Picture Paris: Landmarks of a New Generation

Paris--one of the most photographed cities in the world--is viewed anew from the eyes of nine local youths who have photographed what they consider to be their city's distinctive landmarks. Classic sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramid at the Louvre are interspersed with personal images, such as a photographer's mother over a traditional French breakfast. The images, in combination with quotes from the young photographers, evoke ideas that challenge our conventional notions of landmarks and, at the same time, invite us to consider how we are marked by the communities in which we live.

Exceptional photos of a Paris seldom seen by the rest of the world are featured in this special book published by the Getty Foundation. Nine young Parisians, none of whom had ever used a camera, were recruited and trained for the project. Their photographs and words combine in the collection to show a wonderfully fresh, artistic, and honest portrayal of their inner-city lives in Paris.

The photographs include the students' own visions of typical Parisian landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, cafes, and the Arc de Triomphe. But they also show the grittier side of the city: shared toilets, graffiti, subway scenes, and neighborhood street markets. Accompanying each photo is the photographer's description of what the picture is and what it means to him or her. One of the nine, Mathilde Schneider, states the Parisians' shared feeling when she remarks, "It's as though the city's glory reflects on us." The 80 black-and-white photos in this collection take the reader on an incomparable tour of Paris; the viewpoints of the young photographers make a delightful and candid guide.