Paris Locations & Galleries (Esp. Strange / Hidden / Unknown)

It's time for my annual escape from the U.S. to "The Continent". I'll be in and around Paris Dec. 20 to Jan. 2, and I am seeking thoughts on places that would be interesting to explore and photograph.

I imagine i'll stumble upon plenty of interesting things just wandering about, but I'd love to solicit any advice on neighborhoods, sites or events that I shouldn't miss out on. I have a preference for the strange, unknown, abandoned/ruined and generally old. I am fearless of danger and discomfort in the pursuit of beauty (naturally). I'll mostly be moving via foot and metro, but if there is a must-see that requires a farther jaunt from the city I'd certainly pursue it. I am aware that Paris is an extremely (over?) photographed location, but I'd like to do my best to get around that limitation.

Also seeking any excellent photography oriented galleries and museums that I should see. The Maison Européenne de la Photographie is already on my list, but I'd imagine there are some lesser known locations that I shouldn't miss out on.

Many thanks in advance for any insight and advice!

The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson.

http.//www.jeffreyglasser.com/

These are some of the more well-known galleries I've visited and can recommend.

http://www.incamera.fr/spip.php?page=contacts
http://www.le-bal.fr/
http://www.galerievu.com/
http://www.galerie-karsten-greve.com/en/current_exhibitions
http://www.agathegaillard.com/contact.html
http://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/fr/expositions

One of the pleasures of Paris is just wandering - I usually take a metro to somewhere out of central Paris and walk back to where I'm staying - a great way to experience the city. I carry one of these - Paris Classique - small enough for the pocket and cheap enough.

I may be in Paris at that time so if you see a tall bald fellow in a green jacket with a Mamiya C330s TLR wandering about say bonjour!
Enjoy your 'annual escape'.

a friend who spent time in paris did his best to
find the odd and bizarre ... found a small zooalogic museum
( you know, with weird-stuff. creepy-stuff in glass jars &c )
in the basement of an ancient building and the tickets were hand written &c like in 1900
i was never able to figure out where it was, but supposedly it is near les jardin tuileries ... ..

sorry for being no help ... if you find it, post the address ?

merci beaucoup !

https://www.parczoologiquedeparis.fr/fr

John!

Take a ride out to the Marche Aux Puces Saint-Ouen on the Metro. The Marche itself is a maze, and the street markets for non-antiquities around it are quite interesting as well, but do be careful about hoisting your camera to photograph the people. A lot of them are immigrants, some of whom may not be there legally and/or may be not entirely on the up-and-up in their business, or they may just be devout Muslims who think that photographs of people are a sin.

TheFlyingCamera said:

Take a ride out to the Marche Aux Puces Saint-Ouen on the Metro. The Marche itself is a maze, and the street markets for non-antiquities around it are quite interesting as well, but do be careful about hoisting your camera to photograph the people. A lot of them are immigrants, some of whom may not be there legally and/or may be not entirely on the up-and-up in their business, or they may just be devout Muslims who think that photographs of people are a sin.

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I visited this market in May. It was very interesting and I hope to return. We took the Metro to Porte de Clignancourt which got us right into the market. Boulevard Beaumarchais is full of camera shops if that is of interest to you. It is to the East of the City. The area around Rue de Rome has lots of traditional luthiers shops which could be good for photography. Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll have a great time. Paris is one of my favourite cities.
Alex

Mustafa Umut Sarac said:

https://www.parczoologiquedeparis.fr/fr

John!

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it is like from edwardian / victorian times
animal fetus in a jar or formaldehyde
prehistoric beasts stuffed, or in formaldehyde ...

not a petting zoo :eek:

John- there was an article about it in the NY Times travel section in the last six months or so. Is this perhaps the place you were thinking of? http://www.mnhn.fr/fr/visitez/lieux/galeries-anatomie-comparee-paleontologie

Dead Link Removed - a shop of a million lost photographs.

Another link

I did find the most fantastic photo bookshop in St Germain but I could never tell you where it is. Paris is like that, there is much to be stumbled upon.

This is the only one I know around there, probably more, but a good one nevertheless

http://www.placartphoto.fr/index.html

Ghostman said:

...I did find the most fantastic photo bookshop in St Germain but I could never tell you where it is. Paris is like that, there is much to be stumbled upon.

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There is also the “Jeu de Paume”

http://www.jeudepaume.org/index.php?


I think a nice place for taking photographs are the beautiful old greenhouses of the „Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil” a little outside. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jardin_des_Serres_d'Auteuil) , but perhaps rather in summer.

Without doubt my favourite photo book shop in Paris is Comptoir de l'Image. It has an incredible selection and the tiny shop is crammed with amazing volumes.

The address is: 44 rue de Sévigné, 3e, Marais, Paris, 75003

When I went recently I think they were closed briefly around lunchtime - I'd recommend going in the early afternoon.