Ghost tram. By Flavie DELESVAUX & Laura DE MOURA

We took this black and white photo of a tram crossing the Saint-Jacques Bridge in Clermont-Ferrand on the 26th October last year. It was quite exciting as it noisily passed in front of us.

In the background, you can see the famous "Muraille de Chine" (i.e. the “Great Wall of China”, the nickname given by the locals to this long building). Three people are walking along the bridge.

The second picture was taken on the 14th November in the same place. It is a beautiful day. The tram is nowhere to be seen…

As the tram is too heavy for the bridge, the viaduct has been shut to traffic temporarily in order to reinforce the structure.

Shops. By Louis MOREL & Augustin MORGE

A well-established department store

A new shop

We took theses photos of shops in October last year.

The first picture is in colour because it's a happy place. We heard lots of people talking. Inside it was very warm . We felt happy there because it was crowded. The Galleries is a department store which sells mostly clothes and cosmetics. It is a big and important shop in Clermont which attracts lots of tourists. Judging by the architecture, it's quite old.

The second photo is in black and white because it's sad. There was nobody in this small shop. It was quiet and not very warm inside. We were curious to know why there was nobody in this wine shop. In the window display, there are several flags. we can see lots of bottles of wine. It's not a well-know store.

These photos show that some shops are more popular than others.

World’s apart. By Inès COQUEL & Amélys COURET

 Singapore, the "Lion City" 

Grenoble, the "capital of the Alps"

Inès writes...

This picture was taken on February the 11th 2012 from a famous hotel in Singapore called the Marina Bay Hotel. I felt tiny, lost among so many giant buildings. Singapore is in Southern Asia, on the equator, so the weather is very humid all the time and the temperature quite high. I felt clammy. Hundreds of people were walking slowly along the bay. I remembered what my History teacher said about this place, that it was built on land fill. Less than fifty years ago, this place was was not even here. From the top of this hotel, we can see durian trees, a theatre, a mall, the statue of the Merlion (sea-lion, symbol of Singapore), and the Raffle hotel (oldest building in Singapore, it used to be the Post Office).

Amélys writes...

The second photo was taken in March 2014 in Grenoble, France. We can see the big city with lots of buildings. When I took this picture, the weather was damp and cold. It's a great souvenir now, but I didn’t feel very reassured in the cable car! Grenoble is a very interesting city; there are many different styles of architectures. On the right, in the background, there’s a very long avenue which looks like the Champs Elysée in Paris. There are different types of buildings. In the foreground, there are council flats with lots of windows; it contrasts with the building with the more ornate facade and the slate roof. On the left hand, there is the Olympic stadium. In the middle, there is the City Hotel which is very modern. In Grenoble, there is grass along the tramway. There is a famous cable car which goes over the river and up to an old part of town from which we can admire the view of the city surrounded by mountains.

Singapore is one of the most dynamic cities in the world; Grenoble is not, despite some pretentions at being an important European center of scientific research. Nothing much has happened in Grenoble since the Winter Olympic Games of 1968, apart from the completion in 2009 of the first eco-district in a French city. Singapore, though populous and highly developed, is trying to become a more ecologically-friendly city.

The question is: what makes a city like Singapore become, in less than fifty years, one of the most influential cities in the world, and a city like Grenoble stay so provincial, where the most exciting thing to go on the “bulles”, the Grenoble-Bastille cable car (inaugurated in 1934)?

Continuity and change. By Eloi LEMAIRE, Antoine BOURSON & Antoine MORVILLIER

Sunrise

Sunset

I took the first picture in May 2015 on the Europaplatz in Berlin during a trip with my class. I didn’t really pay attention to how I took the picture because we were in a rush. It was quite hot; I could only hear the noises of my class and obviously of the crowd. I was tired because of the twenty-hour train journey. I also felt glad and curious because it was the first time I had been to Germany. I felt a bit stressed too because my whole class was lost; we had only a few minutes left to find the riverside dock to go on a river trip. We can see a railway station made of glass panels and steel frames. By looking through the wall of glass we can see two catwalks and a concrete bridge with a train on it. The first thing I saw when I took this picture was the small white clock below the name of the station because of its colour; it’s the only thing which is in contrast with the building’s colour. It reminded me that we were in a hurry. The title I chose is “Sunrise” because it was early and there was sun; also, this railway station symbolizes the “dawn” of today's Berlin with its high-tech architecture. The original railway station dates from 1993; it took eleven years to complete. It was modernized in 2006 and is now the biggest railway station in Europe. The curved roof is made of glass panels, which house photovoltaic cells, and steel frames. When trains arrive in the station they are fifteen meters above the street. The bridge is 450 meters long, it goes over the Spree river. The construction of the station cost €700 million. The use of high-tech metal and glass, and the sheer size of the structure, show the wealth and power of the city (to the people arriving).

