Eiffel from afar
View of the Eiffel tower with La Defense in the background as seen from the observation deck on Tour Montparnasse
View of the Eiffel tower with La Defense in the background as seen from the observation deck on Tour Montparnasse
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Jan, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I wanted to get a bird's eye view of Paris, so I went to the top of Montparnasse tower (Tour Montparnasse) where they have an outdoor observation deck. It's a great view! Not only can you see the Eiffel tower, but also Sacré-Coeur and other familiar architecture. I thought the modern architecture of La Défense in the background was an interesting contrast to the Eiffel tower.Time
This was a late afternoon photo in November. The winds were whipping around, so it was quite chilly. But the clouds were magnificent and occasionally there would be light on certain parts of Paris - just the Eiffel tower, or just La Défense. I wish I could go back so I could take some night photos.Lighting
I must have taken at least 30 photos from the observation deck to catch different ways that the sun was lighting the scene. I was hoping for a beam of light coming through the clouds and highlighting the Eiffel tower, but that would have required more mist in the air to actually see the beam of light. Also, it seems that there was better contrast when the background was lit up and the Eiffel tower was more like a silhouette.Equipment
The photo was shot with an Olympus E-PM1(micro 4/3rds) using a M. Zuiko 14-42 lens at 42 mm. I only had one lens because I was traveling light on business and couldn't bring all my kit. The winds were fairly strong, so I had to brace myself against a pillar or handrail for support. For a night shot, you would need a very sturdy tripod.Inspiration
A few years prior to this photo I had visited Paris and had many photos from within the city center. I wanted a shot from an entirely different view - outside the city center looking in.Editing
The only post processing was a little contrast and brightness adjustments in Lightroom.In my camera bag
I normally carry my Olympus E-PM1 with three M. Zuiko lenses - 1) 14-22mm F3.5-5.6 2) 40-150mm F4-5.6 3) 9-18mm F4-5.6. Plus the typical circular polarizer filters and neutral density filters. If I take my tripod, I will also take the remote shutter control. However, it's rare that I carry the tripod anywhere because the rest of the family doesn't want to wait for me to take the perfect shot. So I make due bracing myself against stationary objects for the longer exposures and increasing the ISO.Feedback
Paris is amazing for its clouds. I can see why the impressionist painters were so inspired to paint outdoors. From late afternoon until sunset the color in the clouds is wonderful. Midday you can get nice white puffy clouds against clear blue skies. Pick a nice cloudy day to get the most variety out of your photo expedition. If you don't want to take the subway to Montparnasse, another good view is from the top of Arch de Triumph (yes, you can actually go on top !). You will need a wide angle lends to capture a large view of the city, but the Eiffel tower rises up over the mass of smaller buildings and makes a stunning photo.
