Curious to know why your picture taken in Paris feels soft to you. While, opened windows can be inviting, people appear to turn their back on us by design, perhaps even experiencing discomfort as backaches.
Also, I'd love to explore further your idea about the synchronicity between urban environments and styles. Do you happen to have any pictures from your trip to Paris that could help illustrate this?
that's a good point! to me, softness in cities is all about the flow between spaces. i like the open windows and the use of the windowsill as seating as a way to play across that boundary. windows are liminal spaces, and by cracking them open and placing people in them, it breaks down the barrier a bit. looking at that cafe, i liked that it was neither fully inside nor outside! i think sidewalk cafes, especially in paris, are a more obvious example of softeness (extending the interior into the exterior space), but i liked this setup as a bit more of a sly illustration. totally see how the turned backs could read as disinviting, but it didn't land on me in that way.
and yes! i think there's so much to explore about how the built environment influences style. in paris, what i liked most was the ease of layering which to me reflects the very nuanced cityscape; the mix of classic and modern (lots of sneakers with trenches, etc), and how you could see people making choices about functionality (flat sandals or walkable heels) that reflect the urban environment but are still chic. added a few in! i wish i were a better street style photographer--something i want to keep improving!
Curious to know why your picture taken in Paris feels soft to you. While, opened windows can be inviting, people appear to turn their back on us by design, perhaps even experiencing discomfort as backaches.
Also, I'd love to explore further your idea about the synchronicity between urban environments and styles. Do you happen to have any pictures from your trip to Paris that could help illustrate this?
that's a good point! to me, softness in cities is all about the flow between spaces. i like the open windows and the use of the windowsill as seating as a way to play across that boundary. windows are liminal spaces, and by cracking them open and placing people in them, it breaks down the barrier a bit. looking at that cafe, i liked that it was neither fully inside nor outside! i think sidewalk cafes, especially in paris, are a more obvious example of softeness (extending the interior into the exterior space), but i liked this setup as a bit more of a sly illustration. totally see how the turned backs could read as disinviting, but it didn't land on me in that way.
and yes! i think there's so much to explore about how the built environment influences style. in paris, what i liked most was the ease of layering which to me reflects the very nuanced cityscape; the mix of classic and modern (lots of sneakers with trenches, etc), and how you could see people making choices about functionality (flat sandals or walkable heels) that reflect the urban environment but are still chic. added a few in! i wish i were a better street style photographer--something i want to keep improving!