Défense de Photographier
This is a photo I took back in 2013, during my first visit to Paris. I shot it with my good old Fujifilm X100, while someone in the metro was trying to stop me from taking photos.
I remember it clearly: I didn’t really like Paris at first. The city smelled awful in places. The metro felt dark and unclean. I had to stay constantly on edge, guarding my wallet and backpack, because people warned me that Asian tourists were obvious targets for pickpockets.
Fast forward to 2024: I’m back in Paris. After 15 years working as a software engineer, I returned. This time, it is not for tech or travel, but to study photography and chase the possibility of becoming a professional photographer.
To be honest, I feel a bit guilty about it. There are already too many photographers in the world. Instagram, Flickr, Facebook, they’ve turned photography into a flood of clichés and content. Does the world really need another photographer? What makes me different? What do I have to say? These are the questions I’m trying to answer here in Paris.
Ironically, while Paris is a dream for artists, it can be a nightmare for street photographers. In the metro, you technically need a permit to shoot, though few people know that. On the street, Parisians can take offense if you photograph them without asking.
“Défense de photographier” means No Photography. I’ve chosen it as the tagline of this site — not in protest, but as a reminder. A reminder that I’m lucky to use photography to express my thoughts and feelings. And that I shouldn’t take that privilege for granted.