Paris, France – La Tour Eiffel En Rouge

From a few weeks back…the Eiffel Tower lit in Red for the 120th Anniversary light show.  If I can recall…only a few days left to see the show from 8-11 PM every nite!  During the show the front of the tower changes multiple colors and multi-colored!   The show lasts about 5-8 minutes.  I did enjoy seeing the tower in red.  I think a few years back it was lit completely in red for Chinese New Year.  I truly enjoy seeing this icon more than any other in the world.   A beautiful subject in a tremendously beautiful city!   Enjoy!

Here is my first test post with data for those inquiring minds!   I will have this now for every photo posted!

Talke Photography settings:

• Camera:  Nikon D300
• Lens: Nikon 12-24 f/4
• Setting: Manual Mode
• Focal Length: 15.0mm
• ISO: 100
• Exposure:  1.6 seconds
• Aperture:  f/4.0
• Gear:  Tripod, cable release
• Post Process: Adobe CS4, Color Efex Pro

Paris, France – Eiffel Tower

NIKON D300, Nikon 12-24

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US!  With the 120 anniversary of the Eiffel Tower going on now until Dec 31st, per my last post, there is a light show every nite from 8-11 PM.  The light show is located on the front of the tower and it lasts about 10 minutes.   They play some wonderful music and the lights dance on the front of this majestic icon!  A wonderful sight I was lucky to see!  Lots of colors….purple, green, orange, blue, red, pink, etc…   Through the next few months I will post more color shots from this show.   The tower in purple looks great!!!   Grape soda anyone?  Enjoy!

Paris, France – La Tour Eiffel

NIKON D300, Nikon 10.5 Fisheye, HDR in Photomatix

This shot was from Paris on Friday nite.  I had an evening to enjoy the city and my first stop is always the Eiffel Tower!  I arrived just at sunset and this was my first shot with my new fisheye lens!  I set up my tripod and dodged the tourists and a few sprinkles to take 5 exposures with my cable release.  I see the tower has a little refurbishing work being done on it…but it still looks great in the blue hour!    I was excited as the tower had a 120 year celebration light show occurring every hour from 8-11 PM.  Some great colors!  I’ll post some soon after I get to process them.    Look for more shots soon!

Paris, France – streets near the Eiffel Tower

NIKON D300, Nikon 18-200 VR

This past year while in Paris I was in search of some street shots with the Eiffel Tower in the background.  It wasn’t as easy as it sounds.  I was walking on the back left side of the tower (if you are looking at it from the front).  I walked for about 45 minutes and wanted the perfect angle and shot…I found this one about 1 km away.   These look like apartments…and I can be certain they are not cheap!  It looked like a nice neighborhood…on every corner you can find a small shop or bakery.   Just beautiful!

It was fun just walking around trying to get this shot.  At this time, HDR was not in my mind….but this shot might have been perfect for HDR.  One day I hope to walk these streets again.  I can go for a crepe right now with whipped cream and chocolate!   S’il vous plait!!   I hear the Eiffel Tower is now lit up half blue and half red in honor of France.  That would be wonderful to see…wish I was there right now!  Enjoy!

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Paris, France – Eiffel Tower

NIKON D300, Nikon 18-200 VR

I have not posted a shot of my favorite sights in the world for a while…the Eiffel Tower!   Night shots of the tower are wonderful! This was one lucky evening (as I have posted before)…getting to see the tower in blue.   This shot was when I walking up to the tower along the side paths.  No matter how many times I see this view…it still amazes me!   The tower has only been a few colors before….another cool one would to see it in red (they have done that in the past)!  Maybe one day?  Enjoy!

Paris, France – Eiffel Tower B&W

NIKON D300, Nikon12-24, Photoshop

A solid Black & White photo is always enjoyable!  For some reason, black & white photos have a certain feeling, maybe sometimes more than a color photo due to the fact that you are viewing it in only two colors…so it makes you focus on the photo itself.   How many times have I seen a B&W photo and said… that it is cool…so simple…I like it!  Such a style can be inspiring.

This was an easy one to accomplish.  I visit the Eiffel Tower often and am always looking for something different.   Using a wide anlge lens and laying down on the ground at the base of the tower…gives this great angle!   Add in a black an white stamp filter in Photoshop and this is the outcome.  Simple and to the point.  

I never shoot in black in white as it creates limits.  Software can easily convert in numerous black and white styles.  Nik Software Silver Efex Pro is one great piece of black and white product!   I’d like to do more b&w…maybe I will have a swing this way for a bit in the future.  That is the fun of photography…so many styles and so little time!  Enjoy!

