Photography is a wonderful thing, it gets you out and about to many interesting places. Taking photographs can be a joy and self assigning projects is probably the best way to move your photography forward. An oft used term in this pursuit is the walkabout, which consists of exploring new places with a camera and a single lens. To reconnoitre the streets of a new city, finding areas away from the normal tourist haunts can be a great way to spend time and meet the locals. Paris is a city that quite accepts photographers shooting in their streets, after all it was the place were the the first photograph with a human being in it was taken by Louis Daguerre in 1838. Was Louis Daguerre the very first street photographer?
image public domain Louis Daguerre 1838
Photographing with a small kit helps you move around in a casual manner blending in without to much fuss and trying to find the images that mean something to you. There are no deadlines, no client demands, just you, your camera and a lazy day. Isn't this how it all started, shooting what you want and working the scene to capture that special image. It's a free and easy feeling. Flying off to another continent is not necessary to get great shots as you can do this in any city or place. The walkabout is working at your own pace.
Paris Metro ©2017 peter tym
When you do travel to a city like Paris for the first time it does have a special appeal compared to your more regular locals. Going to a new place can give you a whole new perspective on seeing. It's all new, every turn of the next corner presents an opportunity. This is exciting visually and it will mean a different photographic attitude when you go home. The visual fires have been stirred.
Paris Scene ©2017 peter tym
Walking in many cities with an expensive camera can be a very dangerous proposition, an expensive camera and lens kit is a very easy thing to steal. When your new to a city it's hard to know the areas that are safe and you need to be cautious. All the photographs in this post were taken by a very long in the tooth Nikon D300 and an equally unattractive Nikon kit lens the 18-70 f3.5-5.6. This combination doesn't appear to be worth much but it still works very well and if I do lose it it's not the end of my world.
Paris street scene ©2017 peter tym
If you find yourself with a camera on any street in any place remember that if you love to take photographs you are in the right place. Grab your camera and go for a walk and experience the fun of having new image possibilities popping up every were. Shoot from the heart and tread gently.