220 ☼ Paris Photo Walk, Lumix GF1 Test, and Why We Show Up
+ new video + GIVEAWAY
Dear friends,
I just got back from a week in Paris which was a great reminder of why I write put in the work here every week to send out a new issue. The Process Photo Walk brought out nearly 40 people on a grey Sunday afternoon, I got to shoot with a 15-year-old camera that cost less than dinner, and I kept running into people at Paris Photo who felt like old friends even when we’d just met.
In this issue: photos from the walk, the camera test, and the fair.
Quick favor before we head to Paris: if Process has been useful to you, would you mind sharing it with a friend or two? There’s a button below that makes it easy. It’s the best way to help keep this thing going, and I’d really appreciate it. Thank you. <3
The Paris Photo Walk Recap
About 40 of us met up across from the Grand Palais on Sunday morning. People coming from as far away as the Bay Area, Australia, and Washington State , and a bunch from Paris itself. Some faces I recognized from last year, others were brand new. We walked, talked, shot some photos, and after about an hour or two half of us sat down for coffee while others kept walking.
My friend Guy, an Amsterdam-based Parisian, kindly helped me map the route, was clutch. And to everyone who showed up: thank you. Your energy made it what it was. I didn’t get to have a conversation with each and everyone of you, but we’ll do it again next year!
Big shout out to MPB.com for keeping this walk free, and to the HOTSHOE team who co-hosted and brought copies of their beautiful magazine for everyone in attendance. Some extra lucky folks got their latest issue, which is a beautiful Stephen Shore monograph that you should check out here.
Street Photography with the Lumix GF1
My latest loaner from MPB was the Panasonic Lumix GF1, a modern classic. It’s from 2009, which in camera years is ancient, but that’s kind of the point. I took it on the photo walk and then spent a few solo mornings in the 11th arrondissement with it in my coat pocket. I’d shot with it before in Amsterdam and loved it then too.
The GF1 is Micro Four Thirds, compact, and has this scrappy charm. I paired it with the 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens and basically had zero excuses not to shoot. Small, light, invisible. And very affordable as a used set.
It has a lot of character and personality, and I like how it renders colors. The images have this slightly gritty, almost film-like quality. It has a built-in flash, full manual controls, and tons of cheap lens options. I could see this fitting in a lot of people’s pockets as a street camera or lightweight travel companion.
Inside Paris Photo (and Outside Too)
This was my second year at Paris Photo and I loved it just as much. Last year I presented my book NOTICE Journal Volume One there, and this year there were copies available at Polycopies, the legendary photo book fair a few kilometers away, as part of the Self-Publishers United booth.
Mostly I wandered around the Grand Palais, about as stunning a building as I’ve ever seen. I ran into friends from Amsterdam, New York, and places in between. I finally got to see my friend Andre Wagner in person after many years, and met up with Coreen Simpson who was finally in Paris to sign and present her new photo book with Aperture. I made some new friends too, including Hannah and Laura (two kind and enthusiatic Danish journalist fresh graduates), and an all around creative fellow from California called Darius.
Darius ended up joining the Process Photo Walk and was kind enough to offer his considerable video talents to help shoot some b-roll during the walk itself for the recap video. This will show up in episode three of my series “She Just…Disappeared?”, this one shot mostly in Paris. Should be ready and posted on my Instagram and YouTube later this week. For now, in case you missed them check out episode 1 and episode 2.
The best part of these events isn’t even the work on the walls (though yes, it’s incredible). It’s the in-between moments and the conversations, and the feeling of community and inspiration. I cannot wait to return next November!
Your Turn - $150 Moment Giveaway
Have you tried any older camera lately? Maybe it’s time to dig one out! Let me know what’s sitting in your drawer by leaving a comment and I will randomly select a winner who will receive this week’s giveaway: a $150 gift card for the Moment shop, to be spent on film, cameras, or accessories.
Next week: I’ll share my complete photographer’s EDC, all the gear and tools I actually carry every day and when I travel.
Talk soon,
Wesley
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This Week’s Camera + Tools
Camera: Panasonic Lumix GF1 + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/2.8
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Zenit 11 with a Helios-44 lens. As for digital cameras, nearly all the ones I use are “old”, dating from 2012 to 2016.
75% of my collection is comprised of older film and digital cameras... where to begin? My favorite is the Panny GM5. Goes with me everywhere. I can adapt older Olympus SLR lenses. For older cameras, regardless of whether MFT or APS-C, the key is zone focusing and manual lenses. However, there are some older P&S that have decent AF, especially Olympus. On another note, I would have loved to have been at Paris Photo. It looked amazing!!