From my travel guide: "Engineer Gustave Eiffel's iron creation for the 1889 World's Fair was greeted with disgust by Parisians, who dubbed it the Giant Asparagus." It does go on to say Parisians eventually warmed to the tower, which the guidebook also says is "the ultimate symbol of France.. worth a vist at least once in your lifetime." Agree - everyone should visit Paris once in their lifetime if possible!
The shot is taken from the Trocadero plaza above the tower. It is indeed a very impressive view, and I was fortunate that the place was not very crowded. Most of the few folks who were there were trying to sell cheesy souvenirs.
(Note that this also meets the other challenge - Centered Composition. I should get extra credit!)
[Nov. 22nd, 2009 04:09:27 AM]
This is scoring WAY better than I expected. WAY better. I think it is a case of the right shot for the right challenge, not a significant overall improvement in my camera skills. :-)
And I do agree that this is a symbol of France but perhaps not of the spirit of France, unless you take into account the slow, begrudged acceptance of the icon. To truly capture the spirit of France would take a lot more time than I had, and a photo essay or book rather than a single shot. And it should be done by jjbeguin.
[Nov. 22nd, 2009 02:10:22 PM]
The one thing I did hope would come across with this is the sheer size of this beast. It really is pretty darn big.
Wow - thanks, folks!! Didn't expect this at all. But I'll take it!
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Oh my gosh Deb! Congratulations! I'm so out of touch with everything at the mo. Thrilled I managed to catch your blue ribbon on the front page in time. Stunning photograph.
Congratulations, It's an impressive, symmetrical, view of the famous landmark. The eye is drawn to the small buildings and cars in the background at its' base, so that does emphasize the size.
Please forgive my late congratulations. It has nothing at all to do with this fabulous, iconic, 'spirit of a country' image you've captured. Well done, Deb, and congrats!
I've been getting ready for thanksgiving, so I hadn't had a chance to look at the results. Awesome!!!! Congrats! A blue, even! It certainly does give the sense of size. Very, very nice!
Deb! I forgot to check in this morning until now! What a great Thanksgiving present to be honored for your fabulous photography with a blue ribbon! You are getting some killer travel photos you lucky jet setter :)
Oh, Deb. Congratulations on a fine image and a SUPER placement.
Yes, I've see this icon a number of times, each time gaining more from the experience. Once I just sat in the Bateau (the one that goes up and down the Seine & hits the high spots) and drew the thing. I finished its left leg before we had to leave again. It's a high point in my sketchbook of that trip.
Thanks for bringing back that fond memory and for making such a great image.
Congrats on your first place win, Deb! Excellent shot of the Eiffel Tower and very dramatic in gray tone! Now you can add it to the black & white side challenge! ;-)
congrats deb on the blue ...
i love this pic .. i love the b&w and the way it looks like i should see cars from the 20's driving around on the roads ... love your processing .. like stepping back in time .. its such a perfect composition too .. :)
Don't be modest. The composition, angle, duotone processing...all absolutely perfect. An iconic image of an iconic location. Very, very well done, and a big congratulations on the Blue.
I think it's the simplicity of this that works so well. Most people will stand on their head trying to get a novel POV of such a familiar landmark. You bravely tackled it straight on. And to excellent effect.
Beautiful job and a well deserved ribbon. Congrats!
Well done, Deb. A really good shot of the tower, and the sky is an important factor in this one.
Last time I was there, I had food poisoning but I managed to get to the second level.
(Warning: Do not buy egg sandwiches in the Paris Metro on a public holiday.) ;-)
This is really cool. It looks like a collector's item post card. All the tiny cars and the big structure - very cool. Love it in black and white. CONGRATS on the blue!!!!
Great shot, nicely symmetrical. I am glad you made this a B&W, really works well.. although that said, B&W is not offering enough drama to take it to the next level, it needs more contrast to make the Eiffel tower really pop out! 8
Perfect composition. Great sky. Can't go wrong with a subject like this. It lacks a bit in the darker shades for my taste, but it's an excellent exposure with lots of range nonetheless.
Tack sharp, full of grand little details which make up the whole. What could be more quintessential France than this great architectural monument? The tones & textures in the black & white are beautiful.
The Eiffel Tower is most definately a recognized symbol of France. I love how you composed this with the fountain and street that acts as leading lines to towards the Eiffel Tower. Those leading lines also travel off to the horizon's vanishing point but not before our eyes see the outlines of the city that center around this grand monument. I also like how you chose the vertical to not only compliment the majestic tower but the shooting water fountains act like a 'parting curtain' that open up so that the eye travels on the leading line to the main attraction: the Eiffel Tower. I do have one critique and that is I think just a tad more boost to the contrast would make the B&W tones even more dynamic such that it pops of the page even more. I do like the B&W because it calls attention to the details, shapes, and lines but I do wonder what this looks like in color. Great work: 8
La Tour Eiffel - France
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