Spot a baguette under the arm
Find someone carrying a baguette under their arm or in a string bag, the classic Parisian commute (or a shot of a single fresh baguette sticking out of a bakery shelf).
Spot a boulangerie storefront
Find a storefront with "Boulangerie" lettered on the awning or sign. They are on almost every block; photograph the sign.
Spot a bouquiniste
Spot the green riverside book boxes (bouquinistes) along the Seine quays. They sell second-hand books, prints and postcards. Photograph an open box.
Spot a cobblestone street
Find a cobblestone (pavé) street, especially in the Marais, the Latin Quarter or Montmartre. Take a photo from low down so the stones lead the eye.
Spot a croissant
Spot a croissant in someone's hand or in a boulangerie window display. The flakier and crescent-er, the better. Photograph it close-up.
Spot a fromagerie window
Find a cheese shop (fromagerie) window with cheeses stacked behind glass. The smell from the doorway is a giveaway. Photograph the display.
Spot a Haussmann balcony
Find a wrought-iron balcony on the fifth or sixth floor of a Haussmann-era building (the long continuous balconies that run across the facade). Photograph it from the street.
Spot a love padlock
Find a padlock locked to a bridge railing, fence or gate. The Pont des Arts had them removed in 2015 but Pont de l'Archevêché, the Pont Notre-Dame and Pont Marie still carry plenty. Photograph one.
Spot a mansard roof
Spot a zinc-tiled mansard roof with dormer windows, the grey angled roof that gives Paris its skyline silhouette. Photograph the rooftops.
Spot a Mona Lisa
Spot a Mona Lisa anywhere: a postcard rack, a souvenir-shop magnet, a parody mural, a metro poster, or the real painting if you brave the Louvre crowd. Photograph her enigmatic smile.
Spot a Parisian bicycle
Find a bicycle parked or being ridden, a Vélib bike-share, a vintage step-through or a courier on the move. Take a photo with the bike clearly in shot.
Spot a patisserie sign
Find a storefront with "Pâtisserie" lettered above the door (often combined with Boulangerie). Photograph the sign.
Spot a real beret
Spot a real beret worn by someone walking the street (not a souvenir-shop hat on a tourist costume photo). Take a candid photo.
Spot a tourist with a suitcase
Spot a tourist wheeling a suitcase down the street, especially near hotels, train stations or the Marais. Take a candid photo.
Spot a Wallace Fountain
Spot a Wallace Fountain, the 2-metre dark-green cast-iron drinking fountain with four caryatids supporting a dome. Around 100 of them dot the city. Photograph one.
Spot an airplane over Paris
Look up and catch a plane in the sky over Paris (Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Le Bourget all send planes overhead). Photograph it with a Parisian rooftop or landmark in the frame.
Spot an Art Nouveau Métro entrance
Find one of the surviving Art Nouveau "Métropolitain" entrances by Hector Guimard (green wrought iron, lily-of-the-valley lamps). Photograph the entry sign.
Spot an éclair
Spot an éclair (chocolate, coffee or vanilla) in a patisserie window or on a plate. The long fluted pastry with glossy icing. Photograph it.
Spot macarons in a window
Find a patisserie with macarons stacked in the window. Ladurée and Pierre Hermé are the famous ones, but any patisserie display counts. Photograph the colours.
Spot Notre-Dame
Get a view of Notre-Dame cathedral from the Île de la Cité or the riverbanks. Photograph the towers (the spire is being reinstated).
Spot Parisian bistro chairs
Find a row of woven rattan bistro chairs facing the street outside a café (almost every café has them). Photograph them lined up.
Spot Parisian sunglasses
Find someone in stylish Parisian sunglasses, or a sunglasses shop window with a striking display. Photograph it.
Spot pétanque players
Find a group playing pétanque, the boules game with metal balls. The Place des Vosges, Jardin du Luxembourg and the Arènes de Lutèce are favourites. Photograph a throw or measurement.
Spot red lipstick
Spot red lipstick on someone passing, on a beauty-counter poster or as an advert in a metro corridor. The classic French signature.