Opera Garnier

French Journal Day 154 (Travel Diary Day 234)

We were due to meet some friends outside the Opera house metro station. As we left the metro a deaf person on the street motioned for me to sign a petition they had on a clipboard. I shook my head. As travellers we’ve learned not to stop for anyone in these situations. He then shoved the clipboard towards me with more aggression this time. I pushed it away.

We met up with two of our friends, Robbie and Joana, but were still waiting on one more. At one point, an Asian guy walked frantically around us, smiled sheepishly and said ‘Help please!’ One of the deaf clipboard holders was harassing him. Robbie shoved the trouble maker and made a sign with his fist universally known as a warning not push their luck.

I wondered if I’d ever seen someone push a deaf person before. I couldn’t remember.

Robbie explained that they weren’t actually deaf, rather, they were gypsies who prey on tourists, especially Asian tourist. They stop you to sign a fake petition, then ask for money or pickpocket you. I knew there was something not quite right about them.

The Garnier Opera house was truly spectacular. Beautifully placed chandeliers and statues, along with intricate carvings and fine details on walls and banisters made this an HDR photographer’s dream. We had come at the wrong time, sadly. Tourists were everywhere. I battled to find compositions without people in the shot, and failed most of the time. Even today’s photo has 6 or 7 people that I had to brush out.

We experienced our first piece of Parisian rudeness when at closing time our friend, a fluent French speaker, asked an employee which day was usually the most free from tourists in the Opera house. She simply replied ‘I can’t answer your question. Please leave!’

I could sense that Robbie, a Frenchman but not a Parisian, was embarrassed or annoyed by her response – nowhere else in France would you expect an employee to speak to a paying customer in such a tone.

We wound the day down with some coffee and cake, and made plans for me to host an informal talk/workshop on HDR tomorrow night, which I’m looking forward to.

Tonight, however, I’m heading out for a sunset shoot somewhere in Paris and then a photography meetup with 50 or 60 local photographers.

Today’s Photo – Opera Garnier

This was hand-held using my Canon 17-55 f/2.8 at ISO 400. No tripods allowed in this wonderful place, sadly.

See my workflow here:  HDR Tutorial