+87

As you may (but probably don't) know, I'm in a history of photography class over here in London...going through my assigned chapter today, I suddenly felt compelled to let you see what kinds of images grab my fancy. (Just another from of procrastination? Yes, probably.)

Garry Winogrand

Robert Doisneau

Dmitri Baltermants

Man Ray

+87

Yesterday I spent some quality hours walking around Hyde Park (literally around, which is about 4 miles) and then perusing the Southbank. The Southbank, though highly populated/touristy on gorgeous weekends like yesterday, is still a place I find my self returning time and time again. Yesterday was the first time I saw the whole operation in full swing, and the entire sidewalk was crawling with pedestrians and "living statues" and entertainers with their musical instruments. I cannot imagine the kind of stamina someone must have to be a street performer, or the dedication. So many people pass by, willing to enjoy your work without compensating you for it...they can't be doing it for the money, can they? I'm not sure. Anyway, I went to the Southbank with the express purpose of finding a Chocolate Festival advertised on Time Out London's website, but it was poorly advertised and not as "festival-y" as I'd hoped. I managed to resist the temptation to buy reasonably priced gourmet chocolates, and of this I am quite proud.

As I rode the tube back, I snacked on roasted peanuts and practiced my lip-reading (which becomes more complicated when people aren't speaking English). About halfway home, a woman entered the car next to mine, Hemi-hound in tow. The waddling bulldog came as a delight to the children sitting in the seats across from him (you don't get a great number of dogs on the subways, but it does happen) and became an instant success (in my mind) when he "broke free" of his person to sprawl out in the middle of the car in front of one of the doors, where he lay the rest of his trip.

+84

Caution: Longest Post Ever?

Yes, there's a possibility that this may be the longest post ever. I put almost all of the pictures I finished with on here, which is a good many. I hope you enjoy looking at them, and I'll try to add in little blurbs here and there.

Out our window, down the streets. We could rent those bikes and take them all over!

Entrance to the Métro, Paris's subway.

Arc de Triomphe

The clouds were gorgeous.

Paris from all the way at the top of the Eiffel Tower!

The Musée D'Orsay

Wings of the Louvre.

Notre Dame in the distance.

Heading into the Louvre.

Some painting...I don't remember which one this was.

Everybody really liked it though.

Notre Dame!

Rose Window!