This image struck me as a quintessentially Parisian moment. A flash of black coat, black tights and black shoes moving swiftly down a rain-slick Boulevard Saint-Germain. The photographer captured the figure's movement while the yellow autumn leaves at her feet remain still, alluding perfectly to the return of l'automne and bustling Paris boulevards. The abstraction in this photo is also it's strong point. Having few factual details to go by, we focus on the atmosphere created, which allows us to bring our own story to the photograph.

C'est la rentrée! Which means it's back to school, work and the everyday rhythm after France has been on holiday for the past two months. This week's photo was part of a series about going back to school in 1932. La rentrée this year begins on Tuesday September 4th, the first day of school. The famous back to school shopping list for all public school students will be given out the first week of classes, and can contain such specifics as dimension and page number of notebooks, along with the required blue, red, black and green ball point pens. After working in elementary schools when I first came to France, I became aware of many differences from the school system I grew up in. Students are told precisely where to draw a line on a page and what color pen to use. The French school system emphasises following the model, and not coloring outside the lines.

Here is a night shot I took at the fountains at Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris. Originally named Place Louis XV, it was renamed Place de la Revolution during the French Revolution when a guillotine was erected in the square. It was here that Louis XVI was executed as well as Marie Antoinette and many others. To the west of the place is the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, to the east the Tuileries Garden. The National Assembly sits across the bridge on the opposite bank of the Seine. At the eight angles of the octagonal place are eight statues, each representing a major French city (Rouen, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille to name a few). The Luxor Obelisk, lit up a bright white in this photo, came from Egypt in the 19th century. It's over 75 feet high and weighs 250 metric tons. The original cap was believed to have been stolen in the 6th century BC, and France added the gold leafed cap to the obelisk in 1998.

I love how the the farewell feeling is captured in this photo, titled "The 15th of August: Deserted Paris: Departures in the station". Taken at the Gare Montparnasse in 1935, this idea of "deserted Paris" is still completely true over 75 years later. Aside from tourists, Paris is a ghost town in August! But with all of the Parisians on vacation, there is peace to be found in less crowded metros and tranquil streets. August 15th is also a public holiday in France, in honor of the Catholic feast of the Assumption.

This week's photograph, published in 1919, captures a happy group in striped swimwear at Deauville, the famous seaside resort of Normandy. Sometimes called the Parisian Riviera for it's proximity to the capital, Deauville has been the summer home for high society including Yves Saint Laurent and Lady O'Reilly. Originally a small fishing village, Deauville was transformed into a "town of pleasure" in the 1860s, when the Duc de Morny bought up deserted marsh land and dunes and his half brother, Napoleon III, made visits which in turn made the area a fashionable destination. Over the years, the resort town has grown to include a racecourse, international film festival, luxurious hotels, and a Grand Casino.

The tradition of finding ways to enjoy sunny summer days in Paris has not changed. The bathers in this week's photo, which dates from 1934, did just that at la piscine Deligny, a floating pool built upon barges and moored along the banks of the Seine near l'Assemblée National. La Deligny first appeared in 1785 with original baths being supported by stilts...

The‪ Abbesses‬ neighborhood in Paris' 18th arrondissement is always a great place for a walk with your camera. Amidst the buildings covered in colorful graffiti and signposts plastered with quirky stickers, there are trendy boutiques and eateries aplenty. The vibrant area also has one of the few remaining art nouveau metro entrances by Hector Guimard, and many famed bakeries, including the 2011 Best Baguette in Paris winner, Au Levain d’Antan. Its cobblestone streets and narrow staircases lead up to the top of la butte, where the views of Paris are sure to please the photographer in you!

This photo was taken in the vieille ville (old city) neighborhood of Geneva, Switzerland. Just a three hour train ride from Paris, Geneva is the most populated city of the Suisse romande (the french-speaking districts of western Switzerland). Light was shining through the narrow cobblestone streets as I walked along the city's central hill towards St. Pierre's Cathedral. I stopped for a moment and captured these fluttering Swiss and Geneva flags. The Imperial Eagle and the Key of St. Pierre appear on Geneva's flag which has been used since the 15th century.

In honor of the upcoming fête nationale, this week's photo, titled "Le 14 Juillet : la course en sac à Belleville" shows kids having a Bastille day sack race. These festivities took place in Belleville, a neighborhood in northeast Paris, in the year 1932. Other traditions of the French National Day include the oldest and largest military parade in Europe, which makes it's way down the Champs-Élysées in front of the President and crowds of spectators.