My friend and fellow photographer, Marian Crostic, recently attended Paris Photo, and having never attended myself, I asked her to be the Lenscratch reporter and share her insights. This will be a two-part article.

Paris is my favorite city, so making the decision to attend Paris Photo 09 was painless. The trip was truly unbelievable! I am still in the process of digesting all of the work I saw, the people I met, and the numerous receptions and openings I attended. In addition to my camera gear, my tickets, passport, etc, I carried two passes which afforded me entry to a number of private events. Aline Smithson orchestrated, on my behalf, a press pass. This pass allowed me entrance at any time including the VIP Opening on Wednesday night. The second pass, a VIP Pass, was given to me by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Photographic Arts Council. LACMA is one of l8 museums in the world who attends Paris Photo yearly. I was invited to tag along to a few of their private receptions in Paris. On Sunday afternoon we were invited to the private residence of Martine Franck, widow of Cartier-Bresson. Martine’s residence is on the rue du Rivoli where she and Cartier-Bresson have lived for 35 years. Martine, also a photographer, is a lovely and gracious lady. I feel very honored to have spent time talking with her.

One additional note before I start with the show itself. The Parisians love their culture and the entire month of November is a celebration of photography. The museums, the galleries, and the tourists attractions all showed photography. The city honors a world wide showcase of talent without walking inside Carrousel du Louvre. Michael Kenna has a retrospective at Bibliotheque nationale de France until 1.25.10. The Maison Europeenne de la Photographie is showing Robert Delpire, one of the greatest publishers of photographer images. This show closes on 1.24.10.
A Federico Fellini retrospective was at the Jeu de Paume and will be closing on 1.17.10.

PARIS PHOTO 09

Dates: 11.19.09-11.22.09, VIP Opening on 11.18.09
Location: Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France
Visitors: 40,150, compared to 37,760 in 2008
Special Focus: Arab and Iranian Photography
Exhibitors: 102 Exhibitors
Countries: 23
BMW Prize “Khadija’s Dream” by Karijn Kakebeeke (see photo)
Jury Distinction: “Art Mama and Son” by Tatsumi Orimoto (see photo)
Record Sale: 1951 Irving Pen sold for 265,000 euros. Robert Klein Gallery

BMW Prize winner: Karijn Kakebeeke

Special Jury distinction:Tatsumi Orimoto

Additional photos of the viewing halls of Paris Photo

Finalist in BMW Paris Photo 09
image left: Barbara Probst, Kuckei+Kuckei, Berlin, image right: Nancy-Wilson-Pajic, Galerie Francoise Paviot, Paris