I've already taken two other versions of this shot, but well, it's been a while, and I wanted to take a break from Paris wildlife! There is something magical about this little grocer which has become an international tourist attraction (sort of) thanks to its appearance in the film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain.

I like the way the poster seems to be rolling back to reveal the scene (like some of those cheesy effects you can apply to photos and videos ;-) and there's a guy who seems to be wearing a beret but it isn't really, but never mind.

You need to try and do something arty with this place because, although it is from the film, it is actually not that remarkable without all the Amélie paraphernalia, unless you try and get some kind of funky fruit shot, but then you're kind of missing the point.

So I always include some image of Amélie, be it a poster or a postcard, and let the grocery complete the atmosphere rather than being the main subject. It's a useful technique to pick on or exaggerate a single element of a scene and make it much bigger than the rest, which can be much more interesting than a straightforward face-on shot.

~ December 2007 - Slide Show ~