It is hard to believe that almost 6 years have gone by since I first set out on this adventure known as Better Paris Photos! I still remember writing the first registration in my agenda at the time and the thrill I felt in meeting new people and helping them have incredible photography experiences in Paris! Very quickly, I got extremely busy providing photo tours and portrait sessions. As word spread, I soon needed help. It was time to team up with other photographers, and Hermione McCosh was the first one to join me. We worked hard together, shared ideas and had loads of fun...

This spring, the Centre Pompidou in Paris presents a large retrospective of one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century, Henri Cartier-Bresson. This may sound somewhat official, but even if you have seen many of his works before (and I know you have!), this is an exceptional exhibit as it uncovers a much more complete and often surprising image of this renowned photographer and his remarkable career. Over 500 photographs, drawings, paintings, films and documents are presented in chronological order, retracing Cartier-Bresson’s work throughout his lifetime...

It's no secret that Paris is full of photographic treasures. There are at least a few exhibitions by world famous photographers at any given moment of time. And if you ever get cold after wandering the streets of the City of Light in wintertime, come and have a look at the exhibit of Swedish photographer Anders Petersen in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. The show, "Photographs", represents a collection of all the important series of Petersen's career, starting with the famous Café Lehmitz that he shot back in the 1970s...

With the Holiday Season coming up, you might be hoping for a brand new camera under the tree. I hope you are on Santa's list and that he is generous with you! Now, have you considered what to do with your 'old' camera? Maybe you are a collector and you'll want to keep your good old buddy that accompanied you everywhere and made you happy when you caught 'The Moment'. Even if you are not sentimental, it is still easy to end up with a collection of disused and dusty digital boxes that don't get to see the light of day any longer. If some camera models and well known brands retain some of their value, most digital cameras quickly lose their worth in this ever changing world and quest for new technology. Here are some ideas about what to do with your 'old' camera after Christmas...

Visiting an exhibit by the famous Chilean photographer Sergio Larrain in Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson may easily turn into another sublime adventure in the city of Paris. Not only will you see a collection of stark black-and-white images of Santiago, Paris, London and the author's beloved Valparaiso, but you'll also visit one of the art deco edifices of Paris, the elegant 'Maison des Artistes'... Sergio Larrain's first complete photographic project on the life of homeless children of Santiago made him visible in the photographic world and helped him receive a grant from the British Council to work in London in 1958...

La Mairie de Paris has prepared a special treat for classic black & white photography lovers: an exhibit of one of the most famous Parisian photographers of the 20th Century, Brassaï. Hosted in Hôtel de Ville, the City Hall of Paris, the show presents a panorama of works of this Hungarian-born photographer who spent most of his life in Paris and became known for his love for this city. The vast majority of images are original silver prints of the era, some of them signed by Brassaï himself. The show covers all the important aspects of Brassaï's career...

There is something very special going on in Paris that one simply cannot miss. Not only because it is an exhibit by one of the world's most respected and regarded photojournalists. Not only because it is about our planet, the beauty and fragility of it. And not only because it is an immense project that took eight years to accomplish. But how could someone resist a chance to see two hundred and forty-five photographic masterpieces, a result of more than thirty journeys in forty countries around the world, with their own eyes? Well that is what you get at La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, which is currently hosting "Genesis", the greatest photographic project of the world-renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado...

While rambling the streets of Paris in search of the best shot, you might sometimes want to take a little break and pop into a photo gallery for some inspiration. Although situated in the very heart of Paris, on the famous Île Saint-Louis, the Galérie Clémentine de la Féronnière is a well-hidden place and finding it might be a challenge! So, if you’re ready for the quest, here goes: on the main street of the island, rue Saint-Louis-en-l’île, find the building number 51. Go through the impressive green door on the right and you will end up in a yard. Continue through the archway to the second yard and on your right you will see the gallery, currently hosting an exhibit entitled "Belongings", by Bangladeshi photographer Munem Wasif...

Photoquai 2013, or the 4th biennale of the images of the world, is taking place in Paris on the banks of the river Seine in front of Musée du quai Branly, as well as in its garden. This is an open-air exhibition presenting the work of 40 selected photographers from Asia, Latin America, Australia and Africa, previously unknown in Europe. Some two hundred large format images of excellent photographic quality are displayed on the walls built especially for the occasion by a famous French designer Patrick Jouin...

We recently wrapped up our May 2013 Photography Workshop in Paris, again with a wonderful group of people joining us. We asked Kathleen Richardson, a returning participant from our April 2011 women-only workshop, for her feedback on her experience. Kathleen sent the following note: "I have been to Paris many times in the past and have taken all the usual photos, trying to match the postcards as best I could. Two years ago was a special trip to Paris to celebrate my retirement after 40+ years in the business world, so I wanted to do something different...

Let's face it. Buying a new camera is a daunting task when there are so many new models out there all the time. With this ever changing industry, it can be tempting to chase the latest and greatest. But realistically, it is impossible... and honestly, not the right approach either. Add all the jargon and camera babble that comes with it, and the result is an utterly confused budding photographer. So, what should you consider when you want to buy a new camera?

With summer celebrations happening all over, fireworks are often a part of the fun. Many people believe fireworks are too difficult to photograph, but the best thing to do is try and improve each time! From setting up through to camera settings and compositional techniques, here are 10 tips to help you get started...