The Caged Bird Sings.

“Beauty is both rational and analyzable but also in part indefinable.”

“Through beauty we might be able to regain a stronger sense of human values and pleasure in living.”

(Quotes from “Remembering Beauty: Reflections on Kant and Cartier-Bresson for Aspiring Photographers)

I found this article very interesting; it made me realize how difficult it is to simply define beauty.  What makes something beautiful? “It is noteworthy that we often call a person of courage, goodness, and humility, a beautiful human being... Beauty is the only visible quality that inspires love.” People have been trying to come up with a definition/stereotype for what is “beautiful” for as long as time has existed. Have they been successful? What gives anyone the right to define something as beautiful and publish it as fact? All of us live in a world where certain things are labeled as beautiful, and others are not.  In my mind, everything can be, and is beautiful.  In fact, sometimes it’s the things that society regards as "ugly" that might be the most beautiful in actuality.

Who’s to say that the rose without petals is less beautiful than a full one? And who’s to say the thorns aren’t equally beautiful?

In photography, do photos have to be in focus to beautiful? And can the focus be on the unexpected?  

Perhaps we have to look past the “beautiful art” we see around us to find moments that are just as if not more special.

“Words in the end cannot replace the experience of beauty.

Places. Chapelle de l'Assomption.

Day One:

Numbers

20 long rows of benches, 10 and 10.

16 short rows, 8 and 8.

16 crosses.

8 large windows. Simple. Natural light. 4 windows blocked by drapes.

8 flower arrangements.

6 statues of saints.

6 candlesticks. 2 tables filled with little candles burning.

5 sets of doors.

4 large paintings on the walls, 1 one the ceiling.

4 red velvet chairs.

2 chandeliers.

1 small bell on the wall.

1 dome.

1 person, me.

Sounds

Sirens of an ambulance blare outside. A horn honks. Cars race around. Noise from the outside world bleed through the walls. Inside, a woman’s heels click on the tile floor till she seats herself. A cell phone rings. Rummaging through bags. The door squeaks open and closed, quiet footprints. Soft breathing. Otherwise, silence.

Patterns and Colors:

Symmetrical. Octagons and squares uniformly placed and around the painting on the ceiling. Squares and diamonds uniformly placed on the floor. Warm color, natural golden sunlight shining in. Fairly simple furnishings, but extravagant gold details around the altar, ceiling, and chandeliers. Red and gold flickering candles on one side, empty chairs on the other. Pews aligned slightly diagonally facing the front, each a little longer than the one before.

Day Two:

People (observations on rituals with little previous knowledge of the religion)

Outside: 8 sitting on the stairs. One woman peels an orange, others visit on the steps. Three men ask for money next to their sleeping bags. 27 pigeons.

Inside: 27 people today! How unusually crowded... 28.

The woman who walked in with me:

-          Dips fingers in holy water outside the door. 29, 30.

-          Kneels on back bench. 31, 32, 33, 34.

-          Silences cell phone.

-          Kneels on bench in front. Chandeliers light up now.

-          Looks around the room.

-          Clutches wood beaded necklace with crucifix symbol. 35, 36, 37.

-          Looks at cross at the front of the room.

-          Finishes prayer, takes a seat on the bench. 38, 39, 40!

Observations of Other People in the Room

4 people reading books. A man rests his head in his hands, the places with his beaded necklace. The woman from before kneels again. A nun comes in and bows. A young girl, maybe 16, ties her scarf. Two more pull out books to read.  Ah, the mass begins. That explains the crowd. Are the people singing in Polish? It can’t be French or Latin. People are singing from their heart, my heart is touched.

Day Three:

Photo

Juxtaposed. (for you claire. enjoy that.)

Paris is an old city, and old is an understatement.  Many buildings stand here that are centuries old, filled to the brim with rich history. Today, countless people make their own pilgrimage, so to speak, to this city of grandeur to see for themselves the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Mona Lisa, and the French men with curled mustaches and berets. Though they may see the famous sites, Paris may not be quite the city they had imagined, perhaps something like this:

Here they would sit and eat a baguette with cheese while listening to someone serenade them with La Vie en Rose on the accordion.

 Paris is no longer the quaint city it once was. In fact, it is practically a modern tourist trap. Overpriced vendors line the roads, myriads of cars, buses, and people riding bikes seem to follow their own traffic laws in the streets, and even more people walking fill the sidewalks and buildings in the popular parts of the city.

It is interesting to see the metro system today. With some hints of its age, but many more hints of its modernity.

But is Paris headed in the right direction? Or have the modern technological advances taken restorations and renovations a bit too far just to make or save a dollar? I mean, are the pressed coin machines really necessary in the cathedral? Whatever happened to the idea of, you know, worshiping in the church? Are people coming to the city to cross things off their bucket list hoping to earn bragging rights? Are people losing sight of why the buildings were made and what significance they actually hold today?

Though it is definitely a change from the Paris in the past, that’s simply how life is. It changes constantly. If it were the same as it was centuries ago, we would have need for much concern. The technologies we have today really can enhance our experience in the big city and make everyone’s lives easier.  Perhaps instead of preserving the old, we should learn how to effectively use the new so our future can be totally psychedelic because we're living the present with the past in mind.

(These photos have multiple inspirations. The first, geometric shapes and lines from Cartier-Bresson; the second and last from Doisneau for being moments that happened instead without planning; the third and fourth have a grainy quality reminiscent of Eggleston.)

Happy Mothers Day!

Even though it's not being celebrated here in France, I have been thinking of you all day mom! Hope you're having a good one! 

I keep forgetting my camera when I go out... oops. But Paris is a lovely place. A very interesting place to be sure... 

The juxtaposition of modern and centuries old is fascinating.

I might submit this picture for my photography class. What do you think?

les fleurs dans le jardin de monet sont magnifique

I think I'd have to say my favorite part of our first week trip was Giverny when we toured Monet's house and gardens. It was out of this world. It was out of this world beautiful, and I realized how amazing Monet is; his paintings really looked exactly like his house in real life. 

Me on the famous waterlily bridge. You know the painting I'm talking about right?

This is Christie and me.  I think she is a really cool cat. Cooler than most cats I know. She lives in a real tree house... like.. there's no walls or showers or anything and she likes to wander around. I like her. Also she listens to Joanna Newsom, so I think we're going to be friends. I hope so anyways. Maybe we will go to a music festival together at the end of this month. 

 Classic selfies.... ha ha..... 

Caleb and Sarah! It's true people. Well, I don't know for sure. But the love abides I'm quite certain. Marriage in the future? TBA.

Omaha Beach

Today was eye-opening and moving.  We went to the D-day Omaha Beach and American Cemetery, it was such an amazing experience. I was truly overcome with awe - so many men lost their lives there. Coming here helped me see the reality of war; the horrors, but also the resulting unity and respect.  Being here brought me to tears, but I'm grateful for the people who sacrificed their lives as they stood up for what they believed was right. 

After, we drove to Bayeux. It's a pretty cool little town, the best part is the cathedral. But I ate the best dinner here, so that rocked too.