Raymond Bleesz
26-Sep-2005, 18:22
Bonjour--this material may be out of the ordinary realm of this site, but it may apply to some, so s'il vous plait, excuse moi.
I had the opportunity to spend 10 days in Monte Carlo--as a typical tourist--taking in the sites, doing some shooting.
I took more than enough hardware, yes including b&w 2 1/4 film/camera & tripod as well as smaller stuff. Taking my 4x5 stuff was not planned. The following may be of interest. On a early dawn morning just a few days ago, I set out to shoot the casino utilizing the 2 1/4, b&w film & tripod. Setting up at a specific vantage point, I attracted the attention of the l'agent de police. He asked me what I was doing, & in my broken French, I explained that I was from Estate Unis et le tourist, taking personal photos. My previous observation of the Monte Carlo police was that they are not tolerant at all but very strict & to the book, not forgiving as well as very, very professional. After further questions, I believe he was asking me if I was a professional, (tripod work), working with proper papers, etc., etc. I suppose they have the same concerns & issues as we do here--security, proper documentation, the rights to photograph public sites, etc.. He allowed me to continue my work.
On another day, I went to the Palace with a hand held 35mm. I planned to do a portrait of a palace guard, white hat & pressed white uniform. I sought out a guard who was attending a side door to the palace, one who was not the main guard at the palace. I approached him in conversation, a 29 year old career soldat who said he signed up for a 4 year contract as a palace guard. He allowed me to photograph him. As I was doing so, (I was thrusting my camera withing inches of his face, wide angle & I could see him starting to sweat under the untypical tourist type manner of shooting, yet he was allowing me to do so) he politely excused himself, stepped aside, & saluted Le Commandant as he walked bye me from behind. Then allowing me to continue my portrait session with him. I felt my luck was running as good as it got & said merci et bonjour.
On a side journey, I went to the small historic petite village of St. Paul, (one of the must see tourist villages). In the tourist info center at the main enterance of the fortified mideaval village, on the second & third floors, there was a very find collection of b&w paparazzi photos of the Hollywood 60's & 70's film stars----the Cary Grants, & Sophia Loren's, film stars who visited the petite village, Cannes et Monte Carlo. The paparazzi collection was that of one photographer, a well known paparazzi who apparently was well liked by his subjects. The black & white slicks were taken with flash/Rollie. The name of the photographer slips my mind. It was a very extensive collection. It appeared to me that the paparazzi then was more tolerated than they are today, in fact, this paparazzi was sought after by the movie people.
In the city of Nice, there was the "Theatre de la Photographie et de L'image" repository of present & historical documentary images, in particular that of Charles Negre & others. This organization was a ICP type, where serious study can be done. The Brazillian collection of Jequin Paiva was being shown. The Paiva collection was very extensive, the subject matter & photographers being of South America--There were a few Salgado images there was well------the Paiva collection was superb, a collector whom I was not aware of.
On the French culture side
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Posts: 49 | From: Edwards, Co | Registered
I had the opportunity to spend 10 days in Monte Carlo--as a typical tourist--taking in the sites, doing some shooting.
I took more than enough hardware, yes including b&w 2 1/4 film/camera & tripod as well as smaller stuff. Taking my 4x5 stuff was not planned. The following may be of interest. On a early dawn morning just a few days ago, I set out to shoot the casino utilizing the 2 1/4, b&w film & tripod. Setting up at a specific vantage point, I attracted the attention of the l'agent de police. He asked me what I was doing, & in my broken French, I explained that I was from Estate Unis et le tourist, taking personal photos. My previous observation of the Monte Carlo police was that they are not tolerant at all but very strict & to the book, not forgiving as well as very, very professional. After further questions, I believe he was asking me if I was a professional, (tripod work), working with proper papers, etc., etc. I suppose they have the same concerns & issues as we do here--security, proper documentation, the rights to photograph public sites, etc.. He allowed me to continue my work.
On another day, I went to the Palace with a hand held 35mm. I planned to do a portrait of a palace guard, white hat & pressed white uniform. I sought out a guard who was attending a side door to the palace, one who was not the main guard at the palace. I approached him in conversation, a 29 year old career soldat who said he signed up for a 4 year contract as a palace guard. He allowed me to photograph him. As I was doing so, (I was thrusting my camera withing inches of his face, wide angle & I could see him starting to sweat under the untypical tourist type manner of shooting, yet he was allowing me to do so) he politely excused himself, stepped aside, & saluted Le Commandant as he walked bye me from behind. Then allowing me to continue my portrait session with him. I felt my luck was running as good as it got & said merci et bonjour.
On a side journey, I went to the small historic petite village of St. Paul, (one of the must see tourist villages). In the tourist info center at the main enterance of the fortified mideaval village, on the second & third floors, there was a very find collection of b&w paparazzi photos of the Hollywood 60's & 70's film stars----the Cary Grants, & Sophia Loren's, film stars who visited the petite village, Cannes et Monte Carlo. The paparazzi collection was that of one photographer, a well known paparazzi who apparently was well liked by his subjects. The black & white slicks were taken with flash/Rollie. The name of the photographer slips my mind. It was a very extensive collection. It appeared to me that the paparazzi then was more tolerated than they are today, in fact, this paparazzi was sought after by the movie people.
In the city of Nice, there was the "Theatre de la Photographie et de L'image" repository of present & historical documentary images, in particular that of Charles Negre & others. This organization was a ICP type, where serious study can be done. The Brazillian collection of Jequin Paiva was being shown. The Paiva collection was very extensive, the subject matter & photographers being of South America--There were a few Salgado images there was well------the Paiva collection was superb, a collector whom I was not aware of.
On the French culture side
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 49 | From: Edwards, Co | Registered