View from Arc de Triomphe

Speaking of stereotypical tourist views with very little room for original composition that I couldn't resist taking…though I did get stopped by a few people when they realized I was not using a digital camera.

Gargoyle of Notre Dame

Locations like this kind of drive me nuts. Its a very compelling view on top of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame but it is so limited in composition choices…or time to do anything. I guess a nice stereotypical vacation picture every now and again never hurt anyone either.

Pillars in Paris

This is also in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The obelisk once stood at the entrance to the Luxor in Egypt but was given to France in 1829. Its gold hat and the base are new additions but everything else is pushing 3,400 years old. The Eiffel Tower also makes for a pretty distinct inclusion to the history and skyline of Paris. Not much is known about this lamppost. I thought it complemented the other two nicely though.

Obstructed View

Tower in Trees

I warned of the potential for many pictures of the Eiffel Tower…Here is yet another of the forewarned views.

Tour Eiffel II

I hope the few people who follow this blog don't mind the Eiffel Tower because I fear I may end up posting several images of it. It is such a prominent landmark it was easy to keep letting myself be drawn to it visually. I still have more film to develop so I'm sure I will end up with with more. Funny that the Parisians initially were skeptical about it and wanted to tear it down only for it to be saved due to it use as a very effective radio antenna. Hitler even ordered it to be torn down when the Germans occupied Paris during World War II. (Luckily not all of his ordered were obeyed) Now it would be hard to imagine Paris without it. 

Tour Eiffel

One of my favorite classroom settings ever. I took a group of our study abroad students out for a sunset at this spot and had lessons about exposure and mixing ambient and natural lighting while photographing architecture and cityscapes. I am the teacher who feels that being in a traditional classroom is the least effective place to learn. Viva la France!