I Went To Paris To Show That It Is Not All About The Eiffel Tower And Fancy Shops
I’m David Tesinsky from Prague and I’m an independent photographer of the subcultures, urban cultures, street stories and people’s stories in general AKA reportage/social documentary photography.
I’ve made this series about “different” perspective of this city when you point your eyes up from Eiffel tower down to the ground to show that this city is not just a fake romance.
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We were just there this summer. I could not get over the amount of children on the streets. In London, I saw lots of homeless people in the underground and on the streets, but in Paris, there were entire homeless refugee families everywhere...I mean, small children. It was disturbing.
Well, the huge difference with London is that the border to the UK is quite difficult to cross for most migrants. A lot of them end up in Paris, where they have no choice but to set up camps. Such a phenomenon is not unusual. The large scale is rather new though.
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Almost every city everywhere. I don't imagine the "Kiki Challenge" is a big priority with these people . Thanks.
It break my heart to see that. especially the family with the boy who live in the street :(
They seem to be refugees--what will happen when winter comes?
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I've seen gipsies and refugees in these pictures. For gipsies is part of the work, as they come from eastern Europe to do what they know best: pickpocketing, general stealing, looting and 'working' as baggers. You should see their palaces back in Romania, and then you'll understand why it's worth being 'homeless' for a while. As for the refugees, well, there's another story. Anyway, they also choose rich countries, they know exactly what they want. Paris became (partly) a garbage trash, like Malmo or Liverpool or Birmingham or Brussels or...
Yeah but what about all those people who simply have to choose between extreme poverty and constant danger and just extreme poverty? I mean, I'm not saying all of them are angels, but not all of them come here by choice...
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Last trip to Paris we stayed near the north side of the Arc. The neighborhood steps were filled with homeless people from every walk of life. I had time to see it all while my husband was at his conference meetings. After two weeks, I made daily rounds. I gave out sanitary wipes, toothbrushes and toiletries ( I begged extras from our hotel too). Also passed out lunches and pet food and blankets. I did what I could while I was there. I'm sure not much has changed but always do what you can.
paris is the most unpleasant, dirtiest and rudest citiy ever been to. all that glory and splendor is gone by far. on top of it there is the parisians, who seldom dare to be nice.
Tell us you wanted to show poverty, misery, homelessness: this sad reality is all over the world, in every country, in every city. I can't believe anyone thought that Paris was an exception.It is easy to feel sorry for these people when i'm sitting in front of my computer… we should all think of what we can do to help in our own town.
Did anyone really think Paris (or any city) would be exempt from such heartache?
Some youngsters who never been to Paris (nor live in Europe — in the USA, Canada, etc) wouldn’t imagine Paris to have this issue, because of all the positive images painted about Paris.
Load More Replies... Every time I went home after the metro had closed, I had to walk through the area in the second picture, and there was always a homeless person there. Once there was even a bundle of people, practically sleeping on top of each other--I guess because of the heating grate. The homelessness and poverty was much less evident the last time I went to Paris--I hope there is more social funding or homes--I hope.
It's quite funny how most people consider Paris as "la ville romantique par excellence". Like the Japanese who end up suffering from the famous Paris syndrome. I mean, come one... C'est ridicule.
Load More Replies... Seems every country everywhere wants to ignore the poor and homeless. My own city has callously forced the homeless out. My biggest fear is being homeless because it seems like there is little help. What can we do to make seems like these better? Bring them food and water helps but how can we help people find permanent solutions?
Typical Paris when you go slightly off course, in a touristic point of view. I lived in the Marais for a year and trust me, you start seeing that kind of misery everywhere after a little while. Unavoidable. But it's absolutely nothing compared to other capitals in Europe (e.g., Brussels)... And to most cities in the US... Actually, after living and travelling abroad a lot, I think that Paris is one of the better cities in this regard.
I've lived in both Paris and Brussels and Paris is far worse...Brussels is at least clean
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I am shocked by the baby growing up on the streets. What is the job to people ratio there? No programs such as EI?
