On a sunny spring-like afternoon in the middle of winter, a desire to look at Jacques’s photographs. Which ones? The ones taken in Paris, this year. The first photo immediately strikes me; the long perspective, the sharp contrasts and dense blacks, the vanishing lines converging on the two people standing against the light - my imagination at once stirred.
I take a look at the twenty or so other photographs in the Paris 2025 collection, but I come back to the first one; I knew I would. This very first picture had kindled my desire to write - without any foreknowledge of the direction my words would take.
Imagination immediately sets off from the photograph.
The couple steps into the passage.
They have many things to tell each other.
Their reflections are endlessly replicated in the myriads of facing mirrors, as are the lights on the floor and above, all around them. Between them lie infinite possibilities; an infinite variety of stories can unfold. Contrasts, lights, perspectives, all lead to the two silhouettes in the backlight.
Ineluctably, they move towards me. I walk, observing them. They do not see me, deeply engrossed in their conversation, punctuating words with gestures. I walk by them. They stop next to me.
Him: Did you take our picture?
Yes, I found the light around you was amazing. I show them my screen.
Her: Would you share it with us?
Then we go our separate ways.
I look back.
Suddenly, before they reach the other end of the passage, they both make a little jump – synchronized.
I did not photograph that jump.
Nor did I notice that, as I was writing this, the sun had set. The temperature drops. It’s cold now. I stand up; writing has been invigorating, as it always is when I take a photographic prompt.
A suggestion: if you find this picture inspiring too, do not linger - write, draw, paint, photograph, sculpt. Or choose another photograph from the collection, one that connects with you.