                                                                                             

I took the second picture from the Monbijou Park in Berlin during the same school trip. I took it from this angle because I wanted to take the cathedral and also the column on the right. I applied few effects; originally the picture was darker. I felt particularly good because we were relaxing in the evening sunshine. It was still really hot. I could hear the noises of the Spree and the boats. I could hear the crowd like almost everywhere in Berlin. We can see the main Protestant cathedral of Berlin. In the foreground, there is a lawn with about ten people resting on it. In the middle distance, we can see columns and a bridge which is above the Spree. In the background we can see the cathedral. It is made of bricks; the cupola is made of copper and gold. We can also see two cranes used in the church restoration. There’s a small wood. I chose “Sunset” as the title because it contrasts with the first picture: it is the end of the day, and the architecture is “old”, symbol of the glorious past of the city. The Berlin cathedral is located on the “Museum Island” in Berlin-Mitte. It was designed by Julius Carl Raschdorff from 1894 to 1905. It is 116 meters tall, 74 meters wide, and 114 meters long. It was damaged in 1944 by Allied bombing. The construction cost, at the time, about €6 million. There are quite a lot of people in front of the church; it shows the place is attractive to tourists and still valued by the Berliners. The crane in the background proves that the city values its architectural heritage.

As a common title, I chose “Continuity and change”. The buildings in my photos show that Berlin both cherishes tradition and invests in modernization.

Painting the town blue and yellow! By Thibaut URBANEK & Amil MUBARAK

 

The calm before...

... the storm!

The photos were taken in Clermont-Ferrand, at the Marcel Michelin stadium on the 22nd of November.

In the top picture, there is nobody in the stadium. It's black and white, dark. There is no sound.

The lower picture shows the stadium full. The picture is bright and clear; it's very sunny. The supporters are clapping, an orchestra is playing and it is very noisy.

A stadium is eerily empty before a match. The supporters arrive slowly, scatter all around the arena, begin to form groups, and, in the end, there is no space left to move!

Rugby is an important part of our culture in the Auvergne. Meeting up with other supporters, clapping, shouting and singing all together, is great. The ASM supporters are the best supporters in France!

When there’s a match, the city streets are deserted. This is because we are all in the stadium, united in our support for our team. Rugby unites the citizens, making them proud of their city.

Fall. By Lila COURTENS & Lalia BOU SAID

 

The Accident...

The Hole...

The first picture was taken on the day the drama occured: the 16th of September 2015. It shows the immediate aftermath of the accident: we can see a fire truck in the corner of the photograph, and in the background a tree that has fallen over. 

The other picture was taken one week after the accident; it shows the stump of the tree like the open mouth of a big monster...

When our friend took the first picture, the weather was cold. She felt worried because she had witnessed the scene: the two women who had been injured by the falling tree, the police and the firemen. She had thought: "It could have been me under that tree… I could have been hurt or even killed!"

When we took the second picture it was cold too. We saw the tree carcass. There was nobody around, no noises, no movement... Just silence. It felt strange.

First photograph: in the left corner of the picture we see a  fire truck so we can imagine that there has been an accident and when we look at the picture more closely we see that a tree has crashed to the ground and we understand that this is the problem. The quality of the photograph is not very good because it was taken using a cell phone, but it gives the picture an appropriate press-photo look.

The second picture just shows a gaping hole. It's mysterious; we can't really recognize what it is. It is a little disturbing.

In “The Accident", we do not know the nature of the accident, its causes or consequences (if anyone has been hurt)…

In "The Hole", the tree stump takes on a supernatural aspect; it is quite frightening, echoing the violence of the accident. Will this deathly thing swallow us up?

"Fall" means to fall (negative) and it is a synonym of autumn (evocative of trees losing their leaves…). Why did the tree fall on this autumn day, just at that moment, just as two women were walking past under it; is it by accident or was it fate?

There is a contrast between the pictures: one looks like a newspaper photo (it is about “fact”), whereas the second is more “arty” and mysterious (it is about emotions). Accidents happen (fact), and we fear them (emotions).

Our pictures are a reminder that something bad can happen to you, anywhere, any time. Living in the city, with its many dangers, real or imagined, makes people feel insecure. Insecurity is a common city sensation...

Green cities. By Clara GRAMMATICO & Yseult DEPOORTER

Town in Nature

Nature in town

The first photo, “Town in nature”, was taken near Pont-du-Château on September the 24th 2015 in the morning with no effects. I was going to high school, it was about 8 o'clock. There was a little bit of wind. It was a sunny day but not really warm. The air was pure. I think I was happy. In the background we can see the "Chaîne des Puys" mountain range. The sky was really blue and there were a few clouds. In the foreground there are corn fields, and on the right we can see the shadow of a car. There is a real contrast of colors between the blue of the sky and the yellow of the corn fields. Pont-du-Château is a dormitory town; most people work in the regional capital Clermont-Ferrand about twenty minutes away by car. It is a nice quiet place, a town surrounded by the countryside.

