Alluring lights (Shakespeare & Co) Photo

Photographer’s Note

Set in the heart of Paris on the Left Bank opposite Notre-Dame, Shakespeare and Company has grown from a bookstore into an institution. It is situated in the Latin Quarter which for centuries has been the centre of Parisian creativity and intelligentsia.

Shakespeare and Company first opened its doors in 1951. For over fifty years, the bookshop has housed numerous writers and hosted readings by published and unpublished authors. Upon entering, you will find yourself in a place Henry Miller described "A wonderland of books".
Shakespeare and Company, Paris, is an independent bookshop and is not connected with other companies of the same name.

Shakespeare and Company was opened by George Whitman in August 1951. George had found himself in Paris after the Second World War, not wanting to return to America straight away. He enrolled at the Sorbonne to improve his French and found a small hotel room on Boulevard St Michel. During his studies he amassed a large collection of English books and used his room as a library and bookstore. It was only after a conversation with his friend Lawrence Ferlinghetti that George took seriously the notion of opening a bookstore in Paris. So, in 1951 he managed to acquire a small apartment opposite Notre Dame de Paris, which was then converted into the front of Shakespeare and Company.
George had spent many years walking through South America and was touched by the hospitality of locals, who would often feed and accommodate him. This had a profound impact upon his life and led him to create a bookstore that is a sanctuary for writers, aspiring writers and artists. From the day that George opened he has invited writers to share his home. Some 50,000 have placed their heads on Shakespeare and Company’s famous pillows. Such people as Henry Miller, Anäis Nin, Lawrence Durrell and Alan Ginsberg have shared a tea and a pancake with George. It is still possible to see the bookstore’s history on the bookshelves. You may be thumbing through a James Baldwin novel only to discover the author has signed it to Shakespeare and Company.
Since 1951 the bookstore has stubbornly kept its utopian ideals in a changing world. Many who knew the store back in their youth return as adults to find an institution that has not been altered by the passing years. The shop has continued the legacy of Sylvia Beach’s Shakespeare and Company, inviting writers and encouraging new writers. However, George has done it his way. Some have called him an eccentric, while others have called him a light in a dull and homogenised world.
(Source:shakespeareco.org)

bobocortis, mikolaj_kawa, Buin, saylan-cb, jlbrthnn, AiresSantos, jjcordier, Cretense, gildasjan, CLODO, chrkont, bostankorkulugu, paura, Photo65Net, dareco, amaryllis, TGULUMSER, xavshot, meltemi ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

TopGeo (23419) 2008-11-29 1:11

Hi George
There is very strong contrasting light! Good POV They is a amazing picture in colours and clarity the gold and the reflections that impress Love the vertical frame and the cleanliness
Georgios

bobocortis (14158) 2008-11-29 1:13

Hello George.
A beautiful urban landscape, with some well inserted human items.
The exposure is simply perfect.
Well done.
Best regards.
Bobo.

JLG (2086) 2008-11-29 1:13

hello George
une magnifique ambiance dans cette photo,la lumiere de la nuit ,les pavés humide,la presence de personnage,c'est bien realisé
well done
have a nice week end
jean louis

ymrk (10128) 2008-11-29 1:21

Hello George;
Wonderful compo and very nice light balance.
Good photo my friend!
Have a nice day,
Regards

YAĞMUR

mikolaj_kawa (32169) 2008-11-29 1:36

Hello George! Very interesting bookstore. Nice light and shadow. Interesting scene. Good capture. Original picture. Good luck!

Buin (40777) 2008-11-29 1:52

Good morning George!
A really atmopsheric photo. This wonderful warm ligt creates a truly beautiful sight here and the shining pavement is a gorgeous addition. I like this one very much - and also the note!
Greetings from Germany - and have a nice weekend!
Frank

snunney (38435) 2008-11-29 2:00

Hello George,
A fine atmospheric composition with the lights shining on the glistening pavement and cobbles. The vertical format suits perfectly and I like the presence of the would-be customers. Superb tones and clarity. Very good photo work; I like it enormously.

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-11-29 2:01

Hi George,
Very nice compo and stong light balance.Good POV,wonderful image.
TFS/Regards

jlbrthnn (42645) 2008-11-29 2:36

Hello George,
It is before all a superb night image, and very a good management of the light. The composition including the visitors is perfect. I like the note which learns to me much from things. Congratulations.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

AiresSantos (45840) 2008-11-29 2:45

Hi George
Fine night composition with a strong light and beautiful reflections. I like your POV and the atmospkere here. Very good photojob
Have a nice weekend
Aires

jjcordier (27172) 2008-11-29 6:12

George
Superbe atmosphère avec des couleurs chaudes qui donnent envie de découvrir cette librairie. Les pavés ressemblent à des lingots d'or....symboles certainement des trésors que l'on peut découvrir à l'intérieur de la boutique.
Amicalement
JJ

Cretense (60413) 2008-11-29 6:15

Hi George!