Seriously? Clochards (bums) are almost an institution in Paris, and this city has been struggling with homelessness for almost two centuries. It is not even an open secret, as it has been covered prominently by many famous French novelists.
Soooooo its all about homeless people...... do a better job next time
Some are refugees, others are socio-economic refugees in their opwn homeland. In case no one has noticed... most of the world is become like Marie Antoinette's France. The ultra-wealthy and the ultra poor and much of the hard working middle class is disappearing.
This is really an eye opener for me, France always was a city of love and luxury for me. Now I have a doubt. Even when a section of France citizens are homeless and poor, why is France accepting more migrants and offering them financial aids.. ?? They should take care of their own citizens than the migrants.
In Canada, Government gives these street people community housing, free medical treatment and welfare money, still they like to be on the street. Many love to live on street rather than living in community housing.
Hi David T. It seem your country has gone extreme right winged? Yes Paris has a huge population of refugees, but is it the government's fault if many of the surrounding counties refuse to let in the refugees? How is is it Prague? Do your refugees all are comfortably housed and well fed? Please show us also your hobos. I'm sure there must be quite a few.
,they are romainian gypsis ,which come overall europe for they are not treated well in romania , and romania is the poorest nation in the EU . So within the EU they have freedom of travel so they spread all over the EU mostly as beggars ,street artists and small item sellers .
yes, because finding a job in these countries is so absurd idea
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So basically you have travelled to Paris just to find people in dire circumstances so that you can take pictures. And what did you do to help anyone of them? Did you buy the hungry man a meal? Did you provide any of the homeless with a safe shelter?
NOOOOOOOOOO you mean it's a city and not a plastic castle made only for tourists ? I'm soooooo shocked !
No country, has poverty under control, nor homelessness. But the degree to which it tries to help and clean it up, varies. It’s a sad truth, but still, the truth. It has existed since we have been alive, and had our human history documented, and lived.
These homeless are people from other countries (Romanians, etc.). France is the best country in the world.
A lot of people scrape by paycheck to paycheck and everything can change in a heartbeat.
Load More Replies...
We were just there this summer. I could not get over the amount of children on the streets. In London, I saw lots of homeless people in the underground and on the streets, but in Paris, there were entire homeless refugee families everywhere...I mean, small children. It was disturbing.
Well, the huge difference with London is that the border to the UK is quite difficult to cross for most migrants. A lot of them end up in Paris, where they have no choice but to set up camps. Such a phenomenon is not unusual. The large scale is rather new though.
Load More Replies... Almost every city everywhere. I don't imagine the "Kiki Challenge" is a big priority with these people . Thanks.
It break my heart to see that. especially the family with the boy who live in the street :(
They seem to be refugees--what will happen when winter comes?
Load More Replies... I've seen gipsies and refugees in these pictures. For gipsies is part of the work, as they come from eastern Europe to do what they know best: pickpocketing, general stealing, looting and 'working' as baggers. You should see their palaces back in Romania, and then you'll understand why it's worth being 'homeless' for a while. As for the refugees, well, there's another story. Anyway, they also choose rich countries, they know exactly what they want. Paris became (partly) a garbage trash, like Malmo or Liverpool or Birmingham or Brussels or...
Yeah but what about all those people who simply have to choose between extreme poverty and constant danger and just extreme poverty? I mean, I'm not saying all of them are angels, but not all of them come here by choice...
Load More Replies... Last trip to Paris we stayed near the north side of the Arc. The neighborhood steps were filled with homeless people from every walk of life. I had time to see it all while my husband was at his conference meetings. After two weeks, I made daily rounds. I gave out sanitary wipes, toothbrushes and toiletries ( I begged extras from our hotel too). Also passed out lunches and pet food and blankets. I did what I could while I was there. I'm sure not much has changed but always do what you can.
paris is the most unpleasant, dirtiest and rudest citiy ever been to. all that glory and splendor is gone by far. on top of it there is the parisians, who seldom dare to be nice.