The second photo, “Nature in town”, was taken in Central Park in New-York City on the 25th October 2015. I chose this photo format because it offers a very beautiful view on New York City and its famous urban cityscape from Central Park. The buildings in front are not tall but still really impressive. And the water reflects them like a giant mirror. This is one of the most beautiful cityscapes that I have ever seen. I was amazed because the contrast between the city and the “nature” is very interesting. It was my first time in the U.S.A. The trees in autumn are so beautiful with their orange and brown leaves. I could hear the cars, taxis and buses, but near me I could hear the birds and the squeak of the squirrels running about. The water was very nice and clear. I wasn't cold, which is strange for autumn, but seasons are not the same in the U.S.A. as in France. The sun was out and the sky was clear. I was cycling with my family all around Central Park on rented bikes. We decided to stop a moment to take some pictures. The title of this photo is "The mirror of Central Park". I chose this title because the buildings are seen reflected in the lake. The city and the nature are together in the same place, and this is just wonderful to see. Central Park was established in 1857 in the center of Manhattan. Construction continued during the American Civil War period and was expanded to 341 ha (843 acres) in 1873. Today, it is an urban park of 315 ha (778 acres) where people can walk, run, bicycle, or ride horses all year. It has about 37 million visits annually according to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The buildings are some of the offices and shops of Manhattan. My picture shows how important it is for people to include Nature within the urban setting, especially in a place the size of NYC.

Routine and rest. By Yacine CHETTOUH & Valentin CHOLLET

To work

At play

I took the top photo on Sunday, Place de Jaude. I like the contrast between the tram, the trees and the sky. I heard the sound of people walking, the tram arriving. The smells were typical city smells: pollution and people. It was a little cold. I was tired because I hadn’t slept much the night before. The bright sky and the autumn green of the trees contrast with the greyness of the city.

The tram is a symbol of routine for me; we take it daily to go to work. People in the tram are mostly bored; they wear headphones or fiddle with their mobiles. They ignore each other.

The tramway in Clermont-Ferrand was created in 2006 and it has made transport easier. The line is nearly 16 km long.

I wanted to take a picture of the Jardin Lecoq to show how beautiful Clermont-Ferrand can be. It was taken on a sunny 26th of November. This 5-hectare park, designed by Paul de Lavenne, dates from 1912. When I took this photo, I felt confident, comfortable and glad. Birds fly all around the garden, they makes noises, the trees are very grand and there are colourful flowers everywhere. People are happy in this place of serenity, after school or work, away from the cars. They can relax and try to forget their daily problems.

City life is about making a living and earning time to relax. Our photos tell this everyday story that most of us live.

The madding crowd. By Valentina GIOVANELLI & Maéva BROUSSE

Within

Without

We took these photos in Clermont-Ferrand in Place de Jaude on October the 4th.

The first photo shows a happy crowd; that's why we left the photo in colour, without no other effects. The photo was taken in front of the runners, when they were starting their run. It shows solidarity and happiness which is the subject of the photo.

The second photo is of a spectator. The black and white symbolizes his “exclusion”. We do not know who he or she is. The photo is about how alone we sometimes feel when we are surrounded by a lot of people but not part of the crowd.

We felt like taking part in the race because it's a movement of a lot of people. There was a very positive spirit. We saw motivated people! We felt a little sorry for the person standing alone; we imagined that he/she would also have liked to take part in the race.

We can see a lot of teenagers who are beginning the race. They all have coloured sun glasses. They are holding hands. They are enthusiastic and motivated. Behind the people there are buildings.

In the second photo, the barrier separates the picture: on one side there is the crowd and on the other there is the person alone. In the background there are buildings.

“Within”: the crowd is taking part in the race; the people are committed to city life.

“Without”: the person isn't with the crowd, he is excluded, he is not so committed to the social activities of the city.

This type of race was created in 2012 in the USA, inspired by religious Indian street celebrations.

The runners symbolize happiness. The race is a sporting event and we like that. The city centre is where we can spend our free time and go shopping. The crowd means that the event is a success and we think that it is good for the association.

"The madding crowd." This title is a reference to the novel by Thomas Hardy “Far from the Madding Crowd” in which the protagonist feels excluded from society.

Our pictures show the solidarity of the urban people, an active city, the fact that there are a lot of young people in this city, where we can have pleasure and help other through a charity event. They also show that some people are excluded, that in a city there are people who live there but who do not (choose) to take part in city life.  

We can see that Clermont-Ferrand is an active place but that some people who live in the town don't like noise and changing their habits…

An urban fairy tale. By Lhena MARQUEZ & Tracy PAKKIAM

Elf Forest

Troll patrol

Photo 1 was taken on the 16th of September 2015 in Place Delille near the Town Hall. We took it at this angle to highlight the contrast between Nature and the man-made thing: the lift. We can see different levels: the houses, the green hills, and the blue sky. The plants on the lift make a link between natural elements and the lift, symbolizing technology.

We, the photographers, didn't really know each other so we got acquainted during our assignment. We ate together and then went to take the photos. We were pleased to get to know each other. It was a sunny afternoon but there was a lot of wind so it was a little bit cold. There were some clouds in the sky; we see them in the photo.