Paris, France – Eiffel Tower

NIKON D300, Nikon 18-200 VR

Here is a close up photo of the Eiffel Tower.   If you have been reading my blog – it is one of my most favortie sights to see in this world!  I’d say it is also one of the most photographed sights in the world as well.   I’ve walked around the tower many times looking for different angles and views.   Sometimes a close up shot works.   What is interesting about this picture is the names on the side of the tower.  I had no idea they were they until I processed this shot!    There are seventy-two names under the first balcony on each side of the tower.  They are scientists, engineers and other notable people that helped Gustave Eiffel with the tower. 

I touched up this shot with a filter from Color Efex Pro 3.0 to give it the brownish hue.  I’ll be back in Paris soon!  I am looking forward to eating my traditional crepe filled with whipped creme and chocolate right next to the tower at this cute little stand by the carousel across the street.  Enjoy!

Paris, France – Eiffel Tower in Blue – HDR

NIKON D300, Nikon 18-200 VR, HDR in Photomatix

After a post of Paris and talking about the Eiffel Tower in Blue….it is hard not to post a another picture of it in blue light.  This was at sunset in a nice HDR fashion.   I took this shot the same time as my previous post a while back.  I camped out at this location for about 1 hour and took tons of shots!    Any chance shadows and light are at play…try an HDR!!  This was 5 exposures with a tripod and cable release.    I am not sure I will see the tower lit up in blue again…just s special lucky evening for me!   I’d call this shot “Magnificient in Blue”.  I am lucky enough to see the Tower about 4-5 times a year and am still drawn to it.  Day or night.   Awe inspiring!   For those who have not been to Europe – my choice would be to visit Paris first!

Paris, France

NIKON D300, Nikon 12-24, Star Filter

Per my post just below…I wanted to post my favorite shot from Paris.  This was taken in September 2008.   I remember taking a taxi into town and I always look for the Eiffel Tower from my bus or taxi while riding in.  It was late at nite and I could not see it the Tower.   All I saw was this blue light in the distance!  Typcially the tower is lit in Gold/Yellow.  I took a double take and saw the Tower was lit in Blue!   Once in a blue moon they change the color for special occasions.  The Eiffel Tower was in Blue due to the European Union Anniversary!  An amazing time to see it!  I got lucky!!  …and had no idea!!

I spent nearly 2 hours at the tower taking shot after shot that evening…different angles, etc….every time I looked through the lens I was looking in awe!  Just an amazing sight to see!  Then every hour the  “twinkle” lights came on and that was amzing as well!   I camped out for this shot about an hour before sunset and wanted to get the tower lit in blue with some of the sunset in the background.  The crowd thinned out as the sun went down.   I recall stepping from my camera to take a few shots for some couples on their cameras.  It adds to the fun of taking photos!  I always enjoy taking pics for people. 

I used a tripod and shutter release on this shot….but the added effect was the Star Filter.  I put the filter over the lens and it helps create a “star” effect on any light!   A nice touch!   Just an amazing nite that I will never forget!

Paris, France

NIKON D300, Nikon 18-200 VR, converted to B&W in Lightroom 2.0

What can I say about Paris…tons!  I am lucky enough to spend a nite or two about 5-7 times per year here.  I use Paris as my stop over to fly back into the US when I travel into Europe.   This will probably be one of many more Paris posts.  I have seen tons in this beautiful city…and still have many more things still on my list!   As soon as I arrive, I take the Air France bus from CDG airport (only Euro 12 one way!)…its about a 35 min bus ride and drops me off near my hotel by the Arc De Triomphe.  I hop on the traditional Double Decker sightseeing bus and visit my favorite places.

The first stop is always the Eiffel Tower.  To me the most photographed spot I visit!  Always lots of people either in winter or summer walking around taking shots.   I have taken my share and now look for shots beyond the normal.   If you walk past the gardens past the tower to the left are housing complexes that are wonderful to walk around.  The streets are small and tight.  Thye have lots of little shops and eateries to stop and grab a bite or drink.   This shot was from last week.  Of course in late Feb its a bit chilly…but bearable.  I walked around the side streets near Saint Dominique looking for the Eiffel Tower to either pop up over the building tops or in between streets.  This view caught my eye! 

As it was cloudy and the backdrop was gray…this leads me to try the shot as black & white.  I converted it in Ligthroom 2.0 (my favorite photo software) and this is what I came up with.   A nice winter version of the Eiffel Tower.  I can go on and on about Paris and the things to do and see.  Some of my favorites….Eiffel Tower, Notre dame, Louvre, Arc De Triomphe, etc…  To be continued in another post soon!