France The City of Lights: Photography in Paris

Orientation in Paris

Live like a Parisian in a historic quartier of the French capital. Join locals in a café for a morning croissant before navigating the ancient avenues to the Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre. Spend the afternoon using your French to find the best traditional baguettes, cheeses, and local specialties for a picnic on the famous left bank of the Seine. Explore the Monmartre art district beneath the soaring spires of Sacré Coeur and dine at tiny cafés that serve regional specialties from across France. Master the Metro and venture across the city to take in an outdoor film at the summer cinema festival, or watch the sun set over the Jardins de Luxembourg.

Homestay and Photography in Paris

Under the guidance of a Parisian photojournalist, you receive a thorough introduction to the beauty and power of photography. Live in a medieval manor house during a four-day intensive photography workshop in Fontevraud where you work with experts and participate in a photo shoot. Following your homestay, return to Paris to create a photography exhibition. Classes in technique deepen your mastery of light, ambience, and storyline. Explore the colorful neighborhoods of Paris equipped with your camera and French language skills, then join your group to develop the images that tell the story of your Paris exploration. Your journey culminates with an exhibition of your work in southern Paris.

Sample activities:
Kayak along gentle rivers; set up a photo shoot in Pere LaChaise, the Belleville Market, or the Marais District; explore the arrondissements of Paris with a French photojournalist; see photo
exhibits in the Musée de l’Art Modèrne.

Sample host communities:
Alès, St. Brieuc, St. Malo