On this date three years ago, I was in Paris and I was struck by the degree to which the French celebrate Armistice Day (Armistice de la Première Guerre mondiale). There were flags all along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and a huge flag was hanging inside the Arc de Triomphe. It was a cold foggy day, which somehow felt appropriate for a solemn day of remembrance.
I too was celebrating and remembering, though in a personal way. I was in the midst of a two week trip to Paris, commemorating the end of almost thirty-four years of working full-time for the government, including twenty years in the US Army. I was on a journey of discovery, though in many ways it was a journey of rediscovery. Although I already owned a Canon Rebel XT DSLR, I had rarely used it, but somehow I decided to take photos every day that I was in Paris and to post ten of them every day in my Facebook account. That experience rekindled my love for photography and I started taking photos regularly, which led to this photography-oriented blog.
When I was in college, I majored in French language and literature and spent a year studying in Paris. Several of my friends noticed that my personality and even the tonality of my voice changed when I was speaking in French. At that time I was quiet and introverted, but when I switched languages, I somehow felt freer to express my emotions and grew to love 19th century romantic poetry, for example. Over the years, my personality has shifted and I have become more like that original French personna.
I sense that a similar process is taking place with photography, as my senses become much more attuned to the natural world and I am experiencing life in a deeper, more self-aware way. I am thankful to Leanne Cole, a delightful Australian photographer, who started me thinking along these lines when she asked me the simple question of why I take photographs as part of an interview that she did in a posting introducing me.
As you celebrate and remember on this day, no matter if you call it Veterans Day, Armistice Day, or simply 11 November, take a moment and ponder this personal question, “Why do you take photographs?”
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
It’s interesting to think about how photography changes one. As a former lab scientist, I think I have become much more observant of the natural wonders in the outdoor environment. When I retired I said I wanted to exercise my right brain (the more creative, less analytical side), and I think photography provides that exercise.
It’s fascinating to make discoveries about yourself. Photography has served you well on a few fronts.
J’aurais toujours un petit faible pour mon pays natal et son drapeau bleu blanc rouge! Lovely thoughts, Mike, about how photography not only allows you to express yourself but also changes you. Chris
Merci, Chris. Je crois qu’il faut répondre en français afin de mieux exprimer mes sentiments. Comme j’ai dit, ma personaité change un peu quand je parle français et ça me donne beaucoup de plaisir de le faire aussi souvent que possible.
Ah mais ce français est parfait! Moi aussi ça me fait plaisir de parler ou d’écrire en français, car à part avec mes parents et ma soeur (tous en France) je n’ai pas souvent l’occasion de le faire. Chris
They do celebrate in style the French. I was lucky enough to be in Paris I think on Bastille Day when the flag was hung from the Arc de Triomphe. It is such a grand site that you cannot help but be moved by the French and their celebration of national pride. Thanks for posting the photos from Paris. It is always so interesting to see how other countries celebrate important days.
I enjoy visiting Paris any time I can, but it’s especially nice when the city is dressed up for a holiday. Here in the US, the holiday has been expanded to include all veterans of all wars and I wonder if schoolkids even learn of the significance of the 11th of November. In fact, in my county in Virginia, kids were at school yesterday, even though the county government was closed.
Here we celebrate all wars on Anzac Day in April but you are right I am not sure if all children know the significance. Usually when I was young they stopped for a minutes silence even in school and on radio and TV they acknowledge it. We do not have a public holiday on that day though. Interesting 🙂
Life is such an amazing journey…You have traveled well.
I too have found the French much more aware of Armistice Day and the sacrifices made by those men. We visited the D-Day beaches around the 60th Anniversary and were welcomed everywhere. Maybe it’s because they were actually occupied and those terrible trenches were in France.
As to why I take photographs, maybe it’s a need to capture the moments in my life that make me smile. There is often too much to worry about or moan about but I want to celebrate those little happy moments.
I love your response to the question about why you take photos. A lot of people don’t think about it, but I think there is value in pausing and reflecting on that question periodically.