Girls, Paris has some exhibitions on right now for us!

It’s the stuff that makes us break into a run in our ‘Louboutins’ (or in my case converse)! Literally it’s a feast for the girl within, from Haute Couture at the Hotel De Ville, to Murano glass at the Musee Maillol and not forgetting the heavenly paintings of Chagall at the Musee du Luxembourg.

Yesterday I queued up with hundreds of other holidaymakers to indulge in the colourful, poetic paintings of Marc Chagall. There are some exhibitions you come away from and the inspiration stays with you for a lifetime, this is how I feel about Chagall. I feel like photographing everyone flying, in bright colours, with a fabulous chicken by their sides.  Loving Chagall..

Chagall, Entre Guerre Et Paix

Musee Du Luxembourg

19 Rue de Vaugirard

75006 Paris

Metro: Saint Sulpice

Queue Jump: Book online, the day you want to go and walk straight in..

I turned up in Venice for the first time at the age of 21 and it was one of the greatest travel impacts that I have felt to date. It was like being hit over the head with a Gondola, I was in love, in awe and have been ever since. When I returned in my early thirties I walked away with a Murano chandelier and I will be forever in love with their glass.

Sooooooo the exhibition of Murano glass at Musee Maillol has my name and heart all over it.. A must if you are in Paris.

Fragile – Murano, Chefs-d’oeuvre de Venise

Musee Maillol

59-61 Rue de Grenelle

75007 Paris

Métro: Rue du Bac

I have walked past the queue a thousand times and I am determined to get into the Hotel De Ville and see those frocks! This exhibition was made for me and probably you.  There is no town like Paris that can claim a history of Haute Couture and thanks to the couturiers and the Hotel De Ville they have gathered all the silk, embroidery, glamour and FROCKS under the one roof..

Haute Couture

Hotel De Ville

5 rue Lobau

Paris 75004

Metro: Hotel De Ville

Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm.

So girls, if you are lucky enough to be in Paris in the coming months put your walking shoes on and revel in see some of Paris’s most inspiring exhibitions to date..Yipeeee

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” Pablo Picasso

PS: Please feel free to share to art lovers..

You might remember the backstage pics I took whilst a mystery woman was getting ready a couple of weeks ago?

Well voila Karen, what a divine woman, kind, intelligent, fun and beautiful. Karen created Little Learning in New York and has a passion for teaching and caring for children and I love her concept.

Armed with a fabulous vintage Oscar de la Renta gown and loads of goodies Karen channelled movie-star glamour.

Karen’s years in the fashion industry showed and we couldn’t resist a little fashion inspiration and couple of rock-star poses!

Looks like she stepped out of a billboard!

Love her joy for life..

She brought the perfect dress for the perfect room!

Looks like she was made for Paris.

A portrait for her fabulous website and school

All Photos Copyright Carla Coulson

A special hug for Karen for allowing me to share this wonderful moment with you and a big shout out to her divine friend Emily from Town and Country Shuffle for her kind words in Karen’s ear about my work and her recommendation.. Heartfelt thanks to my new friends..

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”  Audrey Hepburn

 

 

Please feel free to share if you know someone that might enjoy seeing this shoot of the beautiful Karen..cx

Venice for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

My trip to Puglia inspired me to write this third part in my travel photography series on how to include architecture in your travel stories. In case you missed the first two parts, you can catch up on how you can include food and people into your travel stories.

Having a husband who is an architect has helped me to love architecture even more! This has become a favourite part for me of shooting a travel story.

Travel Means Architecture

There are important pieces of architecture that are typical to that place that will immediately tell the reader where the story is set.

Let’s take Paris and Venice as examples: the white facades and grey tin roofs are typically Parisian as are the canals of Venice, gondala’s and the Venetian faded walls and architecture. Most travel stories open with a shot that sets the scene so the reader almost doesn’t need to read the title, you know immediately that you are in Paris, Venice, Morocco or Australia!

Venice Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing A Dream

The fun thing about shooting a city is that there are many different types of architecture from iconic masterpieces (like the Doges Palace in the top photo), humble exteriors and details, modern masterpieces, chic areas and working class areas of a city and of course interiors.. 

Venice for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Iconic Masterpieces

Every city (almost) has an iconic piece of architecture (or two) that defines it. Sydney has the Opera House, Paris the Tower Eiffel, Venice the Doges Palace and St Marks Church and Florence the incredible Duomo.

Try and include an iconic masterpiece in your travel story, you can bring your own slant to it by shooting in the light you like, or a particular time of day.

 

Venice for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Humble Exteriors

A well rounded travel story needs many different angles of the city which means showing different areas and architecture. I loved this simple small bridge over a canal in Venice and the colour palette and having variety gives your art director more choice. I also adored the working class island of Burano where the small fisherman’s homes were a huge contrast to the St Mark’s Square and the Doges Palace. Keep your eyes peeled for architecture that tells a different story to the iconic masterpieces.

Fisherman’s home Burano Venice

Milan for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Get Up High

In most cities there is an important landmark (such as the cathedral in Milan above) where you can get a different vantage point on the city. Can be fun too if there is a lift!

Florence Copyright Carla Coulson

Architectural Details

I rode, walked and skipped by this fountain a hundred times in Florence and I was always drawn to Neptunes butt! (Sorry guys) Architectural details take us in close to the art of a city and brings the focus up close.

Milan for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Inside Outside

Try and get into a city and show it from the inside out. That can mean as much as pushing open a door to see a courtyard or walking into the entrance of a museum etc. The above pic was a courtyard off Via Montenapoleone in Milan.

Interior – Milan for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Interiors

Interiors are another fabulous way to get in the architecture of a city. Getting inside adds depth to your story and tells a more intimate part of the cities life. The above pic was taken in the Armani Bar in Milan.

Venice for Gourmet Traveller copyright Carla Coulson

This interior was taken in the Hotel Danieli in Venice which has an incredible Venetian Gothic staircase.

Burano Copyright Carla Coulson

Simple Details

I am a huge fan of simple details, of striped curtains covering a doorway to a house, a carved face on a corner of a street, washing strung in front of a beautiful buildings.. Don’t overlook details, they often tell the best stories!

These are just some ideas to get you started and I know all of you are always interested  in permission so you can read about them here.

Wishing you every happiness with your travel stories!

“Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.”  Benjamin Disraeli

 

 

PS: Feel free to share to fellow travel bugs and photographers..xx