On the right side is the blue sky with some clouds, then the green hills in the middle, and the houses at the bottom. On the left, there is a lift on which there are plants and flowers. This photo shows a beautiful and quiet place; there is a happy atmosphere. This place is the one in which fairies and elves live… The lift represents their house. They have been living there in peace for several years now. We have called this place "Elf Forest" as it is the best place for them because it fits so harmoniously into the natural environment.

The sight of Clermont made us feel like being a bit up in Heaven with the blue sky; it gave us feelings of peace and happiness. It made us forget all our problems.

This photo shows the urbanisation of Clermont-Ferrand. We can see that houses are being built up on the hills. This photo is divided in two: on the right is blue sky and beautiful hills, and, on the left, a lift made of metal and other artificial materials representing human activity.

Photo 2 was taken in the “Rue du port”. It is in portrait format in order to show the street behind, where an elf is walking past… On the left of the photograph, there is a wall with a poster of a troll. He is patrolling the streets to take control of the fairies and the elves! He is the one who has invented the technology which is slowly taking control of the elves and the fairies all over the city by locking them up them in their own houses… On the right, the light of the sun is reflected on the front of the apartments; this is a symbol of hope for the elves...

When we took the photo we were pleased and completely relaxed but also concentrated on taking a good picture. The street has interesting elements and details worth photographing.

We gave this title to the picture because the poster is a real troll, and in the darkness of the corner he seemed to spy on the street to find people to persecute… The poster was for a Rock ‘n’ roll concert but the paper looked really old so it was probably a long time ago. The trolls are becoming the masters of the city, doing everything they can to enslave our city youth with computers and cell phones…

Our pictures are a good representation of the urban environment. They show us the places where elves and fairies live but also hint at the threat to their social and physical environment.

Our beautiful fairy-tale world, close to Nature, is being threatened by the monsters of technology…

Averting one's gaze... By Thomas CASILE

"La galère" (hard times)

Les Galleries (times of plenty)

The pictures we carefully selected for this project were taken in Clermont-Ferrand’s main square. We decided to use colour photos. We took the pictures directly in front of what we were trying to capture, to get the clearest view of the scene possible.

Downtown is always noisy. Nevertheless, it doesn't always smell bad. We were took these pictures just before winter arrived, so it wasn't very cold.

The first picture depicts a homeless man sitting on the ground with his dog lying on his lap. The colours are rather sinister which corresponds to the sad scene we were witnessing. This poor man looked very depressed and tired. It was in fact an emotional moment for us because we aren't used to seeing this type of thing in our daily lives. The title we gave to this picture is: "La galère (hard times)".

The second image is of a department store in Clermont. Not an ordinary one, the fanciest one in town where only the richest people can afford to go. The building is beautiful and well kept. We were mesmerized by its beauty. The Galleries were built in 1906 by Leon and Marcel Lamaiziere. This building obviously symbolizes wealth. The title we gave to the picture is: "Les Galleries (times of plenty)".

Our goal is obviously to illustrate the contrast between wealth and poverty in our city. For that we chose pictures that symbolize poverty and wealth. In one, the poor lonely homeless man with his only friend, and in the other, the place where rich people go to spend their money. The lonely fellow is fighting the cold, his hunger and many other difficulties we don't know much about, while the rich choose to have fun and spend astronomical amounts of money on clothes, etc., instead of helping the homeless. We find this very unfair.

In 2013, in France, 454 homeless people died out in the cold. It is our duty to help people in need because we are all human and everyone has the right to live decently. Are we, as a nation, too selfish to do anything about it?

The common title we gave the pictures is: "Averting one's gaze". We chose this title because the homeless man is averting his gaze (out of shame?) and because we, the well-off, avert our gaze from the problem of homelessness. Not everyone knows about these inequalities and people try not to think about these issues. I think these contrasting pictures succeed in conveying the story. I could have chosen a picture of a rich arrogant man driving his Porsche (which I took) but this would have laboured the point… Instead, I chose the picture of the fancy shop where wealthy people go and spend their money frivolously; that way, no one in particular is aimed at and we are reminded that we are all responsible...

This city is the home of everyone who lives in it and so we should contribute to helping the ones in need who share our space. People should think twice when they come across people begging; try to put yourself in their situation and imagine how hard and tiring life must be…

Sporting the city's colours. By Maxime LANYI & Antoine JUILLARD

Goal!

Fair play

Sport is an important part of urban life, on social, cultural, economic, and even political levels. To explore this, we went to the ice rink in Clermont-Ferrand…

The first photo was taken in October 2015. It is in color, though mostly quite dark. We wanted to show the different kinds of lights, the hockey jerseys and the ads. The viewing angle is from the tribunes, not too high, not too low so as to be able to see the match and the environment too. A goal has just been scored. It shows the solidarity between the players which is really important in a team sport. The supporters are concentrated on the game. We did not use any effects to take this picture. We just pointed the camera at the game to take a picture of a match and show the atmosphere.

