3 months in Paris - ideas and suggestions

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DabCan10

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Hello Everyone,

My wife and I will be moving to Paris for June through mid-September of 2010 (we are currently in Canada now). She will be taking a pastry chef course while I will be taking care of our 8 month old daughter. We've been to Paris and many other parts of Europe in the past, however it is different to live somewhere vs. visiting.

My question is I am an avid photographer and would love to improve my skills, are there any courses, clubs, or groups that I could join in order to improve? I realize that simply taking pictures is a great way to improve your skills, however I was hoping for something a little more?

I'll have nights free and half of most days. My photographical interests include film (35 and medium) and digital, rangefinder, TLR, and panoramic shots (so basically just about anything...).

Any thoughts out there?
 
3 months in Paris - ideas and suggestions

Hello Everyone,

My wife and I will be moving to Paris for June through mid-September of 2010 (we are currently in Canada now). She will be taking a pastry chef course while I will be taking care of our 8 month old daughter. We've been to Paris and many other parts of Europe in the past, however it is different to live somewhere vs. visiting.

My question is I am an avid photographer and would love to improve my skills, are there any courses, clubs, or groups that I could join in order to improve? I realize that simply taking pictures is a great way to improve your skills, however I was hoping for something a little more?

I'll have nights free and half of most days. My photographical interests include film (35 and medium) and digital, rangefinder, TLR, and panoramic shots (so basically just about anything...).

Any thoughts out there?
 
Well, I don't have any suggestions, sorry. I'm just replying to subscribe to the thread because I'll be in Paris for an extended period as well this summer and want to see what suggestions you do get.

-j
 
I spent four months last year in Kyoto and I just took pictures, and found it incredibly fulfilling - when you are somewhere for a long time, you really have to time to explore and find things that you would never see on a shorter trip, and it's a rare chance to be able to spend so long in a foreign country with so much free time.

I'd be concerned that doing a course or something structured would cut down on the opportunities for this serendipity, though I guess joining a group would be a good way of meeting people in a new city.
 
The French are avidly into photography too and there will be a lot of exhibitions all around Paris for you to visit and see the work of both past masters and the nouveau. That would be a lovely way of seeing the city and learning about photography at the same time. The Fondation HCB is a must.

As for courses, there must be the equivalent of the Central St Martin's Art College in London which provides short courses across a variety of photographic and other art subjects, at many different leves from beginner upwards (http://www.csm.arts.ac.uk/.) I don't know the Paris colleges personally but that would be the sort of institution I would be seeking out in your fortunate position.

Enjoy the pastries too!
 
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DabCan10 said:
(...) I will be taking care of our 8 month old daughter. (...) I'll have nights free and half of most days. (...)
Any thoughts out there?
Click to expand...

Free nights?
Are you sure?
I repeat: 8 month old child -- nights free.

I guess, you have servants for the night, otherwise it's an illusion.

My daughters are nearly 4 and nearly 2 years old now, both absolutely healthy (knock on wood), but I cannot say they would allow me even one free night a week!
 
DabCan10 said:
My wife and I will be moving to Paris for June through mid-September of 2010 (we are currently in Canada now). She will be taking a pastry chef course while I will be taking care of our 8 month old daughter. We've been to Paris and many other parts of Europe in the past, however it is different to live somewhere vs. visiting. (...) Any thoughts out there?
Click to expand...

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but there is another point:

From your point of view, Paris is ahead ca. 6-9 hours.

Is your daughter accustomed to transcontinental time shift? She has to face a new circadian rhythm -- of course you and your wife too -- but I suggest, you should accept:

apart from paying quite a sum for childcare workers (here in Austria, wage floor for an ancilla is EUR 1000 p.m. plus social insurance -- France will be similar), for a responsible parent there is no way having free time ;)
 
radi(c)al_cam said:
I
Is your daughter accustomed to transcontinental time shift? She has to face a new circadian rhythm -- of course you and your wife too -- but I suggest, you should accept:
Click to expand...

Come on. Small children are flying every day without health problems. Other passengers could have more mental/health problems, if a small child cries in a plane for a long time :)
 
I don't know if it's still a good idea but 15 years ago we visited Paris for a few days and did everything by bike. We used the bus-lanes and it was really easy to travel in Paris with a bike. And you see a lot more if you use it instead of taking the subway all the time.
 
the best club is the street

go to the horse races, striqkes etc and you will improve in street photo :)

there is some photo club in paris but shooting in group isn't really interresting :/

further more, to the technical point of view you won't learn more than on the internet

so take the camera, go out and see what happens
 
Thanks for all the input so far, and sorry that it got posted 3 times, not sure how that happened or how to fix it.

My wife is in school part time, so there will be time when she is with the baby and I am left to explore, as for the time change, we are there for 3 months, I expect she'll adjust without too much trouble (we have travelled with her before).

I will look into the suggestions so far, any thoughts on where to buy film in Paris?
 
I was recently in Paris for 2 months. My suggestion is to take recommendations with an open mind. I think Paris is one of the best cities to visit without plans or recommendations, for Paris is all about long walks around the city, exploring the different areas-- to me at least.

Oh, and for camera shops, visit Boulevard Beaumarchais. For cheap film, there is a place that I am will look up for you (I forgot the name), where I bought 50 rolls of Tri-X for around $3.50 USD per roll. This is a good price for film in Paris. I remember being short on film one day and purchasing a single roll of Tri-X for $12 USD.
 
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In Paris, shoot street life every districts, river Seine, monuments and public buildings ( Notre-Dame, Louvre, Tour Eiffel, Champs de Mars, Trocadéro, Bercy, l'île de la Cité, Le Marais, Place des Vosges, La Concorde, Etoile et Arc de triomphe).
 
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