“You’re going to Paris again?” The annoyance is palpable when friends ask that — and it’s a fair question. There are so many beautiful places in the world, so many interesting cities besides Paris. “Don’t you get bored, seeing the same stuff?”
I’m always tempted to reply:
This quote came to mind last month in Paris’ Place des Vosges. I love this enclosed square both for its historical significance and its beauty, but I’ve explored it only in passing.
What this means photographically is that I’ve shot only what immediately grabbed my attention each time. Looking back, I’m struck by how differently I’ve “seen” the same place during those visits.
2007
2008
2010
2011
In this case I wish I could have a “do-over.” (Poor pigeon!)
2012
2013
2016
There are no profound lessons here, save one: To fully capture the Place des Vosges, I think I will always need to go back at least one more time.
HeideBlog 
That Proust quote is one of my favorites, reminding us that we are the important ingredient to seeing the beauty around us. Your photos over the years prove that point as well–thanks for sharing the timeline of images. I would say at least one more visit, but really many, many more!
As always, you’ve said it wonderfully Patty: WE are the important ingredient in seeing the beauty around us! Still, I’ve been incredibly privileged and lucky that my life has been filled with so much beauty.
Thank you, as always, for stopping by.
Best rebuttal I have read. Well done.
Thank you, Anthony! I appreciate your kind words.
Once again, lovely photos. I particularly like the 2011 door knocker with the blue door
Thank you so much, Terry! I’m honored you stopped by, and grateful for your comment. (As an aside, your blog is wonderful! I find it insightful, and full of great thought-fodder.)
Thanks for your comment! That’s exactly what I hope the blog will achieve, so you’ve made my day.
Those are cool pics.. reminds me kind of when I lived in Kesgrave (if I spelled it right), England, some of the architecture and the cars, just the landscapes in general..
I hope I’ve brought back some *happy* memories of Kesgrave! 🙂 Thank you for stopping by.
The pics are wonderful. It makes me feel like visiting Paris 🙂
You know what, Mahak? Those photos make *me* feel like visiting Paris again, too. 😉 Thank you for stopping by!
U r wlcm 🙂 and after seeing these pics i want to visit Paris as soon as possible..wow! What a place!
Hello
I’m Parisien, and I know very well la Place des Vosges.
You have a very good eye
As an admirer of your work, I’m very honored by your kind words, Yoshimi. Thank you.
Thank so much …:D
you can come here in my webside and let some words .
“Superbe capture” and “j’adore le cadrage.” Those are just a few of the words I have for your photos. 😉
Some really lovely shots! I’ll never get tired of Place des Vosges.
Thank you, Corey! I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the Place des Vosges either. There’s always something interesting to see or hear there. Cheers to you!
That’s a new quote for me but it is so true. You have a keen eye for a photograph as today’s gallery so clearly shows – and is so often the case, the beauty of a place is not to be found in the grand buildings but in the small details that so many miss.
What a kind comment — thank you! You are so right that the beauty of a place is often found in the small details, and I think that’s precisely why I keep returning to Paris. It’s full of tiny treasures that reveal themselves only to the observant eye — and I know that for every treasure I spot I’m probably missing six others. It’s a master class in paying attention, every time I go.
This looks beautiful! Paris is still on my list of places to visit!
I do hope you can go someday! With your interest in cooking and your fine sense for aesthetics, you would absolutely LOVE it. It’s a feast for the senses like no other on earth, at least to me. But I’d better stop waxing poetic, lest I make myself homesick again. 😉
Gorgeous photos, H. Is your camera the same throughout?
Looking at your 2007 shots, they do have a panoramic enthusiasm of “I must capture everything. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to come here again.” When everything around you is amazing, everything draws your eye.
Nine years later, you know that Paris is your muse and you’re able to take your time with her. It’s like any healthy long-term relationship: the early “Oh my God!” excitement of discovery mellows into time.