The second picture was taken in November 2015 from a different seat. It shows the end of the match, when the two teams are shaking hands. This is a beautiful moment because this handshake symbolizes the “fair play” that exists between two teams. All the supporters are clapping and looking cheerful. They admire the respect both teams show each other after their game. At this moment, the music is in full swing. We took the picture in panorama mode to show the width of the ice rink and to show the maximum number of supporters who are all looking in the same direction.

Both of these pictures were taken in Clermont-Ferrand on different days. The contrast is created by the two different emotions you see expressed: the rivalry and the fair play of team sports. Competition can make you want to do bad things to the opponents, like hurt them in the heat of the action, but after, at the end of the game, respect returns and the atmosphere becomes friendly. During the game, the objective is obviously victory, but, generally, at the end of the match, the tension drops.

In real life, outside the sports arena, you can express the same feelings; sometimes you do things in a confrontational way, to become “the best”. It's normal, but you have to be respectful of others nonetheless. Nowadays, however, these two ways of behaving are no longer always associated: people live their lives and don't care for others; it's “every man for himself”. This is particularly true in cities, where people live among lots of other people. It is usually different in the country, where people tend to be more attentive to their neighbors...

In a team sport, everyone cares about his teammates; if someone gets hurt, his teammates will help him. Sports teams in general are like a family.

At the ice rink, everyone meets around a wonderful match, people talk about it to their friends, and the other people go to see the matches. It is a cultural event. There is an economic aspect too because people pay, obviously.

It was freezing at the matches we attended, but the ambiance was really warm. If you are not used to watching a hockey match, the temperature can be surprising, but it's to avoid the ice melting. It was the beginning of the hockey season. The first match was against the "Français Volants" team. There was a wonderful home crowd who supported the "Sangliers Arvernes". The more the team had the hockey puck, the more the supporters screamed; it was a noisy ambiance but really cool. This sport is brutal; even the supporters sometimes scream violently at the adverse team. The supporters and their team form a real union, like a family. All the fans were concentrated on the match; all were there, together, for the same event. Each time there was a break, the music played. It reminded us of an American-style show at a basketball or football match.

On the first picture, in the foreground, there are supporters sitting on the tribunes (there is a capacity of 1,200). It was an important part of the match and that is why they are so concentrated. There are window protections in front of the first row of spectators; the puck can reach 100km/h! In the middle distance it is the match. The Auvergnats were wearing blue and orange jerseys and the Parisians black and white. On the left side, are the bars, and the pump room. We went over there during the break to drink and to warm up! In the background, you can see where the “outcasts” have to sit, just under the McDonald's panel. Exclusions are rare; there was no one there at that moment.

In the second picture, we can see many supporters in the foreground. The white of the ice rink dominates the picture; it is the central element of the photograph. The players from the two teams are shaking hands to congratulate each other on a good match.

Ice hockey became an event at the Olympic Games in 1920. But it is one of the sports which has had difficulties gaining recognition. This is because of the expensive infrastructure. The Clermont-Ferrand ice rink was created in 2005. A match is divided in three periods and opposes two teams of six players. It is impressive because you are not far from the game, you can see the players up close.

The n° 76 player of the "Sangliers Arvernes" team is Dusan Brincko. Like most of the team members, he is not from the region. Dusan comes from the Czech Republic. It is really uncommon to see foreign players in a small team like ours. Because they are professionals, they train almost every evening at the ice rink.

We interviewed Dusan. We asked him what difficulties he had had when arriving in France regarding his job, his friends, his accommodation, French culture, etc. He is the team captain; his goal is to lead his team to the "play off" and become champions, at the top of the ranking. Even if they are professional players, their wages are not sufficient to live on properly (he is currently looking for a second job). Dusan speaks good French; this helps him fit in.

A concrete maze. By Anthony PAYET & Bastien SÉRANGE

 

Where's the entrance?!

 

Where's the exit?!

The first photo was taken from a hill above Clermont-Ferrand, a point of view called "La Pierre Carrée". The second one was taken from a street along a military base, in front of my (Anthony's) home; it's a calm place. We chose not to use filters. The “natural” colours render best the atmosphere of the places. The first picture is a panoramic view, hence the landscape format. The second is in portrait format to emphasise the narrowness of the street.

When we took the photos, we felt good. It was fun working together. For the first one, as we were high up, we felt the cold wind. For the second, as we were inside the city, we didn't feel the wind.

In the first photo, in the foreground, there are mostly buildings. In the middle distance, just off-centre, there is the cathedral which dominates the scene and gives the photo a focus point. In the second photo, there is a long road that seems endless, framed by the wall of the military base on the left and railway tracks on the right hidden by bushes and small trees.

Photo 1 is entitled "Where’s the entrance?!" because you want to go down into the city but you don't know where the entry point is exactly. Photo 2 is entitled "Where’s the exit?!" because you are lost in the city but you do not know how to get out...

In photo 1, the main element is the cathedral. It is situated in the city centre, inside the old city. The cathedral has been on the same spot since the fifth century. The city was built around it. We see clearly on the picture that the further you go from it, the more modern are the buildings.

