Thursday, August 5, 2010

Quai Malaquais -- des espions?


The nearly deserted and wet Quai Malaquais, entre Pont du Carrousel and Pont des Arts, makes you think about December or January. This photo was taken early in the morning en juin while most of Paris is sleeping. At 6:30am, most of the tourists are asleep too!


(Do you think that these two are spies and getting ready to exchange briefcases sur le quai? I should hide just in case!)

18 comments:

Dianne said...

Bonjour Genie~ I'm not a fickle lover of Paris I love her even when it's cold and wet and deserted. I think I can see a little boulangerie up on the left ~ I'll pop in there for une cafe creme et chocolat croissant ~ That's the beauty of this fabulous city.
~Dianne~

Julie said...

This is superb, Genie. Just the right touch, catching the gentleman halfway down. Lovely wetness, lovely shut magasins, good contrast.

I like to think that he just may be up to something underhand. Beats just going to work to get the accounts done early ...

Shell Sherree said...

A beautiful atmosphere here, Genie!

Nina said...

They are, they are, they are!
We must hide, take my hand and lets RUN!

Virginia said...

The early bird gets the worm. Now I should have know that while I was fast asleep last juin, you were prowling the streets of Paris! Funny I don't remember a wet morning like this, perhaps the sun had come out by the time my toes hit the floor! :)

This is a great shot!!!
V

Unknown said...

Love the aura especially now that I've just read the spy/briefcase thing! :-)

By the way, Genie, I know nothing about photography and I use a basic cybershot camera so, to take a night shot, I just have to find something to put the camera on to work as a tripod. As simple as that! :-)

Vagabonde said...

It is hard to believe that Paris can be so quiet and deserted. Last November when we had to take a very early train at la Gare de Lyon to go to Marseille it was the same. Around the station, which is usually very busy were hardly anyone. It felt so peaceful. Your picture gives the same feeling.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Dianne -- I love to take photos of people, but many of the ordinary places look more interesting without a bunch of tourists in tennis shoes -- hah!

Julie -- Merci, I have another shot with the other "espion" much closer but this one seemed more mysterious.

Shell -- Thanks, I love this time of day and in Paris you can often have it to yourself.

Nina -- I think if you run in Paris and do not have on running clothes, you may indeed be taken as someone who is up to no good! But... if these two acknowledge each other as they pass, we will RUN!

Virginia -- I think that it had rained during the night but as you remember we only had one rainy day in Paris and this was not it. Merci!

JM -- Sometimes I take a shot because the aura is just right. In looking back over the photos it just seemed that they might be up to something.

Thanks for the photo tip. You have a real knack and an artist's eye in your photos. Love your blog.

Vagabond -- I agree, and the nice thing about November is that you do not have to get up sooooo early to get the early daylight.

James said...

Great shot. A real classic!

Starman said...

Güten tag von Frankfurt. I probably won't be around much for a month or so. Will try to catch up later.

Loree said...

Beautiful shot. To me it's amazing that it was raining in June.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

James -- Merci, and I think that I am going to have to post in B/W more often. (wink)

Starman -- I left you a message. Glad that you have "landed" in Frankfurt safely. Hope that it was an easy flight(s)! Enjoy your trip!

Loree -- I am a "rain magnet" but living in a rainy city, it does not slow me down when I travel. It does present some challenges in keeping the camera dry however.

Wayne said...

I like these moody shots Genie.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Wayne -- Merci! Just the magic of black and white I imagine.

Alexa said...

Love this wonderful b&w shot—and your imagination! (Last time I was in Paris in June, it looked exactly like this. Cold too.)

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Alexa -- What I lack in my photographic skills may be somewhat compensated by my imagination. Thank you for the compliment.

We were appreciative for the cooler temps in June this year as all of the southern USA was in a heat wave. I think it warmed up the week after we left Paris.

Rob said...

Love this scene - perfect in black and white.

M said...

You really captured our morning. And to think that just a little later we were admiring chateaux!