Daily Wander

La Seine et Notre Dame

2010-04-15T01:25:00.000+07:00

One particularly lazy afternoon on the Seine. Extra lazy since it was Jour de l’Ascension. You may not notice it from the photo but it was very hot the whole day , and this is one of people's favorite spot to cool off.

The old Paris on the hill of Montmartre

2010-04-05T14:35:00.000+07:00

Some may know I live on Montmartre hill, that quartier that houses the Moulin Rouge and Amelie Poulin's café. I don't like them one bit. They've become too touristy for me. I love it the old way, the Paris that you see when you squint your eyes on a rainy day.

Happened that there was a marché d'antiquité nearby today, where families bring out their discarded heirlooms for sale at exasperating price, which made me all nostalgique (despite me being not at all of Parisian origin, or even French, maybe I've watched too many movies), so here're some photos that will hopefully bring you the same feeling.

As a bonus, here’s a photo of the Seine in that same melancholic mood

Fog in the morning

2010-01-28T14:46:00.000+07:00

I woke up early intending to jog a little, but what did I see out there in the window? Mist, a forest with its own kind of silk scarf on, like that scene in silent hill. So I went back to sleep.. but not before taking this shot.

The birds outside kept singing though. They seem to talk more than usual in this fog.

Edit: I looked back and realized I wanted a bit more of those fantasy feels that I had so strongly when taking this photo, so I tinkered around and below's the result. I love it infinitely more, but some may prefer it in the bleak original way ^^~

Eiffel Tower

2010-01-16T04:28:00.000+07:00

So I went and took a walk to the Eiffel Tower, like everyone ever set foot on Paris must. Probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of France, to me it's those Victorian style lamp posts lined everywhere in the city, and I love the feel of it. I really do, and my love for Paris'd have been complete were it not for the graffiti and the futuristic, star wars like architecture of the La Défense part of town.

Oh, and I took these photos on valentine day, and they have quite a different feel than my other shots. City of love, what a name! Please enjoy ^^

Galleries LaFayette

2009-02-12T02:37:00.001+07:00

The roof of the Galleries LaFayette during Christmas.

Untitled

2009-01-17T06:32:00.001+07:00

View at dusk from Notre Dame. Under those trees is the Seine, I really should go and take a proper shot of Paris by night soon.

Snow

2009-01-06T18:27:00.001+07:00

There was no sign of it since winter began, and suddenly it snowed yesterday, from early morning till today. Right on the day I had my first final too, what luck.

Sorry there was no post for so long, I was busy with projects right up Christmas, then finals right after new year. The holidays? I was busy getting drunk. Enjoying my final year in college, I must.

A few of the photos I'd have posted if I could. They all look blue (literally!) and heavy, don't they?

Parisian sky

2008-12-06T21:32:00.001+07:00

Falling

2008-12-01T16:01:00.001+07:00

This marks the end of fall for me

My lovely Ibanez

2008-11-26T18:57:00.001+07:00

Père Lachaise cemetery

2008-11-18T01:55:00.001+07:00

So I went to the Père Lachaise cemetery for a walk. Yes, that's my idea of a romantic walk, among the dead, accompanied by guys. Yes, that's too, I know what you're thinking, the answer's no, because Paris is certainly the city of love, but come living here and you'll see that only holds true if you've already found your precious in the first place - guaranteed she'll never leave your side. But come solo and don't expect to leave duo, gentlemen. No.

Still, it was all very scenic, like a any park in the fall should be, except for those lost souls following you, and maybe a few restless bones down under. Chopin was buried here. I kept hearing his Nocturne (in C# minor, sure) in my head. Call of the dead, I thought to myself, not terribly cheerful for my already depressed mind that day, so all the photos came out like I belong in the cemetery myself.

Balzac lies here too. As well as Oscar Wilde and countless other famous names. Never before have I been surrounded by so many of the greats - lamented I in a dramatic fashion [like this] - were I not so dreadfully mortal I would have gone to no end to kiss you, my admired, but I can't, and so I stood there taking endless photos like countless other nameless tourists. Bless you.

P.S: you may want to head to my flickr if you want to see some photos that didn't quite make the cut.

Night view from my window

2008-11-10T00:47:00.002+07:00

I said I loved taking pictures of my backyard garden. I really meant it.

Somehow I really like these

2008-11-03T22:42:00.002+07:00

Feeling quite melancholy these days..

Garden

2008-10-30T15:52:00.002+07:00

I soooo love shooting my backyard garden!
And booooosssstt the colors up to heaven!!!
xDDD

Next time, parc de Sceaux, when it stops being so fucking cold mid autumn =.=

Wild flowers

2008-10-25T18:57:00.002+07:00

Found these while sorting through my photo collection, one day I'll have to get a dedicated macro lens. The Tamron 90mm comes to mind..

Good morning Paris

2008-10-24T13:46:00.002+07:00

Early lecture today. 8am =.= I was running late when I passed by the kitchen and saw this. Just HAD to capture it.

Another rushed HDR =.=

Fun fact: my bedroom looks to the west, and my kitchen looks to the east => I get to see the day's golden hours all the time ^^

Football field

2008-10-19T15:39:00.002+07:00

I went out for some sport with my friends, playing what Americans [most readers of this blog] would call soccer. To me it's spectator sport in all respect, my doctor forbids me from even thinking about such strenuous exercise. So naturally I brought my D40 along.

The sky over the field looked quite beautiful

But turn around and look at the sun and you'll see a different story

Hundreds of airplanes fly over Paris everyday, leaving trails everywhere. I actually like it, favorite pastime while waiting for the bus and/or RER.

Window Sunset HDR

2008-10-17T00:25:00.002+07:00

I was looking out of the window watching autumn (beautiful word, "fall" just feels kind of melancholy somehow) sunset, and suddenly thought to make an HDR. I was also tired and hungry though, so this is the best I could do. Maybe next time ^^

Berries

2008-10-16T03:32:00.002+07:00

1/60 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200

I recently moved to France to finish my last year at University Paris XI, and this is one bush of berries on a long street full of them. Exactly what kind of berries I don't know, but with an apple garden in my building's backyard, consider my daily dose of fruit vitamins more than freely satisfied. Vive la France! :D

Hang in there

2008-10-04T10:41:00.003+07:00

1/400 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200

I was sitting by the window watching the sun rise (happening a lot lately) and this rope/strings fell down from the blind above. I thought, cool, et voilà, pix happened.

Leaving for Paris next Tuesday. Will miss.

Download as wallpaper here

Night Street

2008-10-03T23:31:00.002+07:00

1/4 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600

A quick snapshot. I think those colorful staircase lights look interesting.

Cross

2008-09-29T18:06:00.003+07:00

1/250s at f/5.6, ISO 400

This is the 249th photo for my 365 day assignment. At uploaded/taken rate of 1/75, that means 18765 pics taken since day one. Does that deserve an wow?

Nhat Minh

2008-09-28T22:43:00.005+07:00

1/15 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600

My cute little friend. It was dark inside, we were sitting by the window, and I wanted to show the brick wall clearly, so the pic's overexposed. Turned out alright though, I really like it.

Bricks and light

2008-09-27T18:51:00.005+07:00

In a restaurant. Love the lighting and seating

Green

2008-09-05T22:27:00.003+07:00

Taken with a Canon G7