You’re way past first date status with Paris. Your photos are a lovely record of ‘retrouvailles’. Long may your love affair continue!
What an insightful comment! And you’re spot-on: My first couple of photos are the typical snaps you’d expect from a tourist, aren’t they? “Oh my God. It’s the Place des Vosges!” But to build on your wonderful love-affair analogy, I know the place more intimately now … its moles and warts, its “good side,” and even when it wakes up. Because of that there’s a risk of taking this favorite place for granted, though, because familiarity can breed boredom. But this little exercise has me that — just like people — our favorite places are always changing and evolving. More than anything, I count myself very lucky indeed that I’ve had enough visits to fully appreciate that.
Oh, and about the camera: That’s another interesting observation on your part, because I switched to a new system in 2010 that offered a the potential for an even wider field of view — yet it’s not really reflected in my photos. It goes to show, I think, that the equipment is secondary to what we actually *see.*
It sounds as if you’ve discovered a place that speaks to your heart, and that you’re still listening with attention. Your photos are testament to it – there’s not a whisper of ‘taking for granted’ in them.
Your friends must appreciate monogamy, surely? It works for places as well as people. And when it doesn’t work anymore, you’ll know it. Think of Monet and his Water Lily paintings. Imagine his friends going “For God’s sake, Claude. Not the bloody garden again. It’s been 30 years. Aren’t you sick of those flowers by now?”
There’s always another layer of Paris to explore: http://bit.ly/1S2IH8J
I literally laughed out loud when I got to your (imagined) story about Monet and his water lilies. Point well made! And merci infiniment for saying that “there’s not a whisper of ‘taking for granted’” in my photos. I really appreciate that, because it’s been a real fear for me.
As for those other layers of Paris to explore … I actually know about this clock-repair affair, at least tangentially. Isn’t it marvelous? If I can find the “documentary” they did about it, I’ll send you the link.
Love that, ” the equipment is secondary to what we see” ! I couldn’t agree more!
… of course you know that “seeing” is the most important thing, because you are a wise photographer, Rochelle. And your photos certainly reflect that. xx
Great photos. There are always new layers to discover in ourselves and surrounding us. Go to Paris “one more time.”
Well said, Tom: There are indeed “always new layers to discover in ourselves.” Thank you for being one of my most influential role models, by showing me through your example how to keep learning, and unfolding those layers.
great shots 🙂 Going to explore the underground this time? 😉
Thank you, Jeff! No underground adventures this time, I’m afraid — that’s almost an all-day affair, and I didn’t want to abandon my poor husband. But next time! I’m already looking forward to next time … 🙂
You’re so talented!
And you are so kind. Thank you very much!
You’re as fine a photographer as you are an essayist and commentator- an enjoyable group of images over the span of time.
Thank you for absolutely *making my day* with your kind comment.
Such beautiful pictures! I love all the spirals and arches.
I love all the spirals and arches too, Rachel! They’re such unique architectural details, aren’t they? They really soften the overall effect of what would otherwise be a landscape of straight lines and right angles. Thank you for stopping by!
When you look deeply at an image, first you see its subject, then you see some aspect of the photographer, and finally you see the aspect of yourself that connects with the image.
They are all beautiful, and an interesting progression/evolution.
My favourite is 2008.
What an insightful comment, Keith! I’d never thought of it that way, but you’re absolutely right. (And 2008 is one of my all-time favorites, too. 🙂
Paris is always a good idea
I couldn’t agree with you (or Audrey Hepburn) more! 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by.
i love this blog so much!!
What a kind comment. Thank you!
It seems to me that as the time has passed, Paris has become a more intimate subject for you, yielding even better photos as you get even closer, physically and emotionally, to its beauty.
Beautifully said, Pam. I certainly feel Paris has become a more intimate subject — I’m always trying to get one layer deeper, past the touristy veneer. But I continue to be disappointed in my photos. I’ll have to keep working on that, I think. 😉
Please promise me the next time you make plans to visit Paris you’ll give me a heads up and I will try my best to meet you there! Wouldn’t that be fun!
