In the bright Los Angeles afternoon, hours before the official opening, the serious and wealthy collectors come. Brad Pitt walks around unbothered but not unnoticed. The streets are scarcely populated and it feels like a whole lot of effort has been made just for these few people. At seven, the light begins to fade and the opening officially begins. Long lines of valets for the VIP guests, trays of Champagne as you alight from your car and suddenly the place starts to come alive. Moby walking in, Orlando Bloom walking by, a million beautiful women, more even than you can see on Rodeo Drive, this must be Hollywood after all. The crowd begins to generate its own excitement “Did you see this?” “So and so has moved over there” “HI! How ARE you?” and as the day becomes night it begins to feel like a block party crossed with a gallery opening. There are crowds everywhere in the streets. There are people moving through the galleries. There are beautiful people looking at beautiful images and at this moment it feels like Photo Paris is the best possible place you could be. Tomorrow we will look at the photography, check out the books and panels, get serious about it all. Tonight is opening night, not to be missed if you can be there.
Photographs and story by Andy Romanoff – all rights reserved.
