We often capture strangers in photos we take in public. Open your photo library, and stop at the first picture that features a person you don’t know. Now tell the story of that person.

I don’t really take photos of people at all, especially people I don’t know. I’m a huge fan of Robert Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson & Co, but I always try and keep people out of my street scenes. Some places really need the people though, because they are the scene. I try not to focus on individuals. I usually use a telephoto lense, so I’m not in anyone’s face.

This street, Rue Mouffetard in Paris is quite well known. It’s always crowded day or night, plenty of tourists, plenty of locals. When I’m there I always get a few shots. This time, I had my little Ixus camera with me. I’d forgotten it was on ‘colour pic’ an amusing filter that you can program to record a single colour.  These kind of special tricks can be very effective if used sparingly. They’re utterly tedious otherwise.

I like the splash of colour from the lady’s red boots, bag and top. I don’t recall noticing them at the time, but it’s a colourful and noisy place.

There’s a story there. Does she know the man with the backpack just ahead of her?  Is she a tourist? A Stylish local?  Is that an Akubra hat? Australian perhaps?

I’ll never know.

I wasn’t going to respond to this prompt, but it’s about photography, so I got drawn in. As requested, I opened up a photo folder. There were good memories of a place I enjoy visiting. And then there was the lady in red, striding out of the photo, enjoying the sun and the sights and sounds of Paris.

Rue Mouffetard, Paris, April 2014.