If you are familiar with my photography, you know that with the exception of my portrait work, I typically don’t have people in my photos. Usually with a combination of patience and very long exposures I can virtually eliminate the people. On this day in May at the Louvre, that simply was not possible, There were so many people that visually, the people almost became the event. So like they say, “If you can’t fight ‘em, join ‘em.

It’s extremely rare that I re-post a photo. However, one of my readers informed me that George Whitman, the American born owner of the iconic Paris bookstore “Shakespeare & Company” passed away yesterday. Of my thousands of photographs I have published, this would have to be one of my very favorites. I love Shakespeare & Company and I feel my photograph “Shakespeare’s Chair” does a decent job of conveying the spirit of the shop. Thank you George Whitman for creating so many wonderful memories and to your daughter Sylvia for continuing the tradition. Click here for a link to a New York Times article published yesterday December 14th, 1011  about George Whitman & Shakespeare & Company.

Musicowly Speaking, The Long Center in Austin Texas is one of my favorite local venues for music and performance. The acoustics are great, the facility is beautiful and the large patio out front provides a stunning view of the Austin skyline. (You can see more of my Long Center Photos here.)  The beautiful cow in the photo was created by artist Robin Tripaldi for Austin’s Cows on Parade.