Holocaust memorial, Paris

Date: September, 1974
Place: Holocaust memorial, Paris
Modus operandi: Waiting a long time for this moment
Weather: Sunny
Time: 11 am
Gear: Leica M3, 35mm Summaron
Medium: Kodak TriX
Me: Really wanting to get this right
My age: 23

Unlike the warm and welcoming architecture of Paris, with its mansard roofs and lovely light, the Holocaust memorial is, appropriately, an ugly, spiky, unwelcoming place. Even the light seems harsher.

The old man on crutches had come to revisit bad times, maybe commune with lost friends. He walked about with difficulty, yet with consummate dignity.

I waited a long time. Eventually, this scene presented itself and the moment was right. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.