Paris is the City of Light, but you could just as easily call it the City of Tourists. It is by one measure the fifth most popular city vacation destination in the world, drawing around 15 million visitors annually.
That's a lot of people, and many of them opt to take in the sights from a boat on the Seine. It's easy to see why: It's a relaxing way to take in the city's awe-inspiring architecture and iconic monuments like Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre.
Parisian photographer Adrian Skenderovic’s series *Down the River *examines their reactions as they take in sights locals often take for granted. “As a Parisian, I don't notice the beautiful Paris anymore,” he says. “When a great monument is part of your daily routine, you don't look at it anymore. I wanted to capture the moment when people discover Paris for the first time, eyes wide open. I wanted to look at people looking at Paris.”
The idea came to him three years ago while taking photos from a bridge near his home in central Paris. A boat passed by and he snapped a photo, thinking nothing of it. Only later did he realize it was the start of something special.
Skenderovic grew fascinated by the boats. He likes to shoot in the morning, and always from the same bridge. The bird's-eye view offers a fascinating perspective. The seats provide a pop of color and create interesting linear patterns. But it's the people who make the photos, each image revealing the wonder of Paris. “Extraordinary moments in ordinary life is what I’m trying to find in those boats,” he says.
The photographer has to be discreet, because tourists tend to be overly friendly. If they see him standing there with his camera, they often smile and wave. While that’s a nice gesture, it doesn’t make for the best photos. Skenderovic prefers to catch people unaware, so when a boat approaches, he'll look up, point his camera down, and press the shutter.
Of course, some people are too engrossed to notice him---and not always because of the beautiful scenery. “In some photos you can see people looking at their phones,” he says. “They are on a boat, in the most beautiful city on earth and instead of looking around, they look at their phones."
Skenderovic photographs every boat that passes by, then sorts through everything when he goes home. He’s selective in editing, looking for small gestures or glimpses into someone’s life. He mentions seeing two people sitting with a chair in between them. Are they a couple? Are they having a spat? Or do they even know each other? Every picture must tell a story or reveal something interesting.
“I want people to look at everyday life and imagine stories,” he says.
