Luke ShepÂard, a stuÂdent at the AmerÂiÂcan UniÂverÂsiÂty of Paris, began workÂing on Le FlaÂneur as part of a project for school, but it quickÂly took on a life of its own. He used a Nikon D90 DSLR camÂera to take over 2,000 phoÂtos of Paris at night, and then used Adobe After Effects and PreÂmiere Pro to proÂduce this impresÂsive tour of a world that most of us rarely see – Paris withÂout Parisians. In EngÂlish, “flaÂneur” transÂlates roughÂly as “stroller,” “loafer,” or perÂhaps “aimÂless walkÂer,” and, in an interÂview with NationÂal GeoÂgraphÂic TravÂelÂer, ShepÂard explained that he was inspired to shoot these images in part by late-night pleaÂsure rides on his bicyÂcle.
(Note: Some viewÂers may preÂfer to watch with the volÂume off, as the chase scene-ready soundÂtrack detracts a bit from the eerie sense of a virÂtuÂalÂly desertÂed city. For more time-lapse phoÂtogÂraÂphy, check out these videos of MecÂca, New York City, and the Milky Way.)
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
