paris photo /france 2022
10 photographers. 3 guides.
Adriana, Anneke, Erika, María Elena, Melissa, Natalia, Omar, Ron, Thais, and Verónica.
AS I STROLLED THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF PARIS PHOTO 2021, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY SCHOOL I TEACH AT. I COULDN’T HELP BUT SHARE HOW MUCH I WAS ENJOYING THE FAIR AND HOW I THOUGHT ABOUT MY STUDENTS at EVERY CORNER. DO YOU IMAGINE BRINGING THEM HERE? IT HAPPENED! (be CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU DREAM OF…)
I created the first “Cultural Dispatch” trip for Long Distance Photo Expeditions and then developed it with Ricardo Peña. The promise was a photographic expedition into photography’s city of birth, studying the urban landscape, its people and the most important photography fair: Paris Photo on its 25th anniversary.
We visited the Paris Photo fair daily, following Ricardo’s selection of galleries and photo book printers according to a predefined theme. We also had off-fair activities throughout the city that would allow our photographers to explore Paris camera-on-hand and so continue their own Paris Photo: photowalks through the narrow streets of Paris with its attractive and photogenic lifestyle.
We spent OUR days CONSUMING the best historic and contemporary photography, TALKING TO ARTISTS AND photo book PRINTERS. AND THEN RELEASING ALL OF THAT INSPIRATION THROUGH OUR CAMERAS AS FlâneurS.
In a city with so many sights and tourist attractions, I threaded our Parisian photowalks using the remaining analog photo booths as our city landmarks, this shed a new point of view on one of the most photographed cities in the world.
This was a cultural dispatch, a trip to admire and learn from the best photography produced around the globe under one roof, and then to photograph. Critique sessions were held at our beautiful Parisian headquarters, an apartment located in the courtyard of a beautiful early 19th century building.
One of the highlights of the trip were our daily group breakfasts. I still remember my daily early walks through the quaint “quartiers” of the city, visiting the most renowned “boulangeries”, in search of the best croissants and pains au chocolat to bring them to back to our meeting room. We wanted to pamper our travelers with the most typical French delicacies while starting the day with an introduction to the agenda.
Long Distance Photo Expeditions has been traveling the world with and for photographers for more than 25 years. It was an honor and a pleasure to design this experience along with Ricardo for them and then to actually share it with an incredible crowd of 10 photographers. Thank you Julio and Roberto for your trust and thank you travellers for the moments lived together in Paris.
AND one more CAPRICIOUS IDEA FOR THE TRIP:
Cover photo: ©Thais Aguerrevere 2022
A final project. My eternal obsession with photographs not being real until you can feel them on paper, translated into a beautiful object. One that has texture, weight, sound when turning the pages, smell, and, unlike photos in hard drives, one that you will enjoy for years.
The second issue of a printed magazine containing the work developed by the 10 photographers. A visual logbook and the opportunity for the participants to see their work as part of a travel photography publication.
Concept and design: Lucia Marcano
Photography: Adriana Guinand, Anneke Schnell, Erika Medina, María Elena Velasco, Natalia Rísquez, Omar Mattar, Thais Aguerrevere, Verónica Azpúrua.
Editing: Julio Estrada, Roberto Mata, Ricardo Peña and Lucia Marcano
Production: Lucia Marcano
