Softly Focused on Paris
When Americans visit Paris and its surrounding environs, they find themselves mesmerized and a bit overwhelmed by France’s great history and cultural perspective. As a frequent visitor to France and Paris, I am no longer overwhelmed; I find myself exploring the Parisian human connection, those tender moments that convey the emotional quality of Parisians’ everyday life. This collection of images is a love letter to Paris, crafted not from the outside looking in but from the heart of someone who walks its streets, intimately familiar with its rhythms and mystery.
Wandering between the cafes, quiet back streets, and family celebrations along beaches, I let the camera capture my thoughts and the soft-focus technique amplified what I felt, which was warm and ethereal. Instead of sharp edges and vivid colors, I sought to envelop my subjects in a dreamlike haze, mirroring the haziness of early morning Paris streets or the fading light at dusk by the Seine.
The choice of a soft-focus image was deliberate, designed to blur the lines between the city’s grand architectural feats and the intimate human moments that breathe life into its urban landscape. In post-production, I chose a darker motif to separate the norm of Parisian life and concentrate on the sublime confidence that each image expresses. This photographic journey through Paris and France using a soft-focus photographic approach captures delicate life moments and highlights the ethereal connection.
Each photo in this collection invites the viewer to linger, to feel the pulse of Parisian life as seen through a misty lens. The muted tones and gentle gradients are not just artistic choices but also an invitation to look deeper and find the nuanced beauty in the mundane. This approach does not capture Paris as it is but instead as it feels—the intangible essence of a city known as much for its monumental history as well as its vibrant life.
