Thursday, 29. November 2007, 12:40:38
Today over here, in France, it looks as though Winter is trying to drawi in on us...The sky is very dense and low, the air is cold, steam comes out of your mouth when you speak, nostrils when you breathe, people rush to go about their business their golved-hands holding their collars tightly shut, their noses red...
Unlike most people, I like winter... Perhaps because I was born in February...although I doubt it. I do love the snow. In fact, if I did not have a problem with a knee (no more skying
) I would have sought to live in Canada! So that winter would be so much longer than here.
Winter to me is so poetic: nature is closing in on itself, like in a standstill, a kind of pregnancy really to "give birth" to a new cycle. To me, it means stillness, respite, a pause in time, a time of instrospection.
I am aware thought that this is a highly romanticised vision of winter as most of you living in the northern part of Europe for instance will probably disagree since you spend most of the year in freezing cold temperatures! I probably haven't known a truly harsh winter in my life and it might change my mind if I was to be hit by blizzard and trapped in snow in the middle of the night
!
Friday, 23. November 2007, 16:21:53
One of my favourite photographer is undoubtedly
Jeanloup SIEFF (30/11/1933 - 09/2000) was French and photographed mainly in B&W. What impresses me in his work is the (again) sense of sensuality, mystery and beauty contained in every shot, may it be an actress/model, some landscape or nudes. His pictures are always very simple, composition wise, but extremely atmospheric and I just, if I had the money, cover all the walls of my place with his art work! Again, like René Gruau or Jack Vettriano, he excelled in the capturing the female sensuality, even sexuality. His nude pictures are not crude, they are always tasteful.
As I discussed with someone recently, the art of B&W is totally different than colour for colour requires an interesting scene so that details can show up and attract attention, whereas B&W usually works better with much purer or simpler subjects/composition and contrasts. The two are in my opinion two dramatically polar approaches. A colour picture can get away, and might in some cases be better for it if the picture is full of small details, many different shapes, etc... B&W however is more striking when the shapes are fewer so that the eye is maingly drawn to the main feature and the tone.
I have posted a wide selection of his work in my photo selection, an album called "Sieff".
Tuesday, 20. November 2007, 19:58:35
Ah! France wouldn't be France without its food, wines, cheeses, moaners, rude waiters and STRIKES!
This place is a lazy bastard's paradise: for anyone who need any excuse not to work (I mean anyone who REALLY doesn't want to work and like absolute chaos), there is hope here! Just enroll in the French national public transport and you could be as happy as larry! For strike is a national sport here! If it was included in the Olympic Games we would undoubtedly get gold each bloody time... Perhaps I sound bitter...But hey so far, since the latest strike has started (on tuesday last week) I have not been able to get to work. So when you cannot go to work what does any employer do? It takes it off your accrued holidays! Isn't this marvellous and fair?
Basically, we are millions of people struggling to get to work, spending sometimes as long as 4 hours each way, without any guarantee to arrive to our destination incidentally, because of a few hundreds who only care about themselves and their little comfort! Damn them!
Wednesday, 14. November 2007, 16:08:59
Paris, Live, Eiffel Tower, Webcam
...
See the
Eiffel Tower in real time
Here are a few examples...
Claude Monet would have had a field day these days with this type of tools! (see his work on the light according to the various times of day -great work)
Wednesday, 14. November 2007, 16:04:46
The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.
Joseph Conrad
Friday, 9. November 2007, 16:20:43
As seen previously in my various posts: I am very much interested in painting, photography, etc... I am also very "proud" to be born in Paris, the city from the "belly" of were "born" so many artists (painters, designers, photographs, etc...). It's certainly a fantastic and priceless heritage! And nowhere is art so much a part of the daily life and included in every detail of day to day life than here. That too is precious to me.
Since early on in my childhood, I have seen illustrations of women that were so beautiful in their simplicity (the simplicity of the painting yet resulting in a stunning,seductive, sensual and mysterious picture) that compelled me.
And to my utter shame, I have only found out today who was responsible for these great pictures. His name: René GRUAU. He was Christian Dior's friend and made many illustrations for his collections. In return, Christian Dior named a dress "Gruau".
René GRUAU 1909 - 2004
Who better than René Gruau gave a more vibrant homage to women for over 60 years of fashion illustrations and advertising. Elegance, grace and luxury characterise the work of "the man who loved women" as called by his peers.
Although I am far from being a fashion victim (I truly despise today's fashion as I believe in individuality first and foremost and do not subscribe to all these chain clothes stores selling the same clothes the world over) I do appreciate pleasing visual fashion work (may it be either painted, photographed, etc...). And this is only aspect of fashion that interests me.
Tuesday, 6. November 2007, 19:56:57
Lido de Paris, Cabaret, Paris
This morning, as I was on the underground on my way to work, my mind started to drift (as it often does since it gets a little repetitive) and I remembered that someone in my family used to own a dry-cleaning business in Paris. That was back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Over the years he had managed to build a regular clientele and in particular the famous Parisian dancing venue: le
Lido.
They used to give him the girls' outfits to clean. So several times a year, he was in charge of cleaning the ostrich feathers that they used to wear. As anyone can expect, he used to really look forward to his visits there to pick up the costumes since he had befriended the dancers and the owners alike and I guess it was brightening his days up (his wife was a bit miserable I seem to remember). I can recall his face when he was telling the stories of his visits there. He was not much of a talker, but when started on this subject, his face just lit up, his eyes sparkled, his hands were moving all over the place! He was suddenly coming to life! He had a gleeful smile just like the cat who got the cream....
He was rather popular with them. I know it is not a life changing post, but I thought it was quite unusual...
Thursday, 25. October 2007, 08:17:16
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