The Poetry
of the World
Deserves Witnesses
These areas have profoundly influenced his perspective. For Michael, this background is an endless stage for a curious bystander eager to capture unique views of the seemingly familiar.
Michael's connection to his contemporaries is evident in his photographs, which often feature spontaneous portraits emphasising expressions, looks, and everyday situations. He focuses on unknown neighbours with great characters, whether charismatic or expressive, reflecting their genuine personalities. Through his lens, Parisians are portrayed as their true selves, showcasing the rich diversity of human nature.
When not wandering Paris with his camera, Michael formerly worked as an engineer for Cisco Systems, where he valued logical simplicity in the presence of raw data. His passion for photography grew so significantly he decided to leave his job at Cisco Systems to become a professional photographer. His mission, which he holds dear, is to document cultural traditions and activities that are inclined to disappear.
Michael's journey had been anything but overnight. He understands that photography cannot be improvised and that continuous learning is crucial. He emphasizes learning from admired photographers and values photographic culture, often turning to books as his primary resource.
As a Leica M user, both digital and analog, Michael is an active member of the LFI community. His involvement has earned him the honour of having some of his photos published in the LFI Magazine, featured in LFI Galleries such as Picture of the Week and Mastershot, and he has exhibited at various photo events.
Where/when did you take the shot, and what equipment did you use ?
Location : Pont de Bercy, Paris, France
Date : 5th of May, 2023
Equipment : Leica M10 Monochrom and Summicron-M 28 f/2 ASPH.
Do you have a title for the image and can you share the story behind it?
Title: Damsel with the ankle socks
The most ordinary and unnoticeable garments are the main subject of this photo: the socks worn by a young Parisian woman. They refer to Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which is a beautiful book.
How did you get into the scene, and does this image hold a special meaning for you?
Le Petit Prince is a foundational poetic and philosophical tale for me.
In the context of this photo, I can't help but think about a quote from the author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." In my opinion, this quote can also be applied to photography. Henri Cartier-Bresson beautifully articulated this: “To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye, and the heart.”
For this image, my approach consisted of modifying the perspective to focus on a detail to communicate a message while maintaining an aesthetic and meaningful background. Overall, I hope to prompt the viewer to dive into his or her own imaginary world.
Michael Erimo