musée de la chasse/ paris

Just another image I forgot about. I am in the process of making a new website and that means going through the masses of images I have shot over the past couple of years. This one is from the Musee de la Chasse in Paris. It's a weird one, but I love it!

Hope you are all keeping warm. We in California are having a bit of summer in winter...

atelier brancusi/pt. 3

Last day of Atelier Brancusi images from my time in Paris.  Of course I had to lead off with the image of Brancusi's view camera. Brancusi's photographs have always affected me. He was rather diligent in documenting his space, work and himself. His self portraits are some of my favorites. See a nice self portrait of Brancusi as well as a great post on the space itself here. And thanks to my friends at the 189 who did a nice post on my images of Brancusi as well as my new book. That post is here. They say some really lovely things and I am always grateful for their support.
I am actually a little surprised by all the attention these Atelier Brancusi posts have gotten. AFAR magazine put it on their "what we're reading" last week and Remodelista did the same thing in their Roundup. So thanks to all of you for the love!
I am just getting back to work this week and starting to edit all the images and make it into my upcoming book. There is so much that I have not even shared from my two month adventure so expect a lot more interesting stuff. Coming soon a nice juicy post or two on the Bruno Mathsson HQ.

musee de la chasse/paris

atelier brancusi/pt. 2

Part 2 of Atelier Brancusi today. I didn't get too far into the circumstances of where this space is in the last post and Andreas was kind enough to comment on it. Atelier Brancusi is located right outside the Centre Pompidou in Paris and is run by the Museum. Renzo Piano designed the space it is in (he designed the Pompidou as well with Richard Rodgers). I have to be honest, I am more interested in the feeling that the space evokes than the space itself. Brancusi was an avid photographer of his space and himself. I find his images  to be some of the most beautiful documents of an artist and his atelier. His images are so much more resonant with the feeling than other images of atelier's from this era. Maybe it is because he is documenting his own space, but it feels like it is something more. I like to wonder about that...

atelier brancusi/paris

When I was in Paris last week, I made sure to go to Atelier Brancusi. I love Brancusi for too many reasons to list here. Brancusi left his studio and all its contents with the express instructions for it to be recreated in it's entirety for people to visit. It took the French Government awhile to get it worked out, where it would go and how to present it faithfully. So I have been so curious to see how they achieved this. Would it be faithful to his wishes? Would it feel authentic to all the amazing photographs Brancusi took of his own space? They had a lot to live up to. Unsurprisingly, my feeling about it are conflicted. But it is hard not to just lose oneself in Brancusi's life's work and most famous pieces that he kept in his own collection. These images today are just the first main studio. There will be more.

details/maison victor hugo

On my last day in Paris, I wandered in to Maison Victor Hugo on Place Des Vosges. I was there years ago, but I didn't really remember what it was like. It is not an authentic interior in any way, but the space is interesting. The Chinoiserie room is the best. I love the tassel details and the mix with the carpet.

one day in paris/

After this two month adventure of shooting amazing houses (and many other things), I ended up with just one day in Paris to myself. My last day of the trip. I haven't spent time in Paris, without jetlag, for about 15 years. I originally had planned to stay a bit longer but I quickly realized that Paris would be lost on me. I was just too tired. But still, I had a really lovely day through the rain and drizzle. Here are some random shots from my phone. I shot a bit more on my proper camera but haven't even looked at them yet. Expect a post on Atelier Brancusi soon. I went crazy there...
There are a couple from the Palais Royale, one of Atelier Brancusi, a shot of the interior of Maison Margiela and the beautiful Arts at Metiers Metro stop.
It is nice to be back in California, but I am moving at half speed it would seem. The adrenaline of travel has worn off. So I'm taking a little breather and then I jump into the next phase of making this book. Editing.

post from the road/france

A couple more images from my weekend in Paris. The first is a quick shot at the wonderful store Merci and the second was just in the food stalls across the street from my hotel. Seeing the Kodak sign gave me a pang of sadness knowing this book won't be on film. Just too expensive and complicated with the travel this book involves.
I am currently somewhere between Paris and Le Corbusier's Cabanon in the S. of France in a roadside motel. So fantastic to be on a mini road trip! I loooooove road trips!

post from paris/le weekend

Arrived in Paris on Friday afternoon to the quiet of early August. I realized that the city would just be shutting down for the August holiday when I got here but it was actually perfect. A couple of shots from my mellow weekend. Lunches and dinners with friends in the Marais and just a bit dejetlagging. I unexpectedly bumped into someone  I knew on the street on Saturday which is always a lovely way to start a trip. It is nice to feel like you friends everywhere, n'est pas?
Today I begin the journey out to the South of France with my friend Monika. We are making it a mini road trip with our final destination being shoot one - Le Corbusier's Cabanon!!! To say I am excited is just seems like the silliest understatement on the planet...more soon...

travel day/let the adventure begin

I met a dear friend at Trouble Coffee in San Francisco the other day and this sat before my eyes. Yep. That is what this whole adventure is going to be. I am not really one to use the word "epic" but this book and trip is probably the biggest thing I have ever done in my life. The word fits I daresay.
By the time you read this I will be on a plane to Paris. And then the adventure begins! I continue shooting the European book. Eleven countries in about 9 weeks.
For those of you that have asked, this book is a continuation of the project that turned into Handcrafted Modern. Mid twentieth century architects and designers homes and studios. My dream list and quite a few new ones. I will be tweeting ( @lwillphoto ) and keeping up with the blog as best I can from the road. A Kickstarter campaign will be up soon as well so get ready to pre-buy your book and support my project while I am on the road. Here we go!