In photo 2, we can see a sign on the white wall: "Military property, no entry". Behind this long wall covered in barbed wire, there is a former military base. The oldest buildings date back to 1899. The railway line goes up to the former entrance to the base.

Photo 1 shows our city. We know it well. A stranger would probably see a city like any other, with ordinary buildings and nothing of particular interest apart from the black cathedral. For us, this view of Clermont-Ferrand brings back many memories. Each place is bound to events in our lives, important and insignificant ones, and we can spot particular places in relation to their personal meaning to us. Photo 2 evokes daily life, because it's the road I take every day to go to school. For us, this picture shows something that is very familiar whereas for others its significance is different: they will see an unusually empty street, lost somewhere in a place they do not know. It's a little ominous...

The common title of our photos is: "A concrete maze" because the city can be compared to a labyrinth. In photo 1, you are outside the labyrinth, dominating it. You want to enter it. In photo 2 you have been trapped in the maze and are searching for the exit! When you have lived a long time in a city, you know its maze of streets, its secret corners, its dangerous nooks and safer crannies. You do not feel lost; it is your stomping ground. If you are new to the place however, you may feel you can master it, find its “meaning”, but you often have the sensation of being lost. You may even want to leave it… Our photos tell this story.

On a more “urban geography” note, we can say that our photos illustrate the fact that cities get bigger. This is positive because they have to modernize and to attract economic activity. Photo 1 shows a small city in a rural region (cf. the background). The historic centre is surrounded by the newer quartiers. Photo 2 illustrates that it sometimes takes many years to regenerate parts of the older districts.

Back to Nature, a bit... By Lucie LÊME & Holy RALAITSIZAFY

 

Sunny weather makes people happy!

Gloomy weather makes people sad...

           

The photos were taken in the "Jardin Lecoq", the biggest botanical garden in Clermont-Ferrand. It is a place where you can relax and get away from the traffic, the noise and the pollution. The first photo was taken in September; the temperature was about 30°C! The second was taken in December during the Christmas holidays but it felt like autumn. We took these two photos because we wanted to show how seasons influence people's moods, even in the city.

In the first photo, in the background and around us, there are amazing and impressive trees and extraordinary flowers, and a duck pond with a fountain. We heard sounds which are typical in most cities when it is summer: birds singing, cars, kids playing with their parents or their friends. We could also hear the tram and the splash and hiss of the fountain.

In this photo, we were larking about because we wanted to show what people are like when it is summer. Most of the people are smiling to each other because they are happy, friendly, sociable and a little bit crazy, a bit like us! We were happy, laughed a lot and did a lot of silly faces. For once, there was no wind, no rain; it was simply a very sunny day in September. We could smell the many kinds of flowers. We almost forgot we were in the city...

In the second photo, in the background, we can see that all the trees have lost their leaves. The fountain is still working even though it is winter. Around us, some of the bushes have kept their leaves. We heard cars, the water from the fountain, but we didn't hear kids playing or laughing. We heard a baby who cried a lot. The December wind was blowing quite hard, there was also a bit of rain; the weather was gloomy. The smells were very different: we smelt the rain, the tarmac too because of the rain, and the car exhaust fumes. We were reminded that we were in a city, unlike on the day in September when we took the first photo. The flowers and trees had become insignificant. We put a black and white effect in this photo because we wanted to show the sadness of winter, and it shows the disappointment of the people. We felt happy to see each other, but we were very tired because of the weather.

Most public places in cities (shopping malls, offices, restaurants, etc.) now have temperature-controlled environments (the temperatures are always the same). They also have rather boring lighting “ambiances”. Does this influence people's emotions and behaviour, making us more calm and conformist? Our photos remind us that in a public garden at least you can “get back to Nature” a little; the seasons still exist there and they do affect our moods, good or bad.

Hello? Hello! By Laura ROMANE, Camille BERRIVIN & Mathilde MIOCHE

Hello?

Hello!

We took these pictures on Wednesday 30th of September afternoon in Place Delille near to our high school. There was a lot of noise, a little sun and the air smelt of petrol fumes. There are sometimes many people Place Delille because it is quite pleasant and there are places to sit. We come here often to hang out with each other. Most of the people sitting on the benches are usually on their cell phones.

In the first photo we took, we can see a girl sitting on a public bench. She's not paying attention to her surroundings as she is concentrating on her cell phone. In the second photo, two girls are sitting and chatting on the same bench. We cannot see their heads; this makes them anonymous. The people sitting on the bench could be you or me.

The public bench is both impersonal (it does not belong to one person in particular and it is in a public place) and personal in the sense that it is “yours” for the time you sit on it. You can do quite personal things there (put on your makeup, ‘phone, meet a friend, have a sandwich, etc.), though it is in a public place. People can sometimes have a favorite public bench and it can become a place that is part of a routine, a personal story and one’s memories. It is an apt symbol of city life, a place to be alone, or with others, among a crowd.

The city is a place where the individual can feel isolated. Does the cell phone, which has become so much more part of our lives, help us communicate better and overcome our isolation?

