Silent world from Lucie & Simon on Vimeo.

We all fantasize about how a city would be like if everyone just momentarily disappeared. Here to offer a taste are Paris-based photographers Lucie & Simon. In Silent World, the pair visualizes some of the busiest, most famous public places in the world, including Times Square and Grand Central, almost completely devoid of people.

An imaginary world that is not totally post-human, mind you. Lucie & Simon usually include at least one person in the frame–a Little Red Riding Hood look-alike next to Madison Square Garden say, or a frightened older woman in front of Rockefeller Plaza. I’m guessing these people are supposed to lend the compositions an air of mystery. And I suppose they do. Personally, though, I’m just jealous I don’t get Paris to myself for a day.