Paul Strand photo, "Young Boy."

[r.e.]

I intend to rely heavily on the generosity of my hosts, while making a sincere, if hopeless effort to demonstrate my admiration for their language and culture. The strategy has served me well elsewhere. I find my French improves when I drink heavily and keep my mouth stuffed with croissants. At least it seems that way to me.

You're in, you're a natural. One caveat. Not sure that it is a good idea to be drinking wine at the same time as you are eating croissants. There's a bit of a time of day issue there. Maybe try an espresso, or a café crème, with the croissants? OK, if you want to go for it, a glass of champagne

[Jay DeFehr]

Not sure that it is a good idea to be drinking wine at the same time as you are eating croissants.

It will be ok, because I plan to frequently insert, "No soy de aqui".

[r.e.]

It will be ok, because I plan to frequently insert, "No soy de aqui".

In France, not sure that No soy de aqui is the best phrase.

Try Je suis un étranger.

The tricky part is real life pronunciation. It's "shwee AtrangA" shwee = je suis = I am. The word "un", meaning "a", gets dropped in real life. AtrangA = foreigner.

But if you want to be proper, or very pointed, as distinct from colloquial, you can also say Je swee un AtrangA" But that ain't what you'll hear 95% of the time.

French doesn't work like Spanish. In many ways, it's more like English. Words get run together.

[Jay DeFehr]

I think no soy de aqui makes my point pretty well.

[r.e.]

I think no soy de aqui makes my point pretty well.

I suspect that a lot of people in France, in Paris and especially in the south-west, will know what it means

But you know, if you're reasonably laid back, you won't need that phrase.

[atlcruiser]

My trick with the French has always been to speak my southern English very loudly.

[Annie M.]

Richard...

Here is a clip of Richard Benson discussing Strand... Benson is a master printer and did the limited editions for Aperture Foundation and some of Strand's portfolios in Strand's darkroom in France. The clip refers to gravure however there is a nice bit about Strand's varnishing & printing style.

Also, the Strand archive is at Aperture Millerton, the second link will take you to the blog where you can see some entries about Strand... posted in the Work Scholar trip thread the archivist is holding one of Strands cameras.

Good wishes for your quest for excellence... Annie

http://www.benson.readandnote.com/vi...t-photogravure

http://www.aperture.org/exposures/?tag=paul-strand

[BrianShaw]

I think no soy de aqui makes my point pretty well.

My foreign language skills are rusty. Does that mean "I am not here" or "I don't want to be here"?

[Wayne Lambert]

It means "I'm not from here."

[BrianShaw]

...