Saturday, June 07, 2008

Stock Market


The stock Markets crashed quite a lot today in most places and this made me think of a photo I took recently in Le Palais Brongniart (after the name of the architect who built it) precisely located on the Place de la Bourse ("Bourse" means stock exchange in French). It is now more a historical place than a financial one for, since the early 80s all transactions are computer based. What you can see in this photo (the "corbeille" in the foreground, where stock brokers used to trade stocks by yelling "I buy" or "I sell" and the large board in the backboard where they would write the price of stocks with a choke chalk) is just there for the memories and for visitors, for now the place is used for conferences only.

68 comments:

  1. This is certainly a departure from yesterday's photo! And it's a beautiful composition -- posted in a timely fashion. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Eric you enters some places absolutely closed for 'le commun des mortels'! Was it impressive? I guess so.
    Nice angle shot (what? I'm rambling on?), down on you knees, as usual. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Noooo....Alexa, I wanted my comment to be in English. I'm a fool.LOL

    Btw Eric, it was 00.08, I was a little bit worried.

    ReplyDelete
  4. P.S., Eric -- they wrote the prices with chalk, I assume. Although they may have wanted to choke someone because of the prices.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Guille, c'est toi et moi, il parait. Now it's just toi -- am off to dinner with my ex. A demain. (BTW, how are the tests going??

    ReplyDelete
  6. Guille "Btw Eric, it was 00.08, I was a little bit worried." LOOOOOL!

    Alexa. I choked when I saw your comment! Silly me. Here is what happens when it's Friday evening and that it's the end of a loooooong week!

    ReplyDelete
  7. he he are you ok Eric? Eight minutes past and we're all headless chickens. lol.

    I am very intrigued by the stock exchange. It's an exciting place and even more exciting if you make a killing. Very good shot Eric.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I really like this photo. It's all golden and the black iron work in the foreground makes a great contrast.
    Did you go to this place for any other reason than taking photos Eric (if I may ask?). It's really an interesting place, and a place I would never had thought of going. Is it open to the public ?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just me? You're right Alexa, where are the other?
    Maybe they're playing a trick to Eric: nobody is allowed to comment tonight to punish him for the 'unthinkable' thing which happened yesterday...So, why am I off of it? ;)

    ' (BTW, it may also happen to PDP, but shusssh, nothing confirmed yet...)'... I take off the brackets and say WHAT?!

    ReplyDelete
  10. 'Btw Eric, it was 00.08, I was a little bit worried'!!! LOOL Guille ;)!!
    So Eric has posted today, everything is okay, I can go sleeping!
    Eric, I saw in your last yesterday's comment an interesting information : it hasn't to be said too loudly, ok, but still, quite nice if it happens!
    Have a resting week-end. Good night.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Btw Alexa, have a nice dinner! And the exams are doing well, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Corinne, too late, I did (about the interesting information). LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes Guille, far too late for me tonight!!! But happy to see that we had the same reaction!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Funny you should mention it, I think we lost 400 points here today! (sigh) Great à propos shot, though.

    The "Bourse" building in the Financial District of San Francisco is now ... a gym!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Corinne, je ne voulais pas dire que c'était trop tard parce que je l'avais fait avant toi mais plutôt parce qu'il ne fallait pas en parler mais que je n'avais pas pu m'en empêcher. LOL. Bonne nuit!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Good night everyone ;)

    Tomate "The "Bourse" building in the Financial District of San Francisco is now ... a gym!"

    Funny!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Eric, Yes, I do post for two others. Jean-Baptiste and my Baron. Both men really think you are an exceptional photographer. They are just quiet.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Eric, si tout est informatisé, cela veut dire que nous n'avons plus réellement de Bourse à Paris? Nous n'avons pas notre 'Wall Street'?!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Guille didn't you once tell us that bourse means shut your mouth or something rude? Sorry if i'm mistaken.

    I've answered your question of yesterday, Guille, and i've kept it clean, don't worry! lol.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Our San Francisco Stock Exchange is a gym now. It is a historic building in the Financial District. As Eric said, all the transactions are done over the internet now. I am so happy to know that Paris did not let go of this piece of history.

    ReplyDelete
  22. No Lynn, I don't remember this meaning of bourse (wasn't it 'gueule?), nevertheless, there is an other one that you would love. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  23. Welcome back Bettina.

    Guille and Bettina, In my profession, it is a plus if a woman looks her age. -- Once I was talking to a man in NYC about my artwork and my various shows. He said that he would not back a show of mine because I was too young -- I had not been around long enough. I was about 30 years old. I asked him how did he know my age, and he answered, you don't have any wrinkles around your eyes. I said that I could paint wrinkles around my eyes, I am an artist. He said, no that is cheating. He said, come back in 10 or 20 years. Another time I was at a publishers showing a man my pen and ink drawings. He went in the other room for a moment. I could hear a man in there asking him what he was doing. He said, oh, some kid out there is trying to sell us her artwork. I was about 27 years old. He thought I was about 12, or I was hoping at least 14 years old?

