I like this moment. Notice the action of the pedestrians crossing the avenue along the pedestrian crossing in the foreground (and their shadows) and the cars along it, the traffic further down and the people (a lot of them tourists) along the pavements on both sides (and their shadows).
Fuji GS645S Professional rangefinder camera and Kodak TMAX 100 ISO 120mm black and white film.
Several metro lines run through the Champs-Élysées. And several metro stations line this, the most famous avenue in the world.
The first time that I set foot on the Champs-Élysées I remember thinking to myself, “Jim Morrison was here! Elvis too. Perhaps”.
I turned left. Up in the distance was the Obelisk of the Place de la Concorde. I recognised it from the black and white illustrations in the French textbooks at school, some fifteen years ago. “…if this thing is here, then this must be the Champs-Élysées and l’ Arc de Triomphe has got to be…”, I turned right and there it was! It looked commanding and authoritative. It’ll go down as one of the most magnificent and majestic monuments that I have seen.
Cafes line the Champs-Élysées. I recommend L’Atelier Renault, 53 Champs-Élysées. French salads, wine, cheese etc. is the best I’ve had. The ducks, the grills, the Camembert, the Bordeaux. A special mention for Perrier and the beer 1664.
It had something to do with the government talking about increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62. Public-sector workers did a strike in protest. On one of the evenings, I had a hard time with the metros at Concorde metro station in that I didn’t manage to squeeze into any of the three that showed up in the one hour. All of the compartments were packed with people, as frequencies had been cut from say six or seven to three in the one-hour.
The terraces of the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile had been kept shut in protest. I did get atop the Arc de Triomphe on the final afternoon of my four-day trip to Paris and looked over the Champs-Élysées from a height of one hundred and sixty feet. And the rest is history!
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Ah Paris… the art, the food, the romance….
Love it!
Thanks, nursemyra!
i didn’t know the champs elysees was in bombay, giggle, i’m being funny, in case you hadn’t noticed
way to world travel and TAKE PICTURES of it!! wonderful
That would be the Gateway of India in Bombay. Lol.
Thanks, Elaine!
A grand photo of a grand boulevarde – tres bien, Monsieur.
Merci Beaucoup, Mitzi G Burger!
What a great shot from this perspe3ctive and a very informative and interesting post
Thanks, JJ!
awesome depth very impressive as your management of light, very nice result, compliments
Thanks, fabrizio!
A great view from up there and that Champs-Elysées is so long! I would have thought it would be more busy, but maybe you were very late or early up there
Yes, it is very long indeed.
This was around noon.
Thanks, Monique!
BRILLIANT PERSPECTIVE!
Thanks, magiceye!
Another gorgeous photo. I love your black and whites.
Thanks, Cityhippyfarmgirl!
Is this the perspective from atop the Arc de Triomphe? Loved the accompanying text too…I thought some lines along the same line…though must admit mine was more recent like the victory procession of Zinedine Zidane’s World Cup winning team..:D
Yes, this if from atop.
I shot this about a month ago.
Thanks, Journomuse!
As always, a wonderful study in black and white!!!! I so envy you being able to travel to Parus!!!!!
Thanks, Kay!
fantastic photo – it’s been over 25 years since I was there – yikes!!! Interesting that it had to be closed due to protest. Most workers here will be happy to retire – even at 62 the way things are going
Thanks, carma!
Ensoleillée et belle, superbe point de vue avec fourmis en prime !
Merci Beaucoup, Aurore!
That is one huge road that seems to go on forever
Indeed!
Thanks, Tony!
I love the light in this picture. The road is like a silver ribbon.
Thanks, Lady Fi!
I liked to read your little text… new eyes on an avenue i know quite well, love that. Thank you
Thanks, Aurore!
what a nice view! All those small people crawling around the scene like ants
Indeed!
Thanks, Arjan – PlasticDaisy!
This is a fantastic photo. Thanks!
Thanks, carol!
Dude such an image!! luvin the scale, I wanna go to france lol
Paris is great. Thanks, JD!
Master of the lens you are!!!
i see light in your works.
Thanks, Riddler!
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