A week in Paris
Gargoyle on top of Notre-Dame de Paris
This year has been the year I participated in workshops!
First was the Portrait and Wedding Photography Masterclass that was held in Budapest in September. That workshop was run by Jeff Medford of Monte Zucker Photographic Education, with instructors Clay Blackmore, David Ziser, Jared Platt and Scott Beer. After that workshop, it was home for a couple of weeks then back to Europe for a street photography workshop run by Valerie Jardin of Valerie Jardin Photography. September and October 2014 were truly memorable months!
Valerie ran two workshops, back to back. The first week was centred around Normandy on the west coast of France, followed by a week in Paris. I was lucky enough to take part in both workshops. I decided if I was going to travel to the opposite side of the globe I should make it worthwhile!
Notre Dame from the banks of the Seine
While both of Valerie’s workshops were fantastic, I’m going to concentrate on the second week in Paris for this post. After a day or two to relax between workshops, it was time to get back into the groove again. I hadn’t done much, if anything, in the way of street photography prior to these workshops. I was very much out of my comfort zone. Valerie made sure everyone of her students was put at ease and she gave some great tips about how to gain confidence in approaching people and “getting the shot”.
Stepping out near the Luxembourg Gardens
Valerie has a genuine passion for photography, and street photography in particular and that passion and enthusiasm shone through on every day of the workshop. It didn’t matter what was happening, what little hiccups presented themselves, Valerie always had an answer and a suggestion. The workshop was well organised and went off without a hitch. Of course, with numerous people and personalities, there is always a potential for angst, but I think everyone of the students on this workshop got along just fine. Everyone was willing to help each other as well as learn from Valerie. It was a truly rewarding week in a truly fantastic city!
Cigarette break at Les Invalides
Paris is also known as the “City of Light”, so no post about Paris would be complete without some of those lights…
The Eiffel Tower from Place du Pantheon
Paris is a wonderful city and it was made even more enjoyable by Valerie Jardin. Her workshops are well worth doing! Check out Valerie’s website for information on upcoming workshops in Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, Normandy, Paris and Melbourne.
