Free The Trees

New Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles N°3 ~ Free the Trees ~

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Between the harsh reality of the rocks and the mushy miasma of the human mind lie the trees.
 
The trees are our friends but we have mistreated them. They don't punish us but they don't forgive us either.
 
We have fun chopping them down, cutting them up and burning them, but the biggest joke will be when we desperately raise our eyes to escape the coldness of the cement beneath our feet only to discover a concrete jungle over our heads.
 
It is the absence of trees that will be our greatest punishment.

And why not...

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© 2018 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Daze of Wonder

New Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles N°2 ~ Daze of Wonder ~

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They say that the hardest part of a new project is getting started. The second hardest part is finishing the damn thing. And then there's the bit in the middle.
 
This is the bit in the middle and it's going to last 999 daze. I mean days. I started yesterday so the worst is over, with only day 1001 to seriously worry about.
 
Do come along for the ride but I have to admit I don't know where I'm going. Lady Eiffel and her pals will be looking after us though, so how does that sound? Cool.

And why not...

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© 2018 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

1001: A Paris Odyssey

New Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles N°1 ~ 1001: A Paris Odyssey ~

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The most extraordinary adventure starts with a single step. And before that the idea of an adventure. Or maybe just the idea of a single step.
 
The last 24 years of my life started with the purchase - and its idea - of a single, cheap ticket to Paris.
 
The next 1001 days of my life - and yours - start here, with this image and 101-odd words.
 
I invite you to join me. It’s more fun together - who knows what might happen. Who’d want to?

And why not...

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© 2018 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Morbleu Marine

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Morbleu Marine ~

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Goodness. No, I'm not talking about the subject of this photo, nor what we should exhibit towards her. I'm thinking: "Goodness, has it really been another almost a year since I last tried to kick start may favourite blog of them all?" Yep, this one.

As for Marine, I'm neither for nor against her for the purposes of this post. Let the picture(s) speak and your imagination do the rest.

There's always something melancholy about post election posters. All that energy, that passion, that earnestness - real or imagined - reduced in the space of a day to so much peeling propaganda for all but one.

What's it all for? Did we "Choose France" in as much as that has any meaning, which it doesn't of course. And I can't vote here anyway.

Do we really believe we "chose" our president through the electoral process and can now relax knowing that our will has been done and that our future is in the safe hands of our democratic system? Does anyone actually have the slightest idea what the frog is going on in this godforsaken country or planet for that matter? Just asking.

And why not...

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© 2017 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Balloon New World

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Balloon New World ~

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What I've got is a few pics hanging over from where I left off two years ago, about 150 square shots which I've put on Instragram and used for some English vocabulary and grammar quizzes, and a whole load of other stuff hanging around that I haven't done anything with. Where to start!

Well this'll do. In a period of despondency and disillusionment, wandering around the Esplanade des Invalides, what should I see but a tree, in the midst of autumn, which has quite clearly decided to say "Fuck that!" to the norms of the leafless season!

That cheered me up a lot, from what I can remember, and this is typical of some of the best shots: you can't predict them and you can't hurry them. You just have to be ready and willing to wander around with your eyes, mind and heart open and See What Happens. And it always does in the end...

And why not...

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© 2016 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Defense de Fumer Pt.3

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Defense de Fumer Pt.3 ~

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This is the last in my three-part series started over two years ago and which I'm only finishing now. Phew, that was a wait, wasn't it? And to think I used to post a photo and some thoughts every day for 1000 days in a row.

It just goes to show that life changes and we have to adapt to it. You can always come back later to where you left off it's right for you, which is what I'm doing now!

I NEVER lost my love for Paris or creative street photography, I was just in a bit of a hiatus and needed to sort some thing out.

I'll let you into a secret: I'm now 50 years old and in a few days I'll be 51. I'm using this significant number to forge ahead with a new reality as well as getting back to some of the things I love, like this blog. Glad to be back!

And why not...

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© 2016 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Defense de Fumer Pt.2

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Defense de Fumer Pt.2 ~

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Well, that was a bit of a gap, you could say. Over two years since my last Paris & I photo blog post. Wow. As you can tell from the last post, which should be visible just below this one (from two years ago), I wasn't feeling very inspired. Luckily, that's all changed.

Now I feel too inspired! So lots of ideas are flowing and pics are popping and who knows where it will all lead!

In case you're interested, you can follow all my latest creative output on my new, all encompassing home for aficionados, here: Sab Lab, and if you aren't, then don't - I won't be offended!

So this pic was number two in a series of three and I'll finish that off now. Thanks for sticking around, and watch out for lots more Paris pics and parables to come :-)

And why not...

