Paris is a Photo Op
Like an addict, I was drawn to Paris Photo almost every day of the four day fair, including opening night last Wednesday night — not open to the public, but more crowded than any other period.
It was a massive display of fine art photography at the Carrousel du Louvre, with more than 100 exhibitors from 12 countries. The spotlight this year was on Japanese photography and the largest contingent of exhibitors outside of France came from the USA with 18 galleries.
Old friend and past colleague, Theresa Luisotti, of Gallery Luisotti, Los Angeles, exhibited “The New German School of Landscape.” Janet Borden, New York, had a fine showing of “Parr-O-Rama,” a mini-retrospective of British photographer Martin Parr’s works from the 1970s and more recent. (What a fabulous sense of humor!) Yasumasa Morimura’s self portraits were on display at MEM, Osaka — posing as iconic Hollywood Stars.( I wanted one of each.) Bonni Benrubi had a smattering of my favorite model, Lisa Fonssagrives Penn, photographed by her first husband, Fernand Fonssagrives (that had me yearning to take one home).
Joel-Peter
Witkin, who has been described by journalist Cintra Wilson as a “born pervert,” was standing in front of his recent works on display by Baudoin Lebon, Paris, ready for a quick chat about his “darkly imaginative photography” and his unconventional life style. I’ve always found intense beauty within his grotesque human spectacles.
Exhibitors said that business was good in spite of the economic crisis…that the serious collectors where there, investing in photography as real assets more likely to hold their values than their stocks and bonds. Most of the works had “red dots” next to their notations indicating they had been sold.
Paris is a perfect venue for photography. Everyone carries a camera here. One must. There is so much beauty to capture at every turn. Face it, Paris is a constant “photo-op.” It’s no wonder Paris is the most photographed city in the world. And it’s no wonder its residents appreciate photography so much, in all its forms.
And it’s no wonder my daughter caught the photo fever. Her passion is to be the “eyes behind the lens.” See her latest photographic works on display on November 21st, when 150 of her favorite fashion and travel photos will be exhibited on a big-screen rotating slideshow at “Touch” Nightclub in New York City. (Scroll down for more information.)
A la prochaine…
Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris
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P.S. If you’ve got the bug, too, then take the course that will get you started taking great photos. Click here to find out more: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/phc/09
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