Beautiful atmosphere captured here and a very interesting subject! Great composition and framing, great inclusion of the people walking! The White Balance is a little bit too "warm" but it enhances the atmosphere! Congratulations!

Have a nice weekend,
Hercules

Silvio1953 (47087) 2008-11-29 6:26

Hi George, beautifil nocturne shoot with splendid light, wonderful urban view, very well done, ciao Silvio

gildasjan (25150) 2008-11-29 7:18

Bonjour George
Un très beau rendu de la lumière sur ces pavés de Paris.Le rendu chaud des couleurs est agréable avec une bonne netteté dur le premier plan qui son caractère à cette composition.
Bonne journée et bon weekend
Amicalement
Gildas

CLODO (5900) 2008-11-29 7:51

You benefit from the rain to get reflection on the pavement. It is really a good sumary of the old Paris.
Congratulations
CLODO

mesutilgim (39664) 2008-11-29 8:31

Hi George,
Wonderfull! Very good light management and nice warm colors. But most importanti the message it carries. Paris is maybe the only city in the world, where the bookstores remain opened into late night. What a nice idea.
TFS and have a nice weekend.
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

ifanik (20931) 2008-11-29 8:44

Very beautiful night shot my friend with wonderful light .
I like the reeflection to the road
Best regards
Nick

chrkont (3803) 2008-11-29 9:50

Hi George
Beautiful composition with real warm atmosphere. Very good light management that creates 3d effect on stones. I upload a 'colder' version of the photo at the WS.
TFS - Regards from Greece
Christos

[workshop] [compare]

bostankorkulugu (35022) 2008-11-29 10:22

i like it a lot george, has this christmas feel in it, even without the christmas decorations around... i guess it is because of the yellow light... cosy and chic... good job i think...

paura (42263) 2008-11-29 12:54

George,
Very well composed photo in excellent lighting and tones management. The mix of all details are interesting. Very well done, friend!

Abraço

PAulo

Photo65Net (43106) 2008-11-29 13:57

Hello George,
Nice night exposure.
I like how you used the lights here, providing beautiful contrasts.
Have a nice day,
JB.

danyy (70671) 2008-11-29 15:22

Bonjour George,
scène tranquille en soirée, inondée de ces lumières et couleurs chaudes, tranquille et silencieuse. On y sent la douceur de l'été malgré l'humidité.
Bets regards.
Daniel.

dareco (17104) 2008-11-29 22:48

A very beautiful picture and the lighting is just awesome!! Nice pov and excellent detail. Great job! TFS

mauro61 (19052) 2008-11-30 0:29

ciao George,
ottimo taglio verticale e luci che riportano molto bene l'atmosfera notturna di questo angolo di Parigi,
ben fatto
buona domenica
maurizio

amaryllis (18978) 2008-11-30 1:30

Bonjour Georg
une tres belle photo nocturne avec une lumière bien gérée, ses pavés qui brillent et de couleurs dorées, un tres beau cadrage et présentation de cette superbe librairie
merci de ce partage avec une note complète et instructive
ton ws est tres bien également
nice day for you
juliette

TGULUMSER (12528) 2008-11-30 2:25

Hello George,
I admired this shot, very nice, very impressive. A great light management and the colors are superb,
Best regards, wish you a nice sunday,
Tulay

xavshot (64626) 2008-11-30 2:46

Bonjour George
très belle utilisation de la lumière et des reflets sur les pavés. L'ambiance est superbe; Une très belle photo. Bravo.
Xavier

meltemi (9750) 2008-11-30 3:06

Hello George,
the buildings are well illuminated allowing you to expose your image well. You have used artificial lighting very well here capturing the buildings and reflection on the pavements.Truly outstanding colours and details.
All the best.
Stella

Greg1949 (8765) 2008-12-01 7:14

Nice shot George, love this natural light evening scene, great detail and colors. Greg

Wandering_Dan (3423) 2008-12-13 14:30

Hi, George -

One of my favorite Paris bookstores! I haven't been to Paris in a number of years, though we keep meaning to go back, so it's good to know it's still alive and doing well.

I like the night shot, and the chiroscuro effect, but I feel it's too yellowed here. But I don't think Chris' WS solved the problem, so I posted my own solution, using Hue/Saturation instead of White Balance - it can be narrowed to one part of the spectrum, which is what I did. Hope it gives you some ideas.

Best,
Dan

[workshop] [compare]

Juzo (1070) 2009-12-21 7:16

Hi George,
Very warm capture, lovely scene and lighting is just right (low ISO setting?). Looks fantsatic and has a great atmosphere.
Regards
justin