    Christie, I got the bracelet and Surfs Up pendant today in the mail. They are lovely. I think the surf board is really a unique idea. I am going to wear it on my lapel of my linen jacket -- the one that goes with my vintage Hawaiian shirt. They are in the same color scheme, muted reds, oranges, browns, blacks and greys. I think if you made more surf boards (different colors) that I would buy them. I'm a California girl and I go to the beach and Hawaii a lot -- I paint Hawaii. Thank you so much for the beautiful art jewelry.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hey Tomate, You and I were thinking the same thing -- I love the Bourse building's giant Mexican style statues -- they are so elegant.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Eric, I like the way you caught a bit of the paintings. They look like folk art or naïve art.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh do tell, Guille. I want to know the other meaning! Is it pretty? Or do i look away now. I'm shockable, as you know....

    ReplyDelete
  27. I can't believe that I have to find out that the markets crashed a bit today from someone in Paris! That's what I get for working hard all day and not checking the news (although obviously I take a sneaky look at PDP!).

    Guille your comment about "Nous n'avons pas notre 'Wall Street'?!" reminds me of all the adverts on the Paris metro to learn "Wall Street English". On a bad day like this, I think you'd be learning a lot of swear words from the people on Wall Street!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Plus I really like this photo! I like the view through the somewhat ornate corbeille (isn't that also the word for trash can?) and the orange glow. And it's fun to see some of the names on the big board: Esso, Perrier, Exxon.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Katie,I would love that!:)
    I hate this advert,don't you think it's square?! It gives wish to learn all the languages but Wall Street English!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Eric, I love this photo -- truly, you are an impressive photographer. You've been drawn to the diamond grids lately -- this shot reminds me of the Yves Saint Laurent photo with the grill before his face. It pulls the viewer right in. And, this photo fairly glows.

    Guille -- good luck with your exams --you seem to have so many all at once. I've studied le droit, too (is that right?) (I mean correct?)(!) and here in the US we don't have so many at one time. Don't stay up too late trying to get GF! Alors, bon chance avec les exams...

    ReplyDelete
  31. Well i'm off to bed, now that i know dear Eric is safe and has posted tonight. We can all sleep easily huh. I think he secretly worries about me in the same way....;) LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Carrie, that's all my fault, I decided to follow 2 degrees in the same time. Droit is law, right (!). Be reassured, normally nobody has 17 exams. Thank you very much for your wishes.

    I like to spend my 'free' time here, since I've no other social life during exams!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Eric, "Well I have done it a little bit... (at that time nobody cared that I posted a photo @ 9:09 am!!)"
    Here is one of people as that man requested -- notice there is only (one) 1 comment, and so judgmental a comment. http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/search?q=Asian+razzia%21

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh Eric, I'm so glad you live somewhere with so much history. The lessons are always so fabulous, as are your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Eric,ah,from the left bank to the right! Inside the Bourse's mouth, so to speak. I see some familiar names on the board--Hitachi, Perrier, Colas, and Exxon. Ach! Exxon...I believe the word "choke" is the most appropriate one. Your angle of this photo is nice, as are the contrasting elements.

    Guille...forgot to mention how much I thoroughly enjoyed our coffee hero video. CLEVER! A definite wild ride for the eyes. I suppose it's to get some of us off the "joe," eh? Not gonna happen Little G. ;-) BTW...good luck with your exams. Can I get you another cup of coffee? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Guille I SO agree that the "Learn Wall Street English" adverts are totally square!! It would be funny to go to a class to see what exactly they're teaching.

    And I'll be happy to exchange "Angry Wall Street Trader" English lessons for "Hip Young Parisian" French lessons when I'm in Paris this fall! Not that I'm an Angry Wall Street Trader, but I can imagine what they're saying. And of course you're a hip young Parisian. Actually, I could be of some help with "American Legal Talk" since I've been working at law firms for almost 20 years. No I'm not a lawyer, but I sure know what they sound like! ("I object to this interrogatory on the grounds that it's vague, overly-broad, and not likely to lead to discoverable material.") Good luck with the rest of your exams!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Cool shot! Are those TV screens in the background, or photos? The golden glow of this place is very inviting.

    I think it was Guille who asked if the public can visit; I, too, am waiting to hear the answer to that question. What a treat to peek inside, thanks Eric.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Eric!! I've been to Place de la Bourse!!! It is near église Saint Eustache, isn't it? If I'm not mistaken...


