Being in Paris
February 10th 09 to April 27th 09
Lila Sparks-Daniels
About Lila Sparks-Daniels
The first time Lila remembers having a camera in her hands was at the age of 20 when she borrowed her cousin’s 35mm Konica. She was departing on a university “Semester at Sea” voyage that would take her around the world. Her cousin’s advice was simple: set your controls at F8 and 125/second to begin with; then look carefully through the view finder and when you like what you see, snap the shutter. It was the beginning of a lifelong adventure.
Lila is a self-taught photographer. She was an “early adopter” of digital photography and has been blessed by the way its instant feedback accelerates learning. Her first digital camera had only a 1.3 megapixel capacity (the largest available at the time,) but the first time she took that camera with her to Paris, she never took her 35mm out of its case. The digital age liberates her eye, her mind, and her heart.
An active member in the Marin Photography Club, Lila served as its President in 2006. Her images have received chapter and regional awards that include those from the Northern California Council of Camera Clubs (N4C), FotoClave of Northern California, and pictorial and special travel awards at the Marin County Fair.
Since 1966 Lila has visited over 42 countries with camera in hand. Her images capture her curiosity about how humans and their cultures acknowledge the basic issues of life and their meaning. She roams the streets meeting people at work and play, rapidly building rapport, seeking to share their dignity. Her photographic heroes include Robert Doisneau, Willy Ronis, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Brassai, and Sebastiao Salgado.
The subject of this exposition at Chez Pierre is Being in Paris, the title of her upcoming book. Lila has been capturing images of Paris for over 20 years and is pleased to share some of her favorites, especially those related to the pleasures of the table.
Images are available in varying sizes, with and without frames. They are all printed on archival papers using archival inks and matting. She welcomes your inquiries c/o Lila Sparks-Daniels, 604 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, California 94941, lilasd@aol.com, 415/819-0845.