Paris Photo Trip By Noemie Decaen
“It's always the best moment of UPC Photo Walks, these exchange dialogues among creatives, these smiles, these pieces of advice.”
© David Rathbone - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
Back in November 2023 - The Paris Photo returned annually to the capital, and the opportunity was too good to pass up for not organising a Parisian weekend among photographers.
Paris, being just a few hours away from London (while some of us came from a little further away), our adventures began on Friday with a planned day among international photographers (English, French, Germans, Singaporeans, and more).
While we started from Belleville for a walk through lively neighbourhoods, the rain also joined us and made the task more challenging than expected. Beautiful sunbeams graciously greeted us as we arrived at Place de la République, amidst photographic clicks and discussions to get acquainted or catch up with each other.
It's always the best moment of UPC Photo Walks, these exchange dialogues among creatives, these smiles, these pieces of advice.
© Ella Kowalska - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
© Ella Kowalska - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
© Ella Kowalska - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
The walk continued in the Marais and ended at a bar - as is often the case after long hours of walking! We met acquaintances in yet another bar - more connections formed thanks to the UPC network! - and enjoyed the Parisian night before Saturday, our big day for Paris Photo.
The next day, we all met around noon at the Marché des Enfants Rouges. It is a mythical Parisian place and a symbolic spot where cultures meet and blend. Pretty good in our case! Between lunch and photo shots, we randomly encountered Matt Stuart and Elizabeth Bick, who had conducted a workshop earlier in the year with some of us.
A quick exchange and a few group photos later, we were on our way to the weekend's grand event: Paris Photo.
© Alex Flynn - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
Located at the Grand Palais Éphémère for this edition, the event did not disappoint.
Amidst immense walls, hundreds and hundreds of photographs awaited (re)discovery. Styles blended, inspirations emerged, admiration blossomed. Some prominent names brightened our day: Harry Gruyaert, Bruce Gilden, Joel Meyerowitz, among others. Starstruck, you say? It was also an opportunity to see what young talents had to offer this year, to tour international galleries and the photo press.
Witnessing a Daido Moriyama installation also left us in awe, with many questions about his continuous genius.
© Adam Ramjean - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
© Adam Ramjean - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
© Adam Ramjean - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
© Adam Ramjean - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
After good hours exploring the endless corridors of Paris Photo, our brains were filled with stories and images. We set out for a final Photo Walk around the Eiffel Tower before concluding with dinner and a few last drinks.
© Phil Turnbull - Taken on the UPC Paris Photo Trip 11th November 2023
Paris is always such a complicated city to visit, given all it has to offer. It was 48 intense, fast-paced hours filled with exchanges and memories. Until next year, Paris!