Arles, Provence Parade
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One of the many charms of Arles, apart from its association with Van Gogh, is its annual photography festival Le Recontres d’Arles. This renowned summer festival has been held annually for over fifty years. At the opening weekend the year we visited, we were
treated to a parade of traditional costume.
Participants, colorfully dressed, paraded through the crowded streets, some on horseback, some playing musical instruments, some leading children, others pulling carts. Dignitaries, merchants, peasants – they were all there. There was so much to photograph it was difficult to know where to being.
This formation of women holding parasols caught my attention. I was particularly taken by the woman at the front of the group. She neither looked left nor right but strode with confidence, radiating equanimity, pride, inner strength, and inner beauty. Her expression was serene, worthy of a Greek goddess. On the other hand, those behind her seemed quite perturbed and unhappy.
Presence is difficult to define. Karen Gray from the Columbia Business School writes: “Presence is letting the most powerful version of yourself shine through.” She cites leadership expert Sylvia Ann Hewlett, who defines presence as a combination of gravitas, communication, and appearance. Presence cannot be switched on or off, it comes from within.
As street photographers, who we and how we present ourselves, matters.