Tell us you wanted to show poverty, misery, homelessness: this sad reality is all over the world, in every country, in every city. I can't believe anyone thought that Paris was an exception.It is easy to feel sorry for these people when i'm sitting in front of my computer… we should all think of what we can do to help in our own town.
Did anyone really think Paris (or any city) would be exempt from such heartache?
Some youngsters who never been to Paris (nor live in Europe — in the USA, Canada, etc) wouldn’t imagine Paris to have this issue, because of all the positive images painted about Paris.
Load More Replies... Every time I went home after the metro had closed, I had to walk through the area in the second picture, and there was always a homeless person there. Once there was even a bundle of people, practically sleeping on top of each other--I guess because of the heating grate. The homelessness and poverty was much less evident the last time I went to Paris--I hope there is more social funding or homes--I hope.
It's quite funny how most people consider Paris as "la ville romantique par excellence". Like the Japanese who end up suffering from the famous Paris syndrome. I mean, come one... C'est ridicule.
Load More Replies... Seems every country everywhere wants to ignore the poor and homeless. My own city has callously forced the homeless out. My biggest fear is being homeless because it seems like there is little help. What can we do to make seems like these better? Bring them food and water helps but how can we help people find permanent solutions?
Typical Paris when you go slightly off course, in a touristic point of view. I lived in the Marais for a year and trust me, you start seeing that kind of misery everywhere after a little while. Unavoidable. But it's absolutely nothing compared to other capitals in Europe (e.g., Brussels)... And to most cities in the US... Actually, after living and travelling abroad a lot, I think that Paris is one of the better cities in this regard.
I've lived in both Paris and Brussels and Paris is far worse...Brussels is at least clean
Load More Replies... I am shocked by the baby growing up on the streets. What is the job to people ratio there? No programs such as EI?
Seriously? Clochards (bums) are almost an institution in Paris, and this city has been struggling with homelessness for almost two centuries. It is not even an open secret, as it has been covered prominently by many famous French novelists.
Soooooo its all about homeless people...... do a better job next time
Some are refugees, others are socio-economic refugees in their opwn homeland. In case no one has noticed... most of the world is become like Marie Antoinette's France. The ultra-wealthy and the ultra poor and much of the hard working middle class is disappearing.
This is really an eye opener for me, France always was a city of love and luxury for me. Now I have a doubt. Even when a section of France citizens are homeless and poor, why is France accepting more migrants and offering them financial aids.. ?? They should take care of their own citizens than the migrants.
In Canada, Government gives these street people community housing, free medical treatment and welfare money, still they like to be on the street. Many love to live on street rather than living in community housing.
Hi David T. It seem your country has gone extreme right winged? Yes Paris has a huge population of refugees, but is it the government's fault if many of the surrounding counties refuse to let in the refugees? How is is it Prague? Do your refugees all are comfortably housed and well fed? Please show us also your hobos. I'm sure there must be quite a few.
,they are romainian gypsis ,which come overall europe for they are not treated well in romania , and romania is the poorest nation in the EU . So within the EU they have freedom of travel so they spread all over the EU mostly as beggars ,street artists and small item sellers .
yes, because finding a job in these countries is so absurd idea
Load More Replies... So basically you have travelled to Paris just to find people in dire circumstances so that you can take pictures. And what did you do to help anyone of them? Did you buy the hungry man a meal? Did you provide any of the homeless with a safe shelter?
NOOOOOOOOOO you mean it's a city and not a plastic castle made only for tourists ? I'm soooooo shocked !
No country, has poverty under control, nor homelessness. But the degree to which it tries to help and clean it up, varies. It’s a sad truth, but still, the truth. It has existed since we have been alive, and had our human history documented, and lived.
These homeless are people from other countries (Romanians, etc.). France is the best country in the world.
A lot of people scrape by paycheck to paycheck and everything can change in a heartbeat.
Load More Replies...
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