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© 2016 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Defense de Fumer Pt.1

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Defense de Fumer Pt.1 ~

Defense de Fumer Pt.1, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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It was a blazy, bleary day on the steps of the Grande Arche at La Defense, the business district to the west of Paris. Things were looking down.

Well, I was anyway, sandwich munching away on my perch a good few steps up from the perpetual criss-crossing of the busy-buzzy worker bees.

And then it happened. I remembered my trusty old iPhone, which had helped me publish pics for more than 1000 continuous days. Back then when I was inspired. Occasionally I get flashbacks...

And why not...

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© 2014 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Laugh? I (Almost) Fell Through The Window

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Laugh? I (Almost) Fell Through The Window ~

Laugh? I (Almost) Fell..., a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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As fate would have it, here I am again, teaching English at the British Council in... wait for it... did you guess.. could it possibly be... yes! Paris.

And just by chance, here is one of the most wonderful sunsets you could ever hope for. Only that it's a bit exaggerated as I was being absolutely blinded as I took the shot and it was only with some sneaky post processing that I achieved the final result. Which some of you will hate, I concur.

But there you go. It was a moment and that moment was then and here it is for you now, so there.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2014 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Revolution Under Foot

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Revolution Under Foot ~

Revolution Under Foot, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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The Paris metro has recently thrown the spotlight on one of its most fascinating historical vestiges: some of the remains of the Bastille poking through a platform at the metro station of the same name.

Indeed, until now inattentive bustling commuters were in danger of missing the significance of the pile of old stones altogether, probably cursing the damn things into the bargain.

There are quite a few signs of the doomed prison around the city if you know where to look, but none more surprising and unexpected than those you can see here.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2014 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Looking Through You

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Looking Through You ~

Looking Through You, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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Spring is in the air, and it's time to hit the banks of the Seine again. And one of the nicest places to do that is by strolling through the curious open air sculpture museum on the Left Bank.

Although it's rather in need of some rejuvenation in the form of new creative pieces, it remains an interesting and pleasant experience.

Here's one of my favourites; a hollowed out, punched through, sensually carved block of white marble which offers original way of admiring your surroundings, including the Seine itself of course.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2014 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

On A Carousel

On A Carousel, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

If there's one thing we can thank Christmas for, it's colourful lights.

Here's a whirly twirly carousel to wrap your eyes around I took using a fancy slow exposure setting which gives a nice effect whilst protecting innocent children's identities.

Paris is full of these brightly lit roundabouts, seemingly at every tourist hot spot and busy intersection so keep your eyes open for them and see what you can do with a little camera phone.

Dutifully Devoted

Dutifully Devoted, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

One for the festive season, not that my allegiances lie in this sort of establishment particularly.

It's a fair turnout, I suppose, for a fairly average service (not Christmas, in fact).

There are still a few people who go to church at the allotted time other than tourists and curiosity seekers.

The lighting's delightfully contrasty and impossible for my little iPhone camera to deal with but it gives it a certain something I guess. Peace.

Tartan Tales

Tartan Tales, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

Sitting in a Paris pub you don't generally expect to see a picture of a bellicose sabre-wielding Scot, nor a list of the principle clans on the wall.

This is reality, however, in one of Paris' two or three Scottish watering holes, either the Highlander, the Auld Alliance or the Thistle, I can't quite remember which.

I was born in Edinburgh, and my grandfather, from the Highlands, was always adamant about us having a tartan and wore it proudly. I've never worn a kilt, but I think I had a pair of tartan trousers at one point in my early years. Thanks mum. The photo's unfortunately been misplaced...

Blue Is The Colour

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Blue Is The Colour ~

Blue Is The Colour, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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Another of those bizarre Paris passages, and quite a striking one, with that ethereal blue of the sort they put under certain bridges for reasons known only to themselves.

Does it entice you in or repel you? I'm ambivalent but the image pleases me, and that's what counts as far as I'm concerned.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Graffiti Head

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Graffiti Head ~

Graffiti Head, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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I don't know what it was that attracted me to this particular defiled poster. Maybe it was the blatant disregard for the feelings of the model if she were ever to see it. Or the total lack of respect for yet another stupid advertising campaign.

Maybe the scrawler wasn't even thinking on that level and just wanted to get their name out there.

Whatever, it's a nice contrast in messages which has been noted, for better or for worse.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Ball Battering

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Ball Battering ~

Ball Battering, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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Some structures are more welcoming than others.

This particular one, despite being brightly lit and energetically populated, doesn't do anything for me.

It's down on the banks of the river Seine at the end of a rather creepy descent towards the water and a few lonesome barges (and the Paris open air sculpture park) and is where certain individuals chose to spend their evenings battering away at their balls. Ping pong balls in this case.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.