May 2013

Lectio #32 Paris, France 2013

You can read just about everything, including the classics, on smartphones anymore. I have no idea what this young woman was actually engrossed in, but the surroundings make it hard to imagine it was War and Peace.]]>

Neighbors Paris, France 2013

Two women greet each other as they move through a passageway on their daily rounds.

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Lectio #31 Paris, France 2013

Back in the 20s Hemingway and company used to spend their days in Paris writing in cafes around the city. Now reading, rather than writing seems to have taken over. Well, texting and tweeting is also going on which is at least nominally writing. But somehow I don’t think 90 years from now anyone’s going to be reading or talking about the great American tweet” written back in the early years of the century.]]>

The Hostages Versailles, France 2013

I suppose it’s a sign of the times that I found the method they use to protect statues at the Palace of Versailles from the winter weather mildly disturbing. I hate to post the photo below because it is truly disturbing but it’s what these statues made me think of.

Abu Ghraib Prison 2003

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Late Shift Paris, France 2013

A lone worker in bistro that didn’t seem to have any customers.

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Lectio #30 Paris, France 2013

This was in the courtyard of the hotel we stayed at the airport before leaving Paris. Looks like the bush behind the guy is reading over his shoulder, maybe even trying to turn the page. I really find the round vent, or light fixture next to the guy’s leg distracting. Probably should have taken it out.]]>

Lectio #29 Paris, France 2013

A little literary window shopping.

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The Art Spirit by the painter Robert Henri, which I had started some time ago but never finished. In it I had flagged a quote from Henri on the intro page that described his thoughts about the genesis of art. I often wonder why I photograph. This quote sheds some light on that for me because I too occasionally have moments when I seem to see beyond the usual; at least beyond the usual for me. Here is what he said:

There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented. Sign-posts on the way to what may be. Sign-posts on the way to what ma be. Sign-posts toward greater knowledge.

–Robert Henri

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Walk Out in the Rain Paris, France 2013

It didn’t rain that much while we were in Paris, but boy does this photo represent what’s been going on around here in our part of Montana the last couple of weeks. The amount of rain (several inches) we’ve received during this time doesn’t even amount to what locations in the Midwest often see in a single day, but given we get an average of only 15″ in a year it’s a big deal.]]>

Cathedral Cross Paris, France 2013

What do they call that spot where a cathedral’s long axis and short axis cross over? I forget. I also have forgotten for the moment exactly which cathedral this is. Doesn’t matter, whichever one it is, I like the abstract nature of this view.]]>