La Dame de Fer

I know. Three posts, three Eiffel Tower pictures. Even though I have not lived here in decades, Paris is still the most beautiful city in the world for me. Of course, one of its most known landmarks is the Eiffel Tower built for the 1889 World Fair. The tower remained the tallest man made structure in the world until 1930 when the Chrysler building was finished in New York City. It still inspires me after all these years and countless pictures.

A Different View

Two of the best known landmarks I have photographed in all my years of flying are the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel Tower. I have hundreds of photos of either. I still try to go beyond the tourist shot and strive to always find a different view.

The Iron Lady

The calm waters of the shimmering river

below, like a warm shawl

Embrace the shivering lady perpetually naked

against the elements

Her only attire, thousands of stars she seized

to dazzle all who pass by

As she watches over her people from the

height of her celebrity

DJP (The starry metropolis- Different facets of a tear)

Practice Is Key

The famous British photographer Rankin said that "if you cannot find something great to photograph, find a great way to photograph it." I try to keep that in mind when I am out and about. The truth is, no matter how great an eye you might have, inspiration does not always knock you over the head. Sometimes you have to "force" it a bit. It is a great exercise to keep sharpening your senses and really try to see things in a different light or from a different angle. The goal is to end up with a "unique" picture that will make the viewer stop.

Pont de Bir-Hakeim

Constructed between 1903 and 1905, the Pont de Bir-Hakeim is 237 meters (777 ft) long and 24.7 meters (81 ft) wide. It is a two-level bridge. The upper level is used by metro line 6. The lower level is for motor vehicles, with a bicycle path in the center. The bridge provides a superb view of the Eiffel Tower.

The bridge has been used on the small and big screens; in Janet Jackson’s video for Come back to me in 1989 and in the movie Inception in 2010, among others. The Sailors are sculptures by Gustave Michel.