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NEW Etsy Shop Now Open!
Hello everyone!
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.
EXCITING NEWS! My new Etsy shop is now open and canvas prints are available for immediate purchase. I only place prints I have in stock on the Etsy store, so you can be assured your print will be couriered the very next business day after confirmation of purchase.
Please click on images below to be taken to my store.
Enjoy and thanks again for stopping by.
Cheers Adrian 🙂
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Day 6 Paris
Day 6 Paris – Today is my last day here. Very sad to be going as I have become very fond of this place and the people. A petite side note from Tuesdays blog. That kilometre long uniformed horsemen procession that I stumbled across was actually part of a ceremony for the new President of France who was taking office.Last night I got some wonderful shots and a panorama which I can’t wait to stitch together down at the river on bridges looking back towards the Eiffel Tower. As it does not get dark here until about 10pm, I had a bit of time to kill before the lights came on. I noticed out the corner of my eye the Grand Palace had a photographic exhibtion on by Helmut Newton. So I thought, why not. I wasn’t familiar with his work.. but now I am. Wasn’t quite ready for what I saw and when you see his work, you’ll see what I mean.
For a bit of fun today, I decided to place only my 50mm lens on the camera, set at f2.8 and away I go for some shallow depth of field shots. I caught the metro to Luxembourg where I ventured around the areas of the Pantheon, the Mouffetard and Luxembourg Gardens (the Latin Quarter). Got some great shots of old one lane coble stoned alley ways and the gardens were just a real pleasure to photograph. Flowers were out in bloom and there was a fountain there that was just stunning. Quote of the day went to some loud tourist as I passed them – “That’s the problem with being in France, everything’s in french.”
I returned to my hotel early noon and decided to put down the camera and just go out and explore, taking in Paris without looking through a viewfinder, you know, take in one more chocolat crepe for the road. I got lost, but for the first time in my life I didn’t really care at all. No better place to be lost than in such a fantastic city.
Au revoir Paris. Tu es tres belle!
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Day 5 Paris
Day 5 Paris started off early to see the Palace of Versailles. As I walked down the corridor from my room the concierge was delivering the morning paper to guest doors. “Bonjour Monsieur”. I don’t think I could ever tire of hearing that. Taking on board a friends advice to go early to the Versailles paid off as I could walk around the acres of garden grounds with hardly anyone else in sight. I was able to take wide and high shots showing the large well sculptured and manicured areas without people in them.For those of you who don’t know the Versailles you can find info here about it. In short the Versailles is basically opulence on steroids. What an amazing display of 17th and 18th century french art and architecture. I found myself entering into different sections/rooms and continually saying to myself, “you gotta to be kidding!” Only by seeing it in reality can you take in all the spleandour of when Louis XIV in 1661 decided to turn a chateau into something a tad larger.
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Day 4 Paris
Day 4 Paris – Spring has definitely sprung in Paris and it showed today in a big way. Near perfect weather as I made my way along the river past Notre Dame. I passed work commuters, joggers and grabbed this great snap of a man walking his dog along the old coble stoned pathway. Walking along the lower level of the river gave me a different perspective of things. I was able to study the underneath of bridges closely and see how they were made. Some of the decorative designs on the bridge beams (some carved from wood) must have taken very long to create so many years ago. I eventually made my way to Jardin Des Plantes where I discovered long rows of colourful flowers that lead up to the Grand Galerie de l’Evolution. It doesn’t matter where you turn here (even when you’re lost) there’s always something magic to see and capture photographic wise. -
Day 3 Paris
Day 3 Paris – time to do my impersonation of Ferris Bueller and spend the day off at the Musee d’Orsay. Out of all the places I have been to thus far, this is my favourite. A while ago I did certificates in Art & Design and Fine Art. I got to study the masters and today I got to see their works in person. Strolling along taking in the paintings and drawings of the likes of Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne and Pissaro was illuminating. All of the Musee d’Orsay was magnificent. On the second level was the restaurant with decor and furnishings so amazing you’d think you were dining with Louis the 15th himself! On the 5th level were two huge clocks from which you could look out through over most of Paris. I have some great internal shots of the place, however and understandably so, no photography was allowed near the works. I found it very difficult to drag myself away and went back twice to look at pieces. In the end I’m glad I did leave when I did because as I was crossing the river back towards the Louvre I lucked out once again. Coming along Quai des Tuileries was this kilometre long procession (3 wide) of fully uniformed horsemen, surreal! I had them all to myself to photograph 🙂 It was a stunning sunset this evening, sunrays breaking through cloud, captured all from the grounds of the Louvre, pics to come on the website. -
Day 2 Paris
Day 2 Paris started at 5am and I ventured to the Louvre and Notre Dame to get some sunrise shots. On my way I stopped at the fountains of de la Concorde. Being so early on a Monday there was no one else around so I felt I had all of Paris to myself to play in. The morning light is beautiful here giving a subtle glow to everything. Was very happy with some of the images I captured.During the day I visited the Grand Palace. Currently it is holding the Daniel Buren Monumenta 2012. It is huge inside and the 10mm lens came into play beautifully.
