Paris is not only the City of Light, but also the city of discoveries. Its busy streets are full of life day and night, which makes it a perfect place for street photography. However, in order to get some really compelling photos, spiced up with a bit of magic, one needs some luck and that is where serendipity can help. Known as one of the most difficult English words to translate, serendipity means the accident of finding something good without looking for it. As one might guess, it is essential for urban photography...

Since 1982, Maison Européenne de la Photographie has a tradition of giving carte blanche to the most renowned photographers, asking them to deliver their vision of Paris. This year it’s time for English photographer Martin Parr to get out in the streets in search of Parisian life, and so he does, armed with his unique mix of irony and humour...

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...

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...

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...

I finally managed to see the André Kertész photo exhibition presented at the Jeu de Paume until February 6, 2011. Although Kertész donated all his negatives to the French state when he passed away in 1985, it is actually the first real retrospective of his work in Europe. The exhibition presents a large number of original prints covering the various periods of his life, from Hungary where he was born, to Paris where he became a leading figure in avant-garde photography in the late 1920's, through to New York where he lived for almost 50 years...

Robert Doisneau (1912 - 1994) was an expert in street photography, walking or biking through Paris with his camera, catching fleeting moments of poetic and romantic Parisian scenes that made him famous. His work is however much more complex than his famous idyllic images. For its first exhibit of the year, the Henri Cartier Bresson Foundation is showcasing about 100 of Doisneau's photographs. Even if the famous 'Baiser de l'hôtel de ville' is among them, most of the other work presented is rather unknown.

Between 1976 and 1980, the famous photographer Robert Doisneau walked through some of my favourite Parisian covered passages, taking pictures in Passage Verdeau, Passage Jouffroy, Galerie Vivienne, Galerie Véro-Dodat, etc. His pictures were published in 1981 in a book titled: "Passages et galeries du XIX siècle. Le piéton à Paris" ("19th Century Passages and Galleries: The pedestrian in Paris"). Until January 15th, 2010, you can see a free exhibit presenting a collection of these photographs at the Musée de la Monnaie de Paris.