On April 15, 2019, a fire ravaged Notre Dame de Paris. I’ll never forget the sight of flames shooting from the roof and the collapse of the great spire. Saddened and horrified, I posted a tribute through a series of black-and-white pictures I had taken on my first trip to Paris.
“Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, roots itself deeply in our being and continues to flourish over a heart in ruin.”
— From The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
After more than five years, two thousand trees, and hundreds of artisans whose skills enable them to work in 12th-century methods of carpentry and stone-cutting, the beloved Cathedral will reopen this weekend, with ceremonies today to officially reintroduce the iconic landmark and religious facility to the world.
The above image of a gargoyle is just one of the pictures I took using black-and-white film in a 35mm camera, which sounds as ancient as the Cathedral. Can anyone relate?
I cannot be in Paris in person this weekend, but I will be there in spirit, celebrating the determination and love poured into restoring a structure that represents hope and possibility to so much of the world.
To read the full tribute post and see more black-and-white shots, click here.
About Renee Johnson
Renee Canter Johnson was born in North Carolina, where she still resides. She has a BS in Business Management from Gardner Webb University. Johnson studied Creative Writing in France and Italy, was awarded two terms at Noepe Center for Literary Arts on Martha’s Vineyard, and completed a Novel Intensive Study at the University of Iowa. Johnson loves spending time with her family and fur babies, and when she is not with them, you will find her reading or writing.
Join her at reneejohnsonwrites.com for insights on travel destinations, books, authors, and living a creative life.
Published author with The Wild Rose Press, blogger, and lifelong voracious reader, with the belief that novels conquered the world of virtual reality long before technology made it possible. The next adventure is just a click away!
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