    Yesterday in my comment I think I sounded only worried about not seeing a new post in PDP, but of course what I really meant is that I was worried about you not showing up for so long.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Phx I hope you have a great time during your vacation is Paris. You work in Paris and you spend your vacation in Paris... you probably are THE biggest Paris fan!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love this photo Eric, peeking at the board through the spectacular centrepiece "corbeille". Nice warm colours against the striking black. All stock exchanges seem to have experienced the same fate. Ours is about to take on a new life too as an offshoot of the Royal Institute - a British institute for the advance of scientific learning.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Guille -- You make me laugh!! Never mind Wall Street English! That's absurd. Actually, you COULD surely teach them something, as Katie says.
    Glad the exams vont bien. As for dinner avec the ex: When we asked for the bill, the owner told us that someone in the restaurant had anonymously paid for our (65 euro) meal! "Comment? Tu blague!," we said, but it was true. Woo-hoo -- free food! Well, we ARE pretty cute . . . no, seriously, ca ne s'explique pas.
    BTW, what's your second degree in?
    Lynn , Guille is right -- "Ta gueule" means shut up. It's incredibly rude, but oh so effective. Et moi aussi, I want to know the other meaning of bourse.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Eric -- you make me LOL too. You "choked" when you saw my comment, eh?

    ReplyDelete
  43. Yes..the Pacific Stock Exchange is a Gym called "Equinox"...but the building is still beautiful. Most of the trading done on the West Coast is now done online.

    The New York stock exchange was a bloodbath today...a real mess! Election years in the past have not been good for the stock market and things are bad enough...at least we can find some comfort in PDP and your interesting photo Eric!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Katie -- I don't remember where you are, so I don't know if you're up, but you made me lol with the lawyer speak you've heard way too much of. Now, when I've heard too much of that kind of thing, I'll be heard muttering under my breath "ta gueule". :} And none of them will know what I mean!

    Guille - you must be a smart cookie - two degrees. Now I'm as curious as Alexa - I hope the other one is in something light like astrophysics or neurobiology so you get a break in the studies!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Could one of you thoughtful french bloggers, please spell out phonetically the correct pronunciation of 'QUOIQUE'? Does it sound like the english 'quake'?

    ReplyDelete
  46. The main hall of the "Palais Brogniart" is just great with its super ceilings but, to be allowed to see the Corbeille, you must be sort of a VIP, or know the director or someone who makes a conference or exhibit there. It is certainly not for the "commun des mortels".
    Anonyme, quoique would be pronunced :kwak (with the soundthat look like an inversed e at the end) sorry I don't have that sign on my keyboard. hope it helps.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Eric : "The stock Markets crashed quite a lot today in most places". Yes, except in PDP place where your groupies were yelling "I buy, I buy, I buy" PDP stocks while the 'inthinkable' was happening!!! This is well known : what is rare is expensive! ;)
    That is what came to my mind this saturday morning (in Paris), after a good night and another look to the 'photo du jour'! See u later.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Guille, je pense que notre Bourse est devenue totalement virtuelle et que tout se passe via l'informatique entre toutes les sociétés boursières mais je serais curieuse de savoir si c'est bien vrai.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Guille i hadn't realised it was 2 degrees! I'd thought somehow the two subjects were an amalgamation. i.e. i took languages & law. My goodness. Full of admiration for you.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Carrie, not astrophysics or neurobiology (It wouldn't be a break but a punishment!!), it's Art history.

    Marylène, c'est incroyable le fait que tout soit virtuel. Je pensais vraiment qu'il y avait encore des hommes en costumes criant 'j'achète'-'je vends' qui faisaient tourner notre économie!
    N'est-ce pas comme ça à Wall Street?

    He he Katie, whenever you want! Last fall you'll be in Paris? How lucky (I speak for non parisian people LOL).

    Alexa, someone paid?! If you had been alone, I would have understood, but you were like a 'couple', I mean, you were 2 people eating to the restaurant! Amazing. About 'bourse', well take (discreetly) a look to yesterday's comments box. hm.

    Coltrane, don't go too far with coffee, didn't you see the result?! Thanks for the wishes and the kind nickname!:)

    Off to work until 8.00pm. Grrr.
    Have a nice saturday all!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Such an interesting shot and I love all the places that glow in it!

    I must say that Lois Simon's comments always fascinate me.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I walk by the Bourse quite often, but have never been inside. Thanks for the sneak peek Eric. I'm not sure, but I think the first stock listed (hidden in the photo) is Alsthom (with an "h"). Can you confirm Mr.PDP?

    So, did you buy any stock while you were there? Maybe Corinne is right and we should list you on the big board.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love the warm tones in this photo. Last Feb. I met a friend who works at France-Presse near the Bourse, but we didn't go in; my loss.

