Process 106 ☼ Capturing Paris: Chronicles of Art, Friendship, and Inspiring Moments
Dear friends,
In this week's letter, I am excited to share the story of my recent trip to Paris, offering you a glimpse through the lens of my trusty Hasselblad 500cm.
The experience was nothing short of inspiring, enriched by precious moments spent with dear friends. The abundance of pictures from the trip has led me to compile an extra bonus Paris photo essay, ready for your exploration on my website, courtesy of my friends at Squarespace.
Housekeeping
I am currently accepting applications for my photo assistant internship. More here.
Oh Paris, I Love You
So there I was, walking the cobbled streets of Paris, a city pulsating with energy so captivating that even the air felt charged with stories waiting to be told. I found myself in this beautiful city to rendezvous with my dear friends Lily and Gavin. They traveled from New York on a final escapade before parenthood embraces them. Lily, a true Paris devotee, was ready to unveil the city's secrets to Gavin, a first-time explorer.
I was lucky to stay at my friend Victoria’s Montmartre apartment – a lovely little home elegantly perched on the fifth floor, offering an unobstructed vista of Paris' sprawl. From this window, I snapped countless pictures over the course of the next few days. From sweeping panoramas of the charming neighborhood, to intimate snapshots of passersby, and workers diligently mending the city's crown.
Paris had me hooked – its metropolitan pulse, the kaleidoscope of faces, and the unexpected sunshine peeking through the clouds. Each corner presented a story, each bookshop an inviting nook of wisdom waiting to be explored. Amidst the sounds of the city, a familiar and subtle Texan drawl echoed – my photographer friend Carl Fehres, who recently relocated from Houston. We spent some time together and shared tea with some delightful local photographer friends. Cameras everywhere.
A highlight burned bright on my Parisian canvas: an opening at the Yellow Cube Gallery, a small yet brave sanctuary of creativity presenting a retrospective of Raul Diaz's masterful polaroids. The art, the visitors, the ambiance – they all worked together to fan the flames of inspiration I had been nursing since I arrived.
At this opening, I met a fascinating bunch of people immersed in various aspects of the photography world. Their insights and recommendations were generous and included a resounding chorus guiding me toward the city's celebrated photo bookstores. This included a resolute endorsement of Ofr, a respected independent photo bookstore that has graced the scene since the 1990s.
My visit to Ofr was an instant revelation. The ambiance, the aloof owner, and the tucked-away gallery space all exuded a magnetic charm that sparked many creative ideas for my work and how I can present it. In my conversation with the owner, we even broached the prospect of featuring my own book on their shelves in the future.
As I wandered with my Hasselblad 500cm and a bag full of film, Paris opened its arms wider, introducing me to shop owners (and their shop dogs), people breaking bread on terraces, and engaging street vignettes of Parisian life.
Yet, with all that said, beyond the artistic inspiration, it was the cherished hours spent with Lily and Gavin that etched the deepest impressions. We have been friends for a long time, were neighbors in Brooklyn, and I was at their beautiful wedding. I'll forever hold close our laughter, stories, and shared moments.
Paris, as captivating as a worn novel with its pages ready to divulge secrets, is a mere train ride away from Amsterdam – just 3.5 hours to this wellspring of inspiration. And now, as I sit typing these words, I realize I've only begun to scratch the surface of Paris' allure. Curated glimpses of my journey grace this tale, but a much bigger gallery awaits on my Squarespace website – a calm place that allows these captured whispers to sing in their full glory, away from the cacophony of social media.
So here's my story, a harmonious marriage of experiences and images, an homage to a city that breathed life into my lens and infused my spirit with an unquenchable thirst for more. I look at my budding relationship one I'll continue to develop, as I return, again and again, to bask in its embrace and document my impressions. If you, dear reader, live in Paris, please send me your recommendations.
If you enjoyed this issue it’d be wonderful if you could share it with your friends.
That’s it for this week! ICYMI, Process 102 includes some of my favorite digital images from the French countryside trip I took recently after I left Paris.
Next Week: What is your central theme, as a person? I've come to the realization that what has seemingly been a collection of unrelated professional experiences throughout my life actually contains a robust underlying thread that ties them all together. It was an emotional and powerful realization — more next Sunday.
Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
PS All the work I shot in Paris was lovingly developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab in the world and I’m grateful for our collaboration. Use code “PROCESS” at check out to get a free upgrade.
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: All images included in this issue of Process were shot on the Hasselblad 500cm with a Zeiss Distagon 50mm f/4 C lens.
Film: Kodak Tri-X, Cinestill 400D, Fomapan 100, Fujifilm Neopan 400.
Website: For the past ten years, I’ve hosted my photography website on Squarespace, because it’s the easiest and most elegant way to showcase my photography. I’m not code-savvy at all, but with their easy-to-understand platform and lovely templates, anyone can build a professional-looking website. I can genuinely highly recommend it.
Related: I wrote about the process of re-designing my website in Process 075.
Big shout out to Squarespace for helping make this issue of Process possible. If you need a website, I can’t recommend using Squarespace more. Check out Squarespace and use the code PROCESS10 for 10% off your first order.
The best way to support my work here at Process is to buy my photo book NOTICE.
Oh there is something special about the square format on film and those Zeiss lenses... Paris and your composition bring out the best in the combo too. I love the essay very much Wesley, and it has inspired me to dust off the 500c/m!
Wesley,
I had the joy of two months (Sept & Oct) in Paris last year, my first visit for 4 or 5 years .... it was like bumping into an old lover and suddenly remember how beautiful, witty, sexy and charming they were.
My love of the city grew with each passing day, I discovered the pleasures of being a flâneur, photographed everything, and I simply can't wait to get back there. Maybe in '24 - it's a long way from Australia.