That would indeed be fun! I promise to send you a note the next time I go by myself (because when I travel with my husband I get greedy and want to spend every moment I can with him ;). Big hug to you, lovely Rochelle! xx
I completely get that. It might have to be trip on my own too. 😉
We’re lucky to have such understanding husbands, aren’t we? 😉
nice blog and lovely photos….
Thank you so much! Your blog is lovely also, and very interesting.
Nice Post. Thank you
🙂
This is it! I must go and see this place … again – thank you!
It makes me happy anytime I can encourage someone to go back to Paris. Thank you for stopping by, Sasha, and happy travels! 🙂
PS: I love your blog also and am pleased to be your newest subscriber!
Oh, thank you! I am only a beginner, and comments from people like you mean a lot to me!
“People like me”? Oh gosh … not at all! The only difference between us is that I’ve been blogging for a little while longer, perhaps. But soon you will have a long-running blog also! I very much look forward to following along.
Feel responsible now! 🙂
Really timeless pictures, wonderful, hope to have the opportunity to see a part of that all! Great!!!
What a lovely compliment. Thank you! I do hope you will have an opportunity to see (and photograph) it for yourself.
Hi darling, I invite you to take part to the photograph tag, I referred to your beautiful pictures in my article, here the link https://stelleweb.wordpress.com/2016/06/22/mi-piace-fotografare-tag/
Grazie mille! I’m very honored you linked to me — and I love your photography, too. ❤️
Wow
That was a long one
Love the headline>:)
Thank you!
You’re too rich that you can go anywhere you want, i live at the Philippines for my entire life and and I’m bored seeing the same stuff. anyways nice shot 😀 I’m newbie Hi 😀
You’re right, Erica: I am SO FORTUNATE to be able to take travel vacations, and I’m deeply grateful for the privilege. But I hope I’m not giving the impression that I can jet off “anywhere,” anytime I want! In fact, I make choices in other parts of my life — like living in a small house, and wearing second-hand clothes — so I can save money for the occasional trip. Nevertheless, thank you for reminding me of how lucky I am that I get to go to Paris at all. I hope you’ll have the opportunity someday too.
These pictures remind me yet again of why I love Paris. The various shots of the same things help reveal multiple perspectives of the viewer, I do believe. I love the door knocker and the arches. The latter make me think of the early development of the city and the various personalities of the Place I read about in How Paris Became Paris. I enjoyed this post enormously. Thanks, H!
I’m so honored and pleased that my post brought back some fond memories of Paris, and perhaps shed some light on that wonderful book we’ve both enjoyed so much, Paula. Thank you for absolutely making my day with your kind comment.
LINDO! MARAVILHOSO!!!
Moito obrigada!
You help me see it through new eyes, and I have been there several times.
Is that you, John?! How wonderful to find you here. In your honor I’ll post some more photos over the weekend. Thank you so much for stopping by!
beautiful, amazing photos!!!
Thank you, Kristin!
These are some of the best images of Paris I’ve seen. And I live here!
You really know how to make a person’s WEEK! I’ve been struggling a bit with my photographic self-confidence lately, so I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your kind words. Thank you!
By the way, congratulations on your own beautiful photos from your newest subscriber. 🙂
I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful photography as well as discovering your past posts! You have a great eye!
Thank you so much! I will do my very best to keep the photos coming — and hopefully not to disappoint. 😉
Your photos are beautiful! I love how you contrast great sweeping shots with close ups of the door knockers! I would love to visit Paris one day… I don’t think I would ever get bored of it either!
You are so kind, Shanon. Thank you for just making my day! I do hope you’re able to visit Paris one day — I think you would find it infinitely inspiring.
I have to confess that I have visited this area. Shame, no, because Paris for offers for everybody so much to explore. 🙂
Hemingway said it well, I think: “Paris is a moveable feast.” Thank you so much for stopping by, Matti.