PATRICK ALONSO PHOTOGRAPHE

What’s never known is safest in this life …

I was on my way to blogging a couple of recent street photographs on Wednesday when the news hit about Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros losing their lives in Lybia … and then it just kept coming and coming and coming … social networks.

Obviously, like most, I’ve never seen combat. The closest I’ve come to it is by striding some land whom as known war in time past.

Juno Beach @ Patrick Alonso

Juno Beach @ Patrick Alonso

I admire those who put themselves in harm’s way in order to gain some level of comprehension about that historical constant which is war in the hopes of sharing with others and perhaps curtailing it for a little while.

“Under the arc of the sky they are unsafe.
What’s never known is safest in this life.”
- Dylan Thomas

Tourists … in Paris

Following up on my post from two weeks ago … more tourists busily documenting every angle of their vacation, this time in Paris.

Musée du Louvre © Patrick Alonso

Les Invalides © Patrick Alonso

Musée du Louvre © Patrick Alonso

I’m an especially big fan of the « holding Dan Brown’s pyramid » moment. I stood there for quite a while hoping someone would walk up and do something a little more original, alas that sort of luck wasn’t with me on that particular day …

Long road to Hendaia …

I took the long road to Hendaia, a Basque coastal city in the mountains, to catch a train bringing my sister from Paris.

© Patrick Alonso

© Patrick Alonso

© Patrick Alonso

© Patrick Alonso

Saint-Martin

© Patrick Alonso

A fisherman on the Canal Saint-Martin (if I remember correctly, this was near Les Quais de Valmy) late one afternoon when I was in Paris a few weeks ago. I’m sure that particular part of Paris must be highly recommended for long walks punctuated by a glass of wine here and there, especially in spring or autumn time.

Just like your uncle …

ENGLISH BELOW …

À la demande populaire, voici les photos de mon dernier voyage … tout comme votre oncle qui revient de vacances armé d’un coup de soleil et 24gb d’images digitales.

Suivez ce lien pour voir une galerie de treize images (une par jour).

Parc du Retiro, Madrid © Patrick Alonso

Due to popular demand, here are the pictures from my last trip … just like your uncle coming back from his vacation with armed with a sunburn and 24gb of digital images (funnier in french).

Follow this link to view a gallery of thirteen images (one per day).

Dan Brown’s pyramid …

La Pyramide Inversée du Louvre © Patrick Alonso

I’ve taken many pictures of tourists during the last two weeks spent in Madrid and Paris. This one, although not really in the same spirit as the other ones (without white sneakers, a fanny pack and a camera you can’t really identify the kid as a tourist), is nonetheless one of my favorites.

If you don’t know why I call it Dan Brown’s Pyramid, I suggest you follow this link towards Wikipedia that offers a decent explanation. And just in case you might be wondering … no, I don’t believe.

She’s got balls …

I received a call last week requesting pictures of the regions I had visited in Europe over the last few years and as I was sifting through I came across this shot I made while ago on a two day walk on El Camino. This one was taken on the second day, approaching Saint-Jean Pied de Port and the Pyrenees valley.

© Patrick Alonso

I love those mountains, especially the Basque countries on the Spanish side. This is probably one of the most peaceful places I’ve visited … if I had to live outside the city, these mountains would be it.

I which I had shot this with a newer camera or better yet with film, maybe I could of retained a few more details in the sky … but then again, I didn’t have a better piece of gear with me at the time, so be it, this is the best I could do short of doing something shameful … like HDR. It’s not perfect, but I still like it.

She’s got balls

If you missed it or just plain don’t follow my other blog RapporteursPhoto, we posted about Amy Stein on Monday and if you don’t know her, it’s a must see. She put together what I think is a great project. For « Stranded« , Amy went on road trips all across the US to photograph motorists who’s cars had broken down on the side of the road.

© Amy Stein

Her words to describe the series …

« Beginning with the government’s failed response to the flooding of New Orleans in 2005, the American people suffered through a series of devastating corruptions of their traditional structures of support. Stranded is a meditation on the despondence of the American psyche as this collapse of certainty left the country stuck in an unfamiliar space between distress and relief. In this series the car serves as both figurate symbol of American destiny and a literal representation of the personal breakdowns on the road to that promise. »

Approaching strangers is hard enough, approaching strangers whose cars just broke down on the side of the road is taking it to an all other level. Kudos!

Lastly

If you think that this post is similar in form to another photographer’s blog, I would tell you that its actually a plain rip-off on my part. I think Tony Fouhse is not only an outstanding photographer but also an interesting blogger (and source of inspiration). I find the whole vibe of his blog Drool very nice and its one of my favourite weekend reads.

I’m not saying all my post will have this form, but when the mood strikes to share more than just a shot, like today, I will more than likely be using this form or a close variant.

Mise à jour de la série Paris

J’ai ajouté cinq nouvelles photos dans ma série Paris. Elles ont toutes été captées au cours de ma dernière visite au printemps dernier. Fidèle à mes habitudes, j’incorpore Parisiens et visiteurs à l’architecture remarquable de cette ville.

© Patrick Alonso / La défense

© Patrick Alonso / Le quartier chinois

© Patrick Alonso / Entrée au Louvre

© Patrick Alonso / Visiteurs au Louvre

© Patrick Alonso / La tour Montparnasse