Voulez vous lire mon blog, ce soir?
This is Eric Tenin. As the creative mind behind Paris Daily Photo this blogger presents small pieces of his beloved city to natives, past nostalgic vacationers as well as those who’ve always dreamed of traveling to the city of lights.
In his professional life, Eric himself is a journalist. Where he must be meticulous in his writing and fact-checking for his magazine, blogging serves as a release of sorts for him.
Through the photographs he posts daily, he can visually express a random happening or capture a beautiful moment. The pictures transcend political and economical issues; instead of waxing philosophic or going into a tirade against the government, Tenin simply reveals glimpses into a world capital. From those images, one may segue into debate; what does this or that say about the state of France, etc., but Tenin leaves those conclusions to other bloggers and site visitors.
France was one of the first countries to ride the blog wave, and people are now beginning to calm down after the initial fervor, Tenin says. I wanted to interview a French blogger for this reason; French bloggers particularly drew attention after the success of Loic Le Meur, a business entrepreneur and supporter of the somewhat unpopular President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Tenin started the blog after receiving a digital camera for a birthday present a few years ago. Now, with all the fans and regular site visitors, he feels a responsibility to continue the blog, however he does not feel a social responsibility for the information he presents.
While the photos can be taken a mere face value, they really represent a means of communicating a place in a certain time in history; in the future years, we can look back through the photos and see not only the image, but what Tenin and other posters thought- what emotions were stirred, whether it be political, personal, social, racial, whatever.
This photo of the Metro, for example, reminds me of the anger and frustrations surround the Chicago Transit Authority. Through an image of a crowded car, city dwellers from all over can relate to the same metropolitan woes, which can foster further international conversation; in this case, how public transportation operates in different large cities- what works? what doesn't?
I see Tenin's blog as more than just pretty Parisian pictures, but much more as photojournalism-conveying the news of a vital community through powerful photos.
Interestingly, Tenin comments on the ways of daily French life inadvertently. In a photo from a few days ago of the voting booth, the caption went into explaining part of the voting process and election race:
"The quality of this photo is not very good nor does it show much of Paris, but I found it funny to take a photo inside the voting booth! I took it today (today was the first round of the elections for the mayor of Paris) just before I slipped my ballot paper into the envelope. In order to vote, in France, you must be registered on a voting list (generally the one where you live) and have your ID ready; that's all. Who won the election? Well, we have to wait for the second round to be over (next Sunday) to know for sure sure, but there is no suspense: like I already told you, it'll be this man!"
The comments from visitors show, obviously, a love for Paris, but also give tidbits of information from other corners of the globe. For example, someone from German wrote about the Metro picture:
"Veinard ! At least you got the metro running in Paris. We here in Berlin have an ever lasting strike of public transportation, so no bus, no metro and no streetcar.
1 kilometre on foot is wearing, is wearing,
1 kilometre on foot, wears out your shoes for good.
2 kilometres on foot is wearing, is wearing,
2 kilometres on foot, wears out your shoes for good.
3 kilometres on foot is wearing, …"
While Paris Daily Photo does not comment aggressively on public life, it does subtlety tell you the current conditions of French/Parisian life. What is going on in social/political/economic sphere surrounds the images without blatant dialogue; it is a relaxed form of communicating "news" and daily life.
Some Eric Tenin Q & A:
When did you decide to start a blog? What motivated you to do so?
I was offered a digital camera for my birthday (January 21!) and did not know what to do with it. I started taking pictures of just about everything, including my daily life in paris. That's how it all started, in March 2005.
How do you decide what to post about? Do you try to incorporate a
news/public affairs element or keep it more personal?
I have a time constraint, because I have a daytime job too! So I try to take as many photos as I can on the route between my work and my home. But I also take photos during weekends when I can. And you're right, very often, I spot an interesting event in the newspaper and I take a photo of it (fortunately I have a scooter so it's easier for me to go to places).
How widely read is your site? What type of people regularly visit?
I just had a look at my latest stats: 55 000 visitors per month on average. A lot of Americans, but not only.
Where do you see blogs' role in today's media as compared to traditional news gathering methods? How does this play out in France? Are more people looking to blogs? If so, do you feel any responsibility with this role?
Blogs rarely make the news, they often follow them and comment them. Blogs are extremely popular in France, I think because we like to debate and express ourselves and also because we've had Loic Le Meur, a famous French entrepreneur who is now in the States but who played a large role in the development of blogs in France in 2004/2005.
I think the craze has now slowed down. People realized that blogging take a lot of time and that they have other things to do!
I don't feel any responsibility!
Do you find yourself more connected to the rest of the world with a global audience? Do you think blogs, in a manner of speaking, have the capacity to better unite different nationalities and backgrounds?
Paris population: 2,167,994
French Population: 64,473,14
