient battery power, and if you are using rechargeable batteries, don’t forget your charger. You will also need an adapter to convert European outlets.