Pastel of Paris
Notre Dame Cathedral and the surrounding buildings bathed in light during golden hour.
Notre Dame Cathedral and the surrounding buildings bathed in light during golden hour.
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Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Aperture f/8 ISO 100 Shutter 1/20 Focal Length 51/1 
Paris, Ile-de-France, FR
Aug, 2019Views
2352
Likes
Awards
Runner Up in Timeless Structures Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Riverscape Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Travel Addict Project
Judge Favorite
9Teen Award
Contest Finalist in Covers Photo Contest Volume5
Contest Finalist in Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 24
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 48
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Genius
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank
Top 30 rank
Top 10 rank
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Categories
PRO+
PRO
PRO+
MaryAnne306
October 02, 2019
An unusual view of the cathedral and the river, beautifully done with great light. Congratulations on being a finalist!
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PRO
cavazbe
September 19, 2023
Thanks, Donna, it really was and such a great morning that day. Glad you like it.
PRO
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in Paris, France while on a family vacation.Time
The photo was taken during the morning golden hour on May 2, 2018, at around 7:00 AM Paris time. This photo was taken almost a year before the fire that destroyed most of the Notre Dame Cathedral.Lighting
The lighting was gorgeous on this particular morning! Some clouds had the potential to add color in the sky, but they started to break before it was time. What I got was a mix of sky and long, golden light from an unobstructed sky. The light from the rising sun lit up part of Notre Dame and the surrounding apartment bulding and it was fantastic!Equipment
I knew I wasn't going far for this shoot, so I threw everything but the kitchen sink in my pack. For this shot, I used my trusty Canon 5D Mark IV and my EF 24-70 f/2.8L USM lens. I either used my Really Right Stuff TFA-01 tabletop tripod or the TVC 14 travel tripod. I can't remember which one I used for this shot because I switched back and forth between the two at various vantage points.Inspiration
My inspiration for this photo was to take advantage of the last morning I had in Paris. Due to jetlag, weather and doing touristy stuff, I didn't have many chances for that "inconic" Paris shot I was looking for. I was determined to get a shot, so I got up before the sunrise and went to the locations I had scouted the night before. I wanted a colorful sunrise with lots of drama in the sky, but I ended up with a mix of a pastel sky, buildings (and a cathedral) bathed in the morning light and calm, reflective water. I shot like crazy to take advantage of the conditions that were presented to me.Editing
I did post-process this image quite a bit and several edits were trashed before I got to a good starting point this image. This was a single shot that was adjusted for color and contrast using Lightroom and Photoshop. Local and global adjustments for color, contrast, and texture were achieved using a variety of masks, including simple and luminosity masking.In my camera bag
I usually carry my Canon 5D Mark IV, the 16-35 f/2.8L USM II and the 24-70 f/2.8L in my bag. Occasionally, the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM II will make it into my pack if I feel like carrying the extra weight. One of two tripods will come with me: the Really Right Stuff TVC-33 or the lighter TQC. A must in my bag is a roll of gaffer's tape.Feedback
Patience and planning are probably the biggest reasons why I was able to get this shot and knowing that I had a short window of time for the best light helped keep me on target. Scouting the area the night before was a big help because I didn't have to waste time figuring out where to be. My advice is to do the same--have a game plan so you don't waste valuable time guessing where you need to be. The other thing not to forget is to enjoy your surroundings and don't get so caught up trying to capture the moment that you miss the moment.
