The One Challenge 2006 - Paris

[stunsworth]

Following the previous two years' challenges in London and Amsterdam I am pround to announce details of this year's challenge which will be in Paris.

The date has been moved forward to the 7th of October. This is a Saturday. Hopefully the weather will be better this year and a Saturday means that there will probably be more people about on the streets.

I am proposing to meet at the Frog and Rosbif on rue St Denis. Not very French I admit, but they have a large room with a lot of casual seating, so we will hopefully be able to get together as a group. You can find more details of the location here...

The Frog & Rosbif - Frog Pub - English Pub, Restaurant & Micro-Brewery in Paris - Photos

I've attached an updated version of Bill Palmer's original rules for the challenge as a PDF document. I appologise for some minor formating issues in the document, but I hope everything will be clear.

Above all remember this is a chance to meet some of the participants on this forum, it's a fun event not a highly competitive encounter.

I look forward to meeting the usual suspects and some new faces in October!

[andybarton]

A quelle heure?

[stunsworth]

12:00, as mentioned in the instructions :-)

But you're right, I should have mentioned it in the earlier waffle

[andybarton]

Trés bon, mais, who reads instructions?

[bill]

Instructions - what instructions?

I shall be there

Regards,

Bill

[pascal_meheut]

Steve, did you choose rue St Denis because of the piercing shops or because of the sex shops (not to mention les petites femmes de Paris) ?

Fine by me, I'll be there too even if it is awfully close to my work

[stunsworth]

Pascal, les petites femmes are further up the street - and my advice would not to try to photograph them ;-)

[erl]

Yikes! I will be passing through Paris that day, en route from Casablanca to Melbourne(Home). Trouble is, I don't think my flight arrives Paris till later in the day. I would love to join the usual suspects if I can arrange something. Do I need to give notice in advance, or can I just 'front up' if I can switch flight itinerary?

Any advice on how to get to rondevue(sp) from airport?

Excitment builds as I contemplate the prospect. After a months shoot in Morocco I will either be hyped right up or completely shot out!

Cheers,
Erl

[stunsworth]

Erl, just turn up - anyone can turn up on the day.

Which airport do you arrive at? If Charles de Gaulle you can get the train - a.k.a. RER - from the airport to the Les Halles shopping centre in about 20 minutes or so. The venue is about a 5 minute walk from Les Halles.

If you arrive at Orly you may need to change trains to get to Les Halles - I haven't got my map to hand.

[erl]

Steve,

I think I arr. Charles De gaulle, but if I change my flight (date) it may vary.

Will check with my agent on Monday.

Cheers,
Erl

[etanguero]

jolie endroit ... mais preparez vous: la biere est assez chere la bas!

tres bonne idee, ce "challenge"!

eT

[starwatcher]

just one thing which jumps into my mind: I heard about tough restrictions in Paris/France on taking photos, like using no tripods without prior approval etc...

I am raising this question one hand with regard to the challenge but also as I am considering a different travel to the Picardie for church photos.

Does anybody know something specific or has a link to rules/restrictions etc...?

[stunsworth]

Klaus, I never used a tripod in the two years I lived in Paris, but I have heard of some people being prevented from using one in parts of town. Others have said they haven't experienced any problems.

Other than that I never had any problems taking photographs anywhere in the city.

[octo]

Steve,
I have just ordered an Elmar 2.8 / 50. Now that you've posted the rules, I'd better start practising. Should spend a few days in Paris in August: I'll be sure to do a recce of the Frog & Rosbif to try their Parislytic A.B.V.

[pascal_meheut]

Tripod restriction does not exist anymore, for at least 5 years or so but of course, the police might not be aware of this.
The only restriction is that you must cause no trouble to other pedestrians, cars and so on.
If you ever have a problem with a policeman, just explain that you are a tourist, move away and come back 15 min later.
Other restriction may apply in private places such as museum and even some "public" parks. For instance, le Luxembourg is not public but the Senate's park open to public. They do not like tripod.
It is also forbidden to shoot into the subway but not in the train stations and so on. These restrictions are not really enforced and once again, just pretend you didn't know, don't argue and walk away.
And in many places, rules are different if you are a professional of course.

But basically, it is easy to shoot pictures in Paris especially if you look like the average tourist because we have tons of them here. Just smile to people, be careful with some young men from the suburbs and some ladies up in the rue St Denis... Same as everywhere.

To come for Charles de Gaulles, yes, the RER B train is the best. You may need to get a bus from your terminal but this is a short and probably free trip.
From Orly, this is another business. You need to take the Orlyval train and change at the end of the line to get into the RER B.
You can also take the Air France bus from Orly to Denfert-Rochereau and then get into RER B.
Or take a cab to go somewhere into Paris (like Denfert-Rochereau for instance or any RER B station) if you arrive at a time where highways are not crowded. Ride fare should be around 15€.

[starwatcher]

Steve, Pascal,

thanks for clarification!

[johannesleitner]

Is this a mistake in point 5 of the rules?

5. Following the exercise, participants have until 19th NOVEMBER to:

[cbretteville]

Originally Posted by johannesleitner

Is this a mistake in point 5 of the rules?

5. Following the exercise, participants have until 19th NOVEMBER to:

Either that or the Oct.. 26 confirmation date should be Nov. 26...

[stunsworth]

My fault I made a mistake when I wrote the dates. To confirm the sequence of events...

7th October - 'the challenge'
19th November - send me you images by this date
26th Novemver - the images will be posted anonymously by this date.

I know ther may seem to be a large gap between the original challenge and the posting of the images, but in the last couple of years some have taken longer to supply the images than expected, and I wouldn't want anyone to miss out.

[cbretteville]

Here is another question from a newbe:

"there shall be no restrictions on the use of filters,...., however their use must be notified of they play a part...."

Does this mean in advance or with the sunmission together with exposure details etc.?

Cheers,
- Carl