gail albert halaban peers inside the widows of paris apartments

gail albert halaban peers inside the widows of paris apartments
all images © gail albert halaban

as an exploration into the everyday tensions and conventions of urban lifestyles, photographer gail albert halaban looks within the brick-clad, muti-storey spaces inhabited by parisians for her series ‘paris views’. halaban’s lens reveals cinematic atmospheres and intimate stills of the lives occupying these domestic spaces, seemingly peering in to the private worlds of ordinary people. the collection comprises meticulously directed, window-framed versions of daily routine — a family plays instruments, a man sips a coffee, and woman changes her clothes — allowing the viewer to create their own fictional narrative about the characters, activities, and lifestyles illuminated within. although halaban’s photography appears to be voyeuristic, each scene has been carefully coordinated with consent, in turn strengthening her own, and the viewer’s relationship to the community. ‘paris views’ has recently been released by aperture as a 12o page book comprising 6o color images from the deeply personal collection.

a carefully coordinated scene taken with consent sees a woman changing in her home

through the window, small children can be seen playing instruments while a mother looks on

a cube-like apartment complex highlights the people living inside through large windows

a man sips his coffee in a typical parisian-style apartment building

a woman sits on the edge of her windowsill