Communication is the subject of both pictures, but in different forms: real and virtual. Our cell phone and the social networks cut us off from the “real” world. We speak with friends, but not face to face. We hide behind our screens. Real communication is more difficult, because we can't hide our emotions; we have to be more spontaneous in front of an actual person. The negative aspect of city living is that most people spend so much time on their phones instead of enjoying their lives. Communication becomes more and more difficult because people are better at sending messages to each other rather than talking face to face.

In the countryside, people will talk to one another face-to-face more. In the city, there are a lot of people so it is should be easy to meet. You can find plenty of places where you can talk to friends and hang out with them on a nice bench!

Heaven or hell… By Rachel VAZ DE AZEVEDO

Heaven

Hell

Heaven. My first photo shows one of the symbols of a city that I’m sure you have heard about: Sydney. I visited this city for a week during my exchange visit in Australia, and it was absolutely wonderful. In this photo, I’m in front of the Opera House, and it was, as you can see, a windy but really sunny day! It was taken at the end of my trip, one week before I came back to France.

To me, that city is one of the best places to live in the world: you’ve got everything around you such as: amazing beaches, many shops, a big city centre but beautiful green spaces as well. I was full of happiness and couldn’t stop smiling even if I would have liked to have been with my family at that particular moment so that we could have discovered together what I would call my favorite place in the world. I had found my little paradise and I will do everything in my power to go back there! This photo brings back a lot of memories, and makes me sad but happy at the same time because I couldn’t have imagined an experience as wonderful as it truly was. It was the most unforgettable part of my life so far. I learnt to live with another family, discover a new country but mainly a new culture, and new people I will never forget. I think it has opened my mind. I grew more than I ever had. I’m so thankful to everyone who helped me make this trip: the tears, the laughs, the good times and less good times. But my life’s not over, I’m ready for a new chapter and I’m excited about the new opportunities and experiences I will have in my future. So, I can say that this photo represents my experience and how I felt when I did it because I look happy on it, as I was most of the time during my trip. This was particularly true in Sydney where I felt at home (I cannot explain why). I think that we maybe don’t grow up necessarily in the place we belong to… Anyway, as you can see on my face, it was truly awesome!

Hell… This photo was also taken in Sydney. It doesn’t look like it, but it actually is. It’s why I took it; it looks like it wasn’t in Sydney, not even near any city. This place is called “The Gap,” it’s an ocean cliff located towards Watson Bay, where my hotel was. But these rocks have a story. In fact, when my host family and I went to The Gap for a walk, I saw a billboard with a telephone next to it, so I asked my host family what it was and they told me something I would never have thought possible. This place is actually one of the preferred places for people to commit suicide. It has been estimated about fifty people end their lives at The Gap every year. I thought I hadn’t understood, because we were talking in English, but I actually did understand. The phone is for people who don’t feel good and need to talk. And it’s really serious! I have so many other photos I took in Sydney but I chose this one to show you because I wanted to pass on a message...

There is a terrible contrast between my two photos. I felt at home in Sydney, it was like I had found a kind of “balance” because on the one hand you’ve got the freedom of the natural spaces, and on the other hand you’ve got the city. But some people don’t feel as good as I felt, some people are, as in every country, stressed and with problems. There are sad people everywhere in the world; we don’t all have the same definition of paradise, of the dream life. This city which I call a “paradise” isn’t actually paradise for everyone…

Places need people. By Alice DE FOUCHIER & Adèle DE LAHARPE

Solitary shadows

Show of solidarity

We live in a place full of life called Clermont-Ferrand. Sometimes, though, the city is completely dead…

The first picture was taken in the Place de la Victoire. This square was built after the French Revolution. It contains a fountain at the top of which is a statue of Pope Urban II who launched the first crusade from Clermont in 1095. This statue, raised in 1895, is the work of Henri Gourgouillon. The square is surrounded by oppressive grey buildings. There are trees along the side which make you feel shut-in. We were astonished to see that there was no one in town. So we tried to make the spot look even more morose by shooting a picture with no sharp colors. We accentuated the contrast between the solitary statue and the buildings in the background. It shows the sensations we experienced while taking the photo. Indeed, we were dismayed because on this day nobody else was enjoying the urban environment in this square.

To contrast this melancholic atmosphere, we chose a second picture which represents a crowded place inspiring joy. We took this second photograph at the “Color me Rad”, in the Place de Jaude. The “Color me Rad” is an American concept which consists in running under a rain of colors. It’s a sort of race which banishes the stopwatch, originally inspired by the Holi Festival of colors in India. Since the first one in Phoenix, Arizona, in January 2012, the race has crossed the Atlantic. We chose an angle where we could see the most people because all seemed to transmit joy. We haven’t added any effects because it already portrays the emotions we felt during the race, namely enchantment and gladness. We took the picture in the middle of the race to see everybody running. Strangely, all were smiling; they seemed to be blissful together. Indeed, after the race, everybody was laughing, shouting and dancing to the music and partying together. Solidarity was emerging…

The two photos show different aspects of the city. On one is a big and empty square. We feel sadness and solitude because of the absence of life, color, or sound. The wind carries the leaves which adds to this feeling of a lifeless spot. Some days, even when the weather is good, people don’t seem to want to hang out in this square. The other picture shows a smaller place but with more people. The weather is not nice (we can see puddles), nevertheless there are a lot of people and all of them are smiling. The photo makes many feelings emerge as it is very colorful and cheerful. The atmosphere is also noisy and festive. Everybody is wearing the same tee-shirt and the same sunglasses but in different colors which encourages solidarity. It shows the “togetherness” of all these people who are wearing the same clothes but also their differences with the variety of colors. Here, we can see the need that people have to be together.

