Le Consulat

Noir Streets

It had been raining most of the day in Paris. The streets were still very damp the night Pamela and I walked the hill to Sacre Coeur through Montmartre. I had been looking for the Le Consulat building, everyone takes a photo of it when they visit Montmartre; it sort of stands out among the other buildings. Because of the rain the cobblestone streets in this old part of town seemed very black. Much like one of those wonderful old Film Noir movies I so love. I was, photographically speaking, happy for the continuing mist that kept things damp that night, even though it made for a chillier walk. I think Pamela described the mist with different words.

On Other Photographers

There probably isn’t much doubt that I really enjoy my photography. I take it more seriously than a good number of things and as such I spend quite some time scouring the web looking for inspiration, ideas…challenges to issue to myself. I recently stumbled upon (actually it was Google+) a photographer named Elia Locardi who runs the site Blame the Monkey. I was blown away by Elia’s work with color. It made me stop and think about where I place my emphasis during post. His work seemed to issue a challenge to me to pay closer attention to leading the viewer’s eye and color in my own images. Today’s photo of Le Consulat is a step in that direction.

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Sacrebleu

High atop Montmartre in Paris is the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart). Built in just under 40 years between 1875 and 1914, the Byzantine inspired structure was built, in the words of the Arch-Bishop at the time “expiate the crimes of the Commune”.

Time to Pay UP People

You see, Montmatre is a bit seedy; and apparently has always been the place to go to for cheap wine and all the other things that go along with cheap wine. Honestly, I didn’t find it all that shocking…Times Square in the 90’s was more of an event, but to be honest we didn’t venture in to Pigalle (Pig Alley) where the real action is proported to be located. Since it sits at the summit of Montmartre, the basilica offers one of the best views in Paris.