I don’t know why, but last week during a day in which it rained continuously, I went snap happy photographing umbrellas. The umbrella images that I posted already were pretty straightforward depictions, albeit somewhat artistic. Here are a few images in which I loosed my creative impulses to capture something a little different.
The red umbrella in the first image really stands out, but there are a few other details that caught my eye. The normally transparent panels on the Pont des Arts have become a bit translucent because of the rain drops, adding a nice effect. You may also notice the cluster of locks on the lamppost.
The two last facts that I mentioned are related. Years ago someone came up with the way that lovers should get locks with their engraved names and affix them to a Parisian bridge as they declare their eternal love. This has turned into a huge problem—there are now locks everywhere in Paris—and there has been a partial collapse of a bridge caused by the additional weight of the locks. According to an article by the group No Love Locks, Parisian authorities decided in 2014 to replace the mesh grates on the Pont des Arts, covered with locks estimated to weigh 60 metric tonnes, with the transparent panels. Obviously that has not deterred people from finding new locations for the locks—the organization I mentioned has a slogan that grabbed my attention, “Free your love. Save our bridges.”
When I took the second photo, just as was the case with the first one, I was standing on one of the paths along the Seine River and shooting at an upward angle. We often use our umbrellas as protection, from the rain as well as from others, and this shot up under the umbrella has an unusual, almost intimate feel to it.
It is hard to explain why I like the final shot. Maybe it is because of the reflected lights on the wet pavement, or the fallen leaves, or the people walking, bounded on one side by the row of trees and on the other by the covered green stalls of the bouquinists (booksellers). It is the kind of image that I could imagine turning into a painting.
So there you have it, a curious mix of images. Before I set out on this trip to Paris, I remember warning readers my postings would be atypical, and possibly a bit strange during my time here. I think this posting is the result of consciously trying to express myself “outside of the box” in a way that is fun and yet a little scary.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
You know Mike, these are awesome. Your photography truly has heART. I love them all but the first photo in particular is really outstanding.
Thanks, Liz. If I had been doing portrait style shooting, that’s the kind of environmental shot that I might have done. It’s a little harder when you don’t have a subject that you can control. I tried to will her telepathically to walk slowly enough and keep her head up. 🙂
She was a perfect model for you. Her facial expression is so serene like the weather doesn’t faze her one bit. She’s so good actually that I’d wondered if you’d managed to find someone to pose for you!
No. I was in a good spot when I spotted the bright red umbrella and tracked her as she walked along the bridge. I still feel a bit like a stalker when doing something like this, but was far enough away that I don’t think she had a clue about what I was doing.
I read this to Nigel, we both had a good laugh!
Love the first image, Mike. The contrasting “color” of the umbrella juxtaposed with the dreary elements beyond. M 🙂
It has been so nice seeing the “other side” of Mike’s photography. You really have a great eye for composition, light and color.
Thanks, Dan, for your very kind words. A lot of my “success” comes from having an innate curiosity that causes me to look everywhere for things that are interesting, beautiful, or “cool” in some way.
I’ve been enjoying your Paris photo series very much, Mike. Partly because it is neat to see the city through your eyes, but also who doesn’t love Paris? It has so much that is unique to it.
That last shot is painterly, reminds me of Childe Hassam.
Thanks, Eliza. So often we carefully curate the view that others have of us, adopting a role to play or an image to portray. I am trying to show a pretty unfiltered view of things that have caught my eye here in Paris.
I regret to say that my art history knowledge is woefully inadequate–I had to do an internet search to find out who Childe Hassam was. He was amazingly prolific and I found a few of his paintings that had the same feel as the photo you identified. In my education in college I spent a lot of time on literature to the virtual exclusion of art. Maybe it is time to rebalance those two areas in my life. 🙂
When I met my husband we had little money living/working in Boston. Many museums had open free hours every week, so we went there often (something we still do today, though we do pay!). We both love Impressionist art especially. So that was the extent of my art education! 😉
I live in Northern Virginia, not very far from Washington DC. Given that entrance is free to the Smithsonian Museums, I have no excuse for not immersing myself more often in art.
Free is even better! 😉
Thanks, Mike. I had missed this post, and i enjoyed reading it and love the images.
[…] in Paris‘ that shows the November version of the painting, and a link to the post ‘A few more umbrellas in Paris‘ that shows the photo on which the paintings were […]