Tonight I ventured to the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triomphe for some night shots. Just magic everywhere! Extremely happy with the shots.
Photography aside, I have a new found love in the food department. Fresh made chocolat crepes!
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Bonjour Paris
Today was my first day in Paris and I can well and truly understand why this place is photographed so much. The people, its architectural brilliance and the history. Straight from the plane and even before being allocated my room I saw an old man feeding small birds in his hand at a rather packed Louvre grounds on a glorious Sunday afternoon. An artist enjoying painting purple Irises as they bloom. On top of all this it was the Joan of Arc festival, to celebrate 600 years since her birth. So was able to capture some nice images of a young woman dressed in armour aboard a white horse along with other knights walking down the centre of Rue de la Concorde.
NEVER STOP CREATING
Day 5 Paris started off early to see the Palace of Versailles. As I walked down the corridor from my room the concierge was delivering the morning paper to guest doors. “Bonjour Monsieur”. I don’t think I could ever tire of hearing that. Taking on board a friends advice to go early to the Versailles paid off as I could walk around the acres of garden grounds with hardly anyone else in sight. I was able to take wide and high shots showing the large well sculptured and manicured areas without people in them.
Day 4 Paris – Spring has definitely sprung in Paris and it showed today in a big way. Near perfect weather as I made my way along the river past Notre Dame. I passed work commuters, joggers and grabbed this great snap of a man walking his dog along the old coble stoned pathway. Walking along the lower level of the river gave me a different perspective of things. I was able to study the underneath of bridges closely and see how they were made. Some of the decorative designs on the bridge beams (some carved from wood) must have taken very long to create so many years ago. I eventually made my way to Jardin Des Plantes where I discovered long rows of colourful flowers that lead up to the Grand Galerie de l’Evolution. It doesn’t matter where you turn here (even when you’re lost) there’s always something magic to see and capture photographic wise.
Day 3 Paris – time to do my impersonation of Ferris Bueller and spend the day off at the Musee d’Orsay. Out of all the places I have been to thus far, this is my favourite. A while ago I did certificates in Art & Design and Fine Art. I got to study the masters and today I got to see their works in person. Strolling along taking in the paintings and drawings of the likes of Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne and Pissaro was illuminating. All of the Musee d’Orsay was magnificent. On the second level was the restaurant with decor and furnishings so amazing you’d think you were dining with Louis the 15th himself! On the 5th level were two huge clocks from which you could look out through over most of Paris. I have some great internal shots of the place, however and understandably so, no photography was allowed near the works. I found it very difficult to drag myself away and went back twice to look at pieces. In the end I’m glad I did leave when I did because as I was crossing the river back towards the Louvre I lucked out once again. Coming along Quai des Tuileries was this kilometre long procession (3 wide) of fully uniformed horsemen, surreal! I had them all to myself to photograph 🙂 It was a stunning sunset this evening, sunrays breaking through cloud, captured all from the grounds of the Louvre, pics to come on the website.
Day 2 Paris started at 5am and I ventured to the Louvre and Notre Dame to get some sunrise shots. On my way I stopped at the fountains of de la Concorde. Being so early on a Monday there was no one else around so I felt I had all of Paris to myself to play in. The morning light is beautiful here giving a subtle glow to everything. Was very happy with some of the images I captured.
Today was my first day in Paris and I can well and truly understand why this place is photographed so much. The people, its architectural brilliance and the history. Straight from the plane and even before being allocated my room I saw an old man feeding small birds in his hand at a rather packed Louvre grounds on a glorious Sunday afternoon. An artist enjoying painting purple Irises as they bloom. On top of all this it was the Joan of Arc festival, to celebrate 600 years since her birth. So was able to capture some nice images of a young woman dressed in armour aboard a white horse along with other knights walking down the centre of Rue de la Concorde.