#frenchelections2017

'Tête-à-tête'. This week's piece for Politico - All eyes are on France as the presidential candidates compete ahead of the upcoming election. @bareps-eu @bareps

Looking at France… BELGIUM (Luxembourg). 2/11/2016: Rue du Sommet. Photographing a border… In this case the one separating Belgium from France. On a map it is clearly indicated. In fact it is the only place where it is clearly indicated. Once on location, the signs are not as precise. A different type of tarmac, other road signs, different light posts, another organisation of the land: the mark, the footprint of a central exercise of power on a precise area. A border is nothing else but a physical limitation by a government on people. Despite the blessing of free circulation of goods and people in Europe, that physical limitation discreetly remains. What would happen if these barriers were pulled up again, borders closed, customs offices dusted off? If suddenly, as a photographer, citizen of a buffer state created after a battle in Waterloo two centuries ago, I was not allowed to cross that line. I could not show more than what I show here, turning my back to Belgium, facing France. No more no less. A few insignificant visual landmarks, in black and white, in colour, a dot on the map, it doesn’t matter. One might scrutinise intensely: there is no dotted line scarring these hills, that stream. Nature doesn’t care about borders. It would be forbidden to infringe on something which in fact does not exist. I would not have the same access to my neighbour. Our paths would separate, our differences grow bigger. Refusing access to the others has consequences going beyond a dotted line on a landscape. Borders reduce the mind, be it on a territory, between communities or classes. The real walls, the real borders are built there, between the people. Full story on the Magnum website: http://pro.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&ALID=2K1HRGPS2I6L #documentaryphotography #france #frenchelections2017

People of France, tonight she shines for you. #frenchelection #statueofliberty #ladyliberty #nyc #newyorkcity #newjersey #liberty #france #elections #vivelafrance #frenchelections2017 #europe #eu #europeanunion #politics (at New York, New York)

#toutesnosfélicitations #frenchelections2017 #vivemacron

In the end, 🇫🇷and 🇪🇺won!!! #frenchelections2017 #macronpresident (at Bruxelles/Brussel)

In France 🇫🇷 we tell : In May does what he Please ‼️Do I stand Furs🔛#needsun #rainyweek #😡#mustkeepgoing #waiting #keepcool #frenchelections2017 #weather #so #letseewhathappens #folowme #outfit @dexterement_votre @david1songe @cristpistis for thé pic © @thierrymugler collector leather dress #goodwork #latergram #like4likeback #4may17🙄🤔😒 (à Place des Vosges)

In a very sad mood today, violently pessimistic.