Paris - Milan It is interesting to know that people, even those friends who are well educated and highly placed financially, have these ideas about a photographer’s life which is mostly influenced by the movies. But, in reality, our lives are far more rough and ready than they imagine. How did this happen? In the Martinique report, I mentioned that I spent a few days in Paris, a couple of days in Geneva and a day in Milan. In fact, you will not believe it if I tell you I did not see the Champs-Elysées even once, not even from afar. Returning to Paris after 15 years, I dearly loved to visit the places I had fond memories of. But it was not to be. There are a number of photographs with this report, some of which I took before leaving for the Caribbean. I was waiting for my ticket to be issued and, as I get bored with no work, I went for a promenade in the Latin Quarter. I photographed the Panthéon and the Law Faculty. In the evening, I visited the Bastille together with my ex-student, Niloufar Banisadre, where an opera has been built, and took some photographs there. I took the rest of the snapshots from inside the car and the metro. Returning from the Caribbean, I took some pictures of St Michel and the Seine on a Sunday morning before lunch. That is all. During my stay in Geneva, I was taken to the Agha Khan Foundation immediately upon arrival, worked for two days and returned to Paris at four o’clock on the second day. The one day in Milan was spent visiting the Cathedral Square. It was very crowded and a good attraction for a photographer. I photographed the square and the tourists and had a delicious lunch and went to the airport in the afternoon to fly to my next destination, the pictures of which follow at the end. And so, when people ask me if I had a nice trip, they are surprised to hear the clients do not pay me to go sightseeing. Yes, my dear friend; a photographer’s life is to wake up before sunrise and shoot until 7pm. After that, I have to download the pictures and, to be on the safe side, make two DVD backups. By which time, it is 11pm. Good night my friend. |