Paris vs. NYC is one of those projects that as soon as you see it, it catches your eye, and then you have that moment which makes you smile. Art director and graphic designer Vahram Muratyan is the guy behind the inspiring project that was a a creative outlet to document his love of both cities. He started the blog as a way to share his work, and before too long, he was selling prints in an online shop. This month French publisher 10-18 released the project’s latest incarnation, Paris vs. NYC, the book (forthcoming by Penguin USA in January). I’m so happy to have Vahram on today’s edition of Boarding Pass. Happy Travels!
{The Alhambra – having one of the most amazing place around, and turning my back to it, always checking maps. Image ©AV}

last trip taken:
Sevilla, Granada and small white villages in the heart of Andalucia — superb.

{Mumbai}

next trip on deck:
Cuba would be nice

{l’aéroport print}

one place you would go back to again and again:
New York City

{le metro print}

place you’d most likely recommend a friend go visit:
Buenos Aires, Argentina

{Hong Kong}

preferred method of transportation:
Bicycle

{Lisbon}

place you’ve never been but dying to go:
Anywhere in Japan.

{la réinvention}

place you’d never go back:
Even if I loved Rajasthan in India, I would never go back to Agra.

{Normandy}

most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
The feel of Southern Hemisphere Spring on my skin, in my nose, in my eyes when in Argentina, leaving behind a gray and chilly Paris.

{La Chaleur}

how do you prepare for a trip?
I usually read some facts in the plane! The rest is just the fun of being surprised or attracted or moved once there.

{NYC}

how do you record your travels when you’re traveling?
Pictures, mini-videos, sketchbook.

{Mumbai}

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
The people.

{Zurich}

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
At least 200 per day.

{Istanbul}

what’s in your “designer travel kit” ?
A moleskine sketchbook, an iphone (so many great photo apps) and my Canon with a wide-angle lens.

{la façade print}

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
A private online album to start with, sometimes a book, usually in the month following the trip.

{l’apéro print}

favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
A vintage poster in some antique shop — but I don’t have enough walls now.


{Check out Vahram talk about his project en français on Dailymotion.}

Links:

• Paris vs NYC
• Online shop (prints for sale)
• Graphic design work: ViiZ.fr
• Twitter: @parisvsnyc

P.S. A shot I took outside Colette a few weeks ago at Vahram’s first book signing. The book in the US will have a white cover, and will be released by Penguin US in January.

{All images courtesy Vahram Muratyan.}