Re: [Leica] Trip to Paris

[Guy Bennett <gbennett@lainet.com>]

>Robert G. Stevens wrote:
>> My wife and I are planning a trip to Paris next month.
>> I am thinking of just leaving the R8 at home and bringing two M6 and an
>> M3. What lenses would you suggest? I have a 15mm Heliar, 24mm ASPH,
>> 35mm Summicron ASPH, 50mm Summicron,Noctilux, 75mm Summilux, 90mm
>> Elmarit, and 135mm f4 Tele-Elmarit.

Bill Satterfield responded in part:
>I went  there last April. Film processing is very expensive in Paris. I
>took two M6s, one black for  B&W film and one chrome for color, a 90 TE,
>35 f/2 and a 50 f/2. Also, a shirt pocket P&S, Olympic Stylus and plenty
>of film. All of this was packed in a Domke 803. Worked real well for me.
>Enjoy your visit and take plenty of money.  You can shoot in the museums
>very well using your f2 lenses and a 400 speed film. I shot Superia 400
>and was well satisfied. It was the first time  I shot color in a Leica
>and the results were truly amazing.


Beware: not all Paris museums will allow you to take pictures. Ask at the
door or look for a "no photography" sign at the entrance, or brave the
sneers - possibly reprimands - of guards and museum employees if you do
take out your camera and start shooting. Also problematic are tripods - not
only in museums, but in any public place - as many have reported (check the
archives details).

If I recall, the national museums (Louvre, Centre Pompidou, etc.) don't
mind photographers, but other museums (Musée d'art moderne de la ville de
Paris, Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain) do, and will come after
you pronto if you try to take pictures. Even the Maison européenne de la
photographie has a "no photography" policy, which is ironic if you think of
how many of the "greats" became so by sneaking pictures of people in public
places (HCB, Boubat, Doisneau, Ronis, Sieff, to mention only a few
Parisians).

Some practical thoughts on lenses: I've found that wider and normal focal
lengths are most useful, simply because space is frequently so tight there.
Unless you're out on the "Grands boulevards," streets are relatively
narrow, restaurants and cafés smallish, buses and subways cramped. There
have been times when a 24 (the widest I've got) hasn't been wide enough. On
the other hand, I've got a fair amount of use out of a 90 there (the
longest I've got), but only when I'm shooting in open spaces where there's
some room between me and my subjects (Jardin du Luxembourg, Tuileries,
Buttes Chaumont, etc.). FWIW, I generally take along 2 M6s with the
following lenses: 24, 35, 50, 90. In order of actual use (most used listed
first), I'd rank them 35, 50, 24, 90. Your mileage may differ.

Finally, if you've got time and you're so inclined, Paris is a great place
to see photography as there are so many museums and galleries that feature
it. I was there over holidays and saw major shows by McCullen, Decker,
Eggleston, and Goldin. I also saw smaller shows in galleries (one by
Leibowitz in particular) that were worthwhile. You can find info on what's
happening where in L'Officiel des spectacles. You can likewise pick up a
little book called "La photographie à Paris" in any decent bookstore. It's
got listings for everything to see and do in Paris that's related to
photography.

Have a great trip.

Guy
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