THE most romantic city in the world is captured in striking blue, violet, and green by the Philippine’s foremost travel photographer in George Tapan’s exhibit, “Paris Off Color,” mounted at the Greenbelt 3 in Makati City last June 3-19.
Using solarization, Tapan captures the most photographed city in the world with a different perspective, shooting familiar sights and uncommon locations as well.
In one of Tapan’s works, I.M. Pei’s, the famed glass pyramid of the Louvre is all streaks of violet and blue, looking like one of Andy Warhol’s famous silk-screened canvases. The golden sunlight is toned down to a cool indigo, and the rest of the historic buildings seem like someone splattered cans of bright paint on them. Surreal landscapes loom over the people of the city, who are relatively oblivious.
Tapan works magic with solarization, a photography technique that uses prolonged exposure to bright light. The results are astounding; the forms are very familiar, while the colors, strange.
His lens captures the city’s landmarks and daily scenes, adding to the vibrancy of Paris. The exhibit also brings a fresh perspective on the “City of Lights” that its viewers will definitely enjoy.
Tapan, the director of photography of BusinessDay magazine, has had stints with Asiaweek, Mabuhay, and the National Geographic Traveler.
