Monday, December 20, 2010

Slipping and Sliding at the Hötel de Ville


Last year ( and I'm assuming this year as well), the city of Paris created a giant ice rink in front of the gorgeous Hôtel de Ville ( Paris City Hall).  This is a poorly composed photograph but I thought you might enjoy it as I did when, on closer inspection, I noticed the petit garçon in the right corner who was struggling to keep from falling.  I wish I'd noticed him at the time and I'd have stayed with the little fellow as he learned to skate!

20 comments:

Shell Sherree said...

I'd have to give this a whirl. And I'd possibly give le petit garçon a run for his money. {Or would it be, "a slip for his money?"}

Julie said...

I suspect right now there might be too much snow to skate.

When are your departure and return dates?

Lasse said...

Nice blog! I signed up and wish you a Merry Christmas !

George said...

Beautiful photo!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Virginia, they were setting it up about 2 weeks ago so it should be in operation while you and Mary are there. Three years ago they had all the ice rinks up by the first of December for all the holiday visitors, but not sure why they have been later in recent years.

Are you and Mary going to skate? Who will be taking those photos...

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Just amazing how a four season can bring different activities possible at the same place... cheers !

Terry said...

I beg to differ in your assessment of your photo. It has all the elements of good composition, I think. The line of skaters leads the eye right into the picture; the straight uprightness of the building behind is almost a comic contrast to the various angles the skaters find themselves in. I like the young man in the middle - he seems concerned about the little boy you mentioned who was floundering.
Good job!

Virginia said...

Terry,
How nice of you to say so. It's always good to hear the opinions of other photographers.

Wong,
You are so right. In 2009 they had garden plots there during the summer!

Genie,
Believe it or not, I've never ice skated and I'm sure not starting that foolishness at this stage of my life! :)

Julie,
5-13 janvier.

Lasse,
Thanks for following my blog. Come by often!

Shell,
I can envision a SS illo! :)

Daryl said...

Not poorly composed .. a totally wonderful spontaneous shot of people having a grand time!

La Brocanteuse said...

hello Genie, thank you for your kind words on my blog~much appreciated. you know that your blog is one of my regular "fixes" thank you for sharing. warmest regards Colette

Starman said...

The ice skating rinks (there is one in Montparnasse also and sometimes even on la Tour Eiffel, on the first level) are set up up every year around the middle of December until late February, early March.

Alexa said...

Love this shot. I wouldn't be able to skate AND take pictures—guess which one I'd choose. How about you, V?

Nathalie said...

Oh l'hotel de ville - I expect to see THAT kiss any time now... ice-staking of course!

TheChieftess said...

Fun shot!!! I like that there's plenty of room for everybody to skate...They constructed a small ice skating rink in the parking lot of one of the restaurants here, way to small to really enjoy!

Virginia said...

Starman,
You are the best expert on all things Paris. I think we should have hooked up long ago and done this blog as a team. I thank you for all the links and details that you share with me and my readers.
Bises!!
V

Nathalie,
oh yes THE KISS! :)

Chieftess,
This is a wonderful rink and just look at the gorgeous backdrop!

Owen said...

I would tend also to disagree that this is poorly composed, on the contrary, one cannot help but be enchanted by all the slices of life here, like in a Bruegel painting of ice skaters in Holland centuries ago. The young lady in the center is enchanting also in her simplicity of form.

Virginia said...

Owen,
Merci. I always enjoy your take on my photographs. I hope we get to have some time to shoot together very soon.
a bientôt,
V

Laurent said...

Almost a Doisneau picture ...

Elizabeth said...

Delightful photo. I love that it is in B&W.

En bild för dagen said...

Jag önskar dig en riktigt GOD JUL & GOTT NYTT ÅR fylld med mycket frid, lycka och nya motiv.
Jag vill även tacka för alla fina kommentarer under året på EN BILD FÖR DAGEN.
Janne.