Going to Paris Next Week!!! Need Tips about weather shooting

[Cheat213]

Any tips about how to shoot in conditions with rain and snow and cold weather. I am planning on buying hand warmers for batteries and etc. I read about using zip lock bags for cameras anything else that would help? I have never shoot in such cold conidtions and snow. Here is the weather forcast. I leave next thursday and come back tuesday.
http://www.weather.com/outlook/trave...m=search_10day

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Cheat213

Any tips about how to shoot in conditions with rain and snow and cold weather. I am planning on buying hand warmers for batteries and etc. I read about using zip lock bags for cameras anything else that would help? I have never shoot in such cold conidtions and snow. Here is the weather forcast. I leave next thursday and come back tuesday.
http://www.weather.com/outlook/trave...m=search_10day

That's not cold. I don't think you need to gear up for artic conditions. Looks like a typical Feb. in Paris. Just have a good top coat to keep your camera dry under and may a large plastic bag with a hole in it to stick the lens out.

You can always just drop in to neighborhood cafes for a coffee and cognac to warm up and photograph the locals.

What part of Paris are you staying in? Have you been there before?

[Nevyn]

Wear layers.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Nevyn

Wear layers.

And for God's sake don't dress like an American tourist.

[thelegend1472]

Its going to be in the 40's and 50's buddy. I dont think you're going to have to worry about battery life and such. Its been colder here within the last few weeks.

[Cheat213]

Thanks for the all help. First time going there. I am staying at the Best Western Bergere Opera.

[thelegend1472]

oh and have an awesome trip! i'm jealous as can be!

[Nevyn]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

And for God's sake don't dress like an American tourist.

So no Bermuda shorts or brightly colored puffer jackets, don't hang a camera with "compensating for something" lens around your neck and don't comment loudly that "it's real swell" but "it ain't how they do it in the good ol' U S of A"

Not that this is gross stereotyping at all!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Man my memory fails me right now but I went to Paris many many moons ago and I remember a Museum that is not too far from the Eiffel Tower which was a great location to shoot pics of the tower because they had this line up of female statues that you could do some great pics with the tower in the background.

We stayed just off of the Champs Elysees so were within walking distance of everything that we had a chance to go see I didn't have a whole lot of time since it was the last stop on a long vacation across Europe but did manage to see all of the major sites in the Central part of the city, Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triumph, Notre Dame, The Champs Elysees and a few other places.
The below links should help you out-the last one is the Cities own website which has a map guide built into it, only good maps that I found online in a quick search.

Now they do have an Excellent Subway system in Paris.


http://www.museums-of-paris.com/index.php
http://www.parisinsites.com/museums.html#paris
http://www.v1.paris.fr/en/Visiting/default.asp

As to dressing like a tourist I was taken as a GERMAN tourist by one panhandler, yes expect panhandlers on the streets many of whom can speak 5 or more languages!

Maybe you can catch some early blooms? I would say hit the Eiffel Tower in your first 24 hours just to get an idea of the size of the city, you can get a great view from the second deck and if you really want to you can go to the top I just made it to the second deck.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Nevyn

So no Bermuda shorts or brightly colored puffer jackets, don't hang a camera with "compensating for something" lens around your neck and don't comment loudly that "it's real swell" but "it ain't how they do it in the good ol' U S of A"

Not that this is gross stereotyping at all!

And no jackets or ball caps with American sports teams on them.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Cheat213

Thanks for the all help. First time going there. I am staying at the Best Western Bergere Opera.

Don't know it, I try to stay at the Lenox in St. Germain des Pres but with the metro and buses you can easly get anywhere.

[Liz]

That's not cold,,lol. You should be fine :) i have used my 20D in much colder weather than what is predicted with no problems.
Oh, no white sneakers. That screams 'tourist'.
Do pick up a French phrase book, and try to speak a little French. They love that :) Doesn't matter if you slaughter the pronouncation, most people in Paris speak English anyway, but they love when you at least try to speak French. :)
Be sure to say you are from Texas, they love people from Texas in Paris :D They will want to know if you know JR Ewing tho ;)

Have a great trip!

[Cheat213]

Yeah, I am pretty excited about this trip. I appericate all the find back. I am not big fan of cold weather!! Even in up in Huntsville it can get too cold for me.

[eurotrash]

i speak french
i lived behind versailles for 4.5 years
take me

[ekeitt]

My wife and I went to Paris in March a few years ago. We were there right before the war in Iraq started and everyone was making a big deal about how much they hate Americans. We had a lovely time and everyone we met was just wonderful to us.

I would second Liz's comment. Learn enough French to start the conversation. They will immediately take pity on you and begin speaking English, but they appreciate the effort. If the weather is foggy and nasty, it will be perfect for the gargoyles atop Notre Dame.

Have fun and bring back pictures.

Ellis