    Thank you, too (Hvala lepo, which translates to "merci joli!")for your comment on my ice cream cone yesterday.

    Votre chien fidele,

    "Bibi"

    ReplyDelete
  54. Wow Michael, you really have a good eye (or rather you guessed right). The first stock up on the left is Alsthom with an h because at that time the name originated from a contraction of Alcatel and Thomson.

    But wait a minute... You must know that already since you work there LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  55. This photo has such a warm glow about it -- how ironic for a place generally considered to be so fast-paced and perhaps even cut-throat. It is intriguing to see it here as a peaceful space. And I note that even the writing on the board looks artistic ... Ah, how Paris is calling me!!!

    Lois, ca va mieux aujourd'hui?

    Guille, tu t'exprimes bien en anglais, mais ca me fait plaisir quand tu fais des postes en francais! Comme ca, j'ai l'impression d'avoir pu entendre un peu de conversation en francais pendant la journee, ce qui me rend tres contente! :)

    ReplyDelete
  56. Yes, Michael, we should!
    But I am afraid the price of each PDP stock will be prohibitive (no one here to sell any of it!?!).
    Unless in case of a takeover bid!! (O.P.A. in French!) Which would be an opportunity for Eric's financial interests!!

    ReplyDelete
  57. So that's why my husband was tossing and turning in his sleep last night! I just looked at our Portfolio ... yikes! But you have eased my pain with yet another fab photo. Thanks, doll!

    ReplyDelete
  58. You mean France is more than just wining (whining?) and dining?

    ReplyDelete
  59. Monica, I think the Bourse you are refering to is the "Bourse du Commerce" that nice round shape building located behind the Halles close to St Eustache.
    Due to the proximity of those Halles, that was the place where prices for goods, wheat, sugar, coffe....used to be decided.
    The Palais Brogniart, former French Stock Extchange is close to the Grands Boulevards, between place de la Cnocorde et the "Grands magazins"
    http://palaisbourse.euronext.com/

    Have a nice weekend, if you have too much sun please send us some, it's still raining here !

    ReplyDelete
  60. Parisian Heart, Yes, thank you. I feel much better today. I took 10 times the daily requirement of vitamin C :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. Petrea, Regarding "Tenchi" Jean-Baptiste said, The scene is huge... with tv series and movies and direct to dvd films. I only know most of the top 20 animes made.

    Alexa, That happened to me and Jean-Baptiste once -- we were told that our restaurant bill had been paid. I insisted from the waiter to know who paid it. It turned out to be a very charming elderly man sitting at the bar. He was a cripple -- poor dear.

    Carrie, "You've been drawn to the diamond grids lately -- this shot reminds me of the Yves Saint Laurent photo with the grill before his face." Wow, how perceptive of you to notice that. Thanks for sharing.

    Corrine, You are funny 'photo du jour':)

    Marylene, Here, I'm sending you some San Francisco sunshine. It has been windy here, however, my terrace is sheltered so it has been extremely hot on my terrace. You can get a sun tan.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Eric, Regarding your Le Parcours Saint Germain photo and comment of yesterday, Jean-Baptiste said, Thanks, I'll try to locate it when I am in the area. JB

    Now I am going to say something about your photo because it is haunting me. Gold and blue -- I cannot get over how peaceful the Bourse looks now. It is like a sleeping fire-breathing dragon in its watery cave. And the angle of your camera makes me feel timid and small while looking at the Bourse. It has seen many emotional years -- if walls could talk.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Victor Hugo's take on the Paris Stock Exchange:

    "Let us add that if it is right that the architecture of an edifice be adapted to its purpose in such a way that the purpose be readable from the edifice's exterior alone, we can never be sufficiently amazed at a monument which can equally well be a royal palace, a house of commons, a town hall, a college, a riding school, an academy, an entrepot, a tribunal, a museum, a barracks, a sepulchre, a temple, a theatre. For the time being it is a Stock Exchange. . . . We have that colonnade going round the monument, under which on the great days of religious observance there can be developed in majestic style the theories of stockbrokers and commission agents. Without a doubt these are quite superb monuments. Add to them a quantity of handsome streets, amusing and varied like the Rue de Rivoli, and I do not despair that Paris, seen from a balloon, should one day present that richness of line, that opulence of details, that diversity of aspect, that hint of the grandiose in the simple and unexpected in the beautiful, which characterizes a checkerboard."

    ReplyDelete
  64. Thanks for the link, Marylène. It's great to see more inside the building, including the room Eric photographed. Eric's photo is much more beautiful. But now I have proof of what I suspected: he was on the floor again.

    ReplyDelete
  65. tall gary -- that's fantastic. Let's just hope they never turn it into an Equinox gym, or poor Hugo will be spinning in his grave while fit young Parisians are taking their spinning class!

    ReplyDelete