Mr. Stettner, who considered the two cities his “spiritual mothers,” chronicled the poetry of daily life, with his subjects unaware of his presence.
Source: Louis Stettner, Who Photographed the Everyday New York and Paris, Dies at 93 – The New York Times
The photographs that occupy the header of my Pas De Merde blog are each the work of Pierre Jamet. Jamet (1910-2000) was a singer (the tenor voice in Les Quatre Barbus), active outdoorsman, and above all – the gifted photographer who so brilliantly captured young French people enjoying their country’s hillsides, lakes, and seashore during the 1930s.
I especially love the above photo, “Four Pair of Legs.” It beautifully captures the feeling of being on vacation – the clashing sensations of both relaxation and exhilaration that nourish our summer souls. Are the children’s legs dangling from the bridge as they take a rest after their hike? Or are they preparing to jump into the cool, refreshing waters of a stream below? I like to imagine that the children drop from the bridge into the railroad car of a passing train, carrying goose feathers – destination unknown [ . . . ]
Say bonjour to a day of champagne, picnic baskets and live music from your new favourite French bands.
This is old news (February 2016) but I just became aware of it. Bravo, France! – MS
Food banks and other charities welcome law making large shops donate unsold food and stop spoiling items to deter foragers
Source: French law forbids food waste by supermarkets | World news | The Guardian
PARIS (AP) — France’s latest efforts to reduce pollution will also affect nature lovers hitting the countryside for an outdoor meal: Under a controversial new ban, picnickers won’t be able to buy plastic goblets to drink…
Source: France to bid adieu to plastic dishes with controversial ban
As I listen more to French singers performing songs they’ve translated from English, I’m becoming fascinated by the inherent complexities of that process. Even in a proper translation, a song’s rhyme and poetic qualities may suffer.
In a poor translation, a song’s meaning can be completely lost. “It’s like searching for the best path through the forest which must satisfy several conflicting criteria,” says Russian translator Stanislov Korotyginit, “It must be the shortest path, the nicest and the safest. And you have to meet the wolf on the way.”
Pas De Merde 