Friday, September 16, 2011

Un bon livre dans le parc *


Jardin du Luxembourg

Everywhere you go in Paris, especially the parks, you will find readers.  As a former teacher I think this
says a lot about the French. They read books on the Métro, waiting for the bus, while in cafés, in the parks.  They don't waste a minute, always a book in hand.  A nation of readers.  What a concept.


* Thank you Genie for the translation!

I"m gathering a group of photographers for my Snapshots to Photographs class. I'll teach them in October for five weeks. This series is designed for amateur photographers with any type digital camera. Want to improve the quality of your photographs?  Live in the Birmingham AL area? Contact me!

20 comments:

French Girl in Seattle said...

Love this shot. Yes, the French love their books. I like this pic for another reason though. I have just found two chairs by the same company that makes them for the Luxembourg gardens, here in Seattle! So proud! ;-) Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Witness said...

wow!what a nice shot:)

Unknown said...

Love this B&W. It inspires tranquility. (and I envy her...that's something I very often do at weekends or lunch time while working - reading in the park).

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Beautifully composed... a young woman wrapped in her world, unaware of anyone else in the park. The sheer voile hem of her dress is a contrast to your other "reader" in the shadows... love this one, V

Bises,
G

M said...

This is a beautiful photo! It inspires me to dress up and take a book to the park .... hmmmm it's going to be another 100+ day .... guess reading in the park will either have to wait a few months or I have to go to Paris!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

This looks like the perfect situation, reading a book in the sun in a beautiful garden in Paris. So glad she isn't reading on an iPod thingy..Beautiful picture Virginia.

Daryl said...

NYers are like that with Kindles and Nooks ...

Starman said...

I don't think it's because they like to read, I think it just gives them an excuse to not make eye contact with anyone.

Fábio Martins said...

A great momment registed!

Paris Paul said...

Black & white was such the right choice for this shot!

And I can confirm what you said about Parisians reading. As I writer, it does my heart good to see people WALKING in the métro or down the street, book in hand. I'll try to get a shot fo this for my blog!

Alexa said...

And they don't judge their books by their covers, as most of them are plain white! This is a lovely portrait, V. I sat in the Flore one day a few years ago and there were two young women (much like this one) across from me—and one was reading to the other!

-K- said...

Great photo, Virginia.

And I, never having been to France, never knew they are a nation of readers.

As much as I can tell, we're becoming a nation of i-phone scrollers which is not nearly as photogenic as what you're giving us.

Virginia said...

-K-.
I think they are, but I'm not a Parisian. What I see everywhere are people reading real books. It has made me be more aware and now I keep a book in the car for times when I'm eating alone or standing in a line somewhere. And I m ust agree. All I see here are people hunched over their damn phones! WHAT?!!!

Mrs. Vandertramp said...

Oh, to be reading a good book in the Luxembourg! And I want her shoes.

Virginia said...

Mrs. V, you made me stop and have another look! Do you suppose she's a tap dancer by night? :)

Thirtytwo degrees said...

Nice character study...would take your class if I were in Birmingham area...any digital camera will do, huh? Mine has just caved out so I can use mobile phone...need to learn how to take pics with it too. Why don't you make a video and put it on youtube so we can all learn from you?

SCATTI said...

E' la serenità che si respira in quei giardini.

Julie said...

How did she manage two chairs? And there are empty chairs in the background!! There is always a dearth of chairs when I am on the prowl.

GeneMarine said...

I observed the same facts about the reading everywhere. Imagine that, an educated and informed electorate; what a democratic concept. Sadly, our Nation does not seem to hold the same ambitions as the French...

Virginia said...

Genemarine,
Of course. I long to see people in my country devouring a good book rather than their latest email/text on their phones.
V