The first picture we have named Solitary shadows because of the absence of colors and also because it expresses feelings of loneliness and sadness. The light and colours and joy in the second photo inspired its title: Show of solidarity. It gives us positive feelings and a sense of belonging.

Finally, the common title is Places need people because when nobody is in town it becomes such a sad city...

Doors to the city. By Anaëlle BARNIER, Maud LAFOY & Mathilde BARDONNET

Opening to another world

The imprisoned door

We took the top picture during a walk in the narrow streets of the old Clermont-Ferrand. It was in November and, luckily, it was sunny. We were near the cathedral when we saw this wonderful huge door at the bottom of a dead end.

We took the second picture in Clermont in October during an urban orienteering race. Trying to find some beacons, we saw this austere door at a street corner. We had not seen a door like that before.

When we took the first photo, we were just having a walk without a precise aim and, with the view of this beautiful door which, moreover, was open, we had a mind to enter at once. There is a large interior courtyard and the atmosphere seemed to be quiet and restful. It was like a secret garden, hospitable and very attractive. There were lots of flower beds and clumps of shrubs. This place was silent and we were too, as if under a spell. We were in a really good mood and, being curious, we went to the open door in order to admire the wonderful garden within.

For the other picture, it was really different. We were short of breath because of the race and we had stopped running, taking our time to catch our breath and to have a closer look. The door was inaccessible because it was shut in by a metal gate. We were quite intrigued by the strange door of this gloomy house. We wondered why the people living there would shut themselves in in this way...

On the first picture, we can see an impressive wooden door which has the color of a fir tree. It is sculpted: we see a character on the arc at the top. One of the door panels is wide open and we see a large patio full of vegetation on the other side. The courtyard is paved and at the bottom we can even distinguish a table with some chairs in front of a big house.

The other picture shows a rather narrow dark green door. The door is locked tight. Indeed, the first door is locked and there is a sort of second door made up of long metallic bars. So there are two locks. Above the entrance, a canopy, also metallic and dark, complete the unwelcoming threshold. On the right of the photograph, a stone plaque is fastened over the grey and damaged wall; there is a strange Egyptian-style sculpture on it, intended perhaps to put strangers off. We have chosen to give it the title The imprisoned door because this is a door with bars and it’s like a jail door. By seeing this door, we feel as if the people inside are captives.

We have called the other photo Opening to another world because this is an open door and it seems that there is another world on the other side. If we enter, we could maybe discover new people, new cultures, because a city is a place where lots of different nationalities and various peoples live together.

Both photos were taken in the old streets around the cathedral in the old town area. The center of Clermont is concentrated around the mound where the cathedral was built. It’s the historical centre and there are lots of private properties there, including imposing mansion houses such as the one in our photo.

On the picture where there is the open door, we can see, behind the door, a garden full of plants, and we like this atmosphere, because we find that really sweet and peaceful compared to the rest of the city. Indeed, this garden makes us want to relax; the open door is like an invitation to enter, to meet the owners.

On the picture where there is the door with bars, we feel as if we are in a dangerous part of town. The door is a protection against possible attacks from outside. Furthermore, the dilapidated wall adds to the sense of insecurity, and the panel on the right looks like a mysterious warning...

We entitled our two photos Doors to the city. These doors make us imagine who the owners of the houses are; they are a clue to what the people that make up the city are like.

On the first picture, the opened door is huge and with a rounded arc. On the other, the door doesn’t have the same form: it is a rectangular door. And the atmosphere seems to be quieter on the photo with the open door than on the other picture where the railings remind us of possible dangers.

The two photos show two aspects of the city and city life. They symbolize the private part of a city because, in a city, there are all the public buildings and places but also all the private houses. In fact, people live at the same time in the private domain and in the public domain. Furthermore, people living in cities are sometimes afraid of others, they can protect themselves from the other people’s gaze by hiding themselves in their own private world, but they can also welcome somebody with open arms and help each other.

We think that our first photograph evokes this openness and friendliness, symbolized by the opening; this photo gives us a positive idea of the city because it seems to be a place full of life, joy and energy. The second photo makes us realize that in a city, things like burglaries or attacks can happen… Thus, our photos show that a city is at the same time a dangerous place but it’s also a place where you can meet people, have fun and do so many interesting things. You can feel good or be worried, it depends a lot on you…