Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Eiffel Tower Reflections

I vividly remember the day I took my Eiffel Tower Reflection photo as one of the best days of the summer in 2019.

Eiffel Tower Reflected in Puddle by Jeanne Selep
Eiffel Tower Reflection

First, just being in Paris made it a great day, but on top of that I achieved a goal I had set - getting a photo of the Eiffel Tower reflected in a puddle.  Puddle photos caught my attention multiple times over the years, but I knew Paris was having a hot and dry summer.  If the weather presented an opportunity, I knew I would have to move fast.  

Eiffel Tower Reflected in Puddle by Jeanne Selep
Eiffel Tower Reflection
My son and I left the Musée Marmottan (Marmottan Museum) and discovered a downpour going on.  We changed plans on the spot, bought an umbrella at the museum, and decided to go to the Eiffel Tower for perhaps the 3rd time that trip.  There were no metro shortcuts, so we literally started to run to the Eiffel Tower so I could "get my shot".

Portrait at the Eiffel Tower
Me and my umbrella
When a fit 20-something male decides to move fast, it can be quite a fast pace.  We basically ran what google maps claims is only 2.4 km (Personally, I think google might be wrong - it seemed like much farther).

Then we looked for puddles and waited for the rain to stop.  

Food Stand near Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower in different puddle with raindrops

The wait was made much nicer by eating crepes from the now very uncrowded concession stand near a carousel.   
(At least I ate crepes.  Nathan ate the kind of lunch a 20-something eats after a delayed lunch and running for a half an hour. So, maybe two sandwiches, a couple of snacks, then crepes...)

Food Stand near Eiffel Tower
Food Stand near Eiffel Tower

Gray and rainy doesn't necessarily bring me down, in fact it can be sometimes quite nice.  Even if your shoes are soaking wet.  (The vendors and crowds near the Eiffel Tower must melt in the rain - they seemed to disappear, especially the vendors.)
Decorative Syrup Flavor containers
Decorative flavoring containers at the food stand

We people watched as we waited - the wedding couple below and their photographer were fun to watch as they tried to ignore the rain as well.

Eiffel Tower Reflected in Puddle by Jeanne Selep
Wedding Couple at the Eiffel Tower

I might not have achieved my ideal "puddle" shot, but I love the memories it brings back.  The size of the "puddle" was mammoth, which somehow seems appropriate for the Eiffel Tower - dwarfing the cars and motorcycles and people with umbrellas.  
(Ideal shot: Eiffel tower lit up at night reflected in the puddle - a goal for next time?)

Eiffel Tower Reflected in Puddle by Jeanne Selep
Eiffel Tower Reflection 2

We had to wait for traffic to stop and the puddle to "settle" between photos, and I never caught a good shot of the cars splashing through the puddle still reflecting the tower, but there still is an energy in the in the photo above, and I love the way the cobblestones show through.

Eiffel Tower Reflected in Puddle by Jeanne Selep
Eiffel Tower Reflection

That evening we met my daughter after her classes, went grocery shopping, and cooked a family meal in her dorm's kitchen, achieving one of her summer goals as well.  Overall, a great day in a beautiful city.

Fun note: Puddle shots are trickier than I thought - you have to find the puddle, the best angle for reflection (that is safe and not in the middle of a road), figure out where to focus, (which basically means what you want to have in focus), and how you want to compose it given the limitations of your lens and the geometry of the distances involved.  If you get too low to the ground, the reflected object becomes squashed. So perhaps I should have considered practicing before I went, but there aren't a lot of Eiffel Towers back home where I live. 


-----
I think about the French people during this Coronavirus pandemic.  I think about the few I met, and the ones that assist and rely on the tourists, which I so enjoyed being.  I think about the beautiful museums, restaurants, and stores, and their staff, and I hope they are healthy, and will come out of this summer doing fine.  

I hope the same for you as well.  May you find great moments in what surely will be the weirdest summer of many people's lives.


Click on the images to see them enlarged.



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I am linking up to these parties:
Poinsettiadr: Classy Flamingos 95 Tue (l Entry 8x)
Mersad photography: Through my Lens (Entry 25)
Our World Tues: Our World (Entry 72r)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 62)
Sharon Wagner: Sharon's Souveniers (Entry 6r)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday (Entry 10)

Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made Tue 8a (Entry na)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 31)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 11)
Jesh studio: All Seasons Tues (Entry 24)
Thistlekeylane: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 1)
Also My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 1)
My Random: Anything Goes 239 (s Entry 42)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 166 (m Entry 20)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed (m Entry closed)
Stonecottageadventures: Tuesday with a twist 370 (l Entry 31)
Lets Add Sprinkles: Keep in Touch Tue 4p (m Entry ??)
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me 456 Tue 7p (Entry 11x)
Girlish Whims: Whims 461 Tues 8:50p (Entry 5)
Applestreetcottage: Party-in-your-pjs (Entry 14)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 386 Wed (l Entry x of x)
Chas crazy creations: To grandmas house 194 Wed 4p (m Entry 67)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 258 Wed 6p (Entry 18)                             I was featured here!
Imparting grace: Grace at home 381 (Entry 10)
Artsy mama: Artsy party 294 Th 7a (Entry 22 of 70)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 6a (Entry x of x)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 377 Th 8a (L Entry 18)
Eclectic Red Barn: Thurs Favorite Things Th 7a (Entry 32)
Also KatherinesCorner: Th 7a (Entry 32)
Also Follow the yellow brick: Th 7a (Entry 32)

Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 225 Th 4p (Entry 80)
Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 223 Th 8p (L Entry 7 of 89)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry 2 of 102)
The Painted Hinge: Embrace your Style 156 (L Entry 11)
Petals pies + otherwise: Handmade Weekly Fri (s Entry 1 of 76)
Firemanswife: Fri at the fire station 168 (m Entry 12)
Ohmyheartsiegirl: Friday Feature Party 208 (s Entry 136 of 151)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of joe (L Entry 23 of 69)
Shabby art boutique: Create-bake-grow-gather 421 (L Entry x of x)
Busy Being Jennifer: Fri Favorites 82 (m Entry 46)
Our mini family: Our mini party 280 (s Entry x)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri (Entry na)
** Eye Love Knots: Snicker Doodle 337 Sat 5pm (m Entry 99)
Pams Party: Dare to share 419 fri 11p (m Entry 1)
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry 5)
Creative Mom: Craft Schooling Sunday (s Entry x?)
Finding Silver pennies: Silver Pennies 361 Sun 6a (m Entry 91)
Life and Linda: Love your Creativity Sun 3p (l Entry 64)
3 little buttons: Dream Team Linky 206 Sun 6am (Entry 15)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 28)

Faeries and Fauna: Waste not Wed 198 (l Entry x)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Mon 437 (m Entry 77)
My Random: Anything Goes 240 (Entry 11)
Good Random Fun: Good Random Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 43)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry x)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 2-4p (m Entry 42)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 550 3p (l Entry 4 of 33)
Maria Elena: Tue at Our Home 362 Mon 12p? (l Entry 13)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 322 Mon 7p (l Entry 39)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 4p (s Entry 34)


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21 comments:

NCSue said...

That's a really cool photo of the Tower reflected in the puddle! A view I'd never seen before.
Thanks for linking up at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/05/meet-tommy.html

junieper/Jesh said...

The reflection is an awesome shot! Paris was before having my camera time. But still I so vividly the mood in that city. Artwise, very comparable to Amsterdam and Berlin. for some reason it feels different in London:) Relate to your story very much, because when we were there with 2 teens, also a rain broke out. Love the way you described, running with your 20 year old to take the shots. Always more fun and unexpected things happen, when there with someone else:) The account of this precious, and am happy you shared it with All Seasons. For the rest, wish you a dry week:) Jesh

Isabel para ALROMASAR said...

It is a great photo!
Regards

betty-NZ said...

You did a great job, even without practice! Sometimes, the memories outweigh the photo but I think you captured both on your trip!

Your link is a great addition to 'My Corner of the World' this week!

Peabea Scribbles said...

That is one awesome shot and a treasured memory as you say. Awesome looking wedding couple. Even in rain, to be married in Paris how exciting. Sounds like a great day for you and your son and daughter. Thanks for visiting me so I could come visit you. Happy week.+

Penelope Notes said...

Imagine that … actually planning for rain puddle pictures in Paris. You got a great shot and in such an iconic spot. Impressive and lovely! We were there and now I wish it had rained. But at the time, I never expected to find puddles in Paris. :)

Veronica Lee said...

Love the photos of the tower reflected in the puddle!

I can still recall the goosebumps I felt when I caught my first glimpse of the tower!!

Joanne said...

What a beautiful puddle picture!!

Kayni said...

Your photos are well composed. I love puddle shots.

I miss traveling these days, and I'd love to go back to Paris again.

Lady Fi said...

Fabulous!

Birgitta said...

Cool photos!

kwarkito said...

I like these pictures from Paris. It's interesting to see what attracts the attention of passing foreign tourists. I like thoses reflections

Hazel said...

What a gorgeous reflection shot! How nice that the wedding couple didn't seem to mind the rain. I'm a pluviophile so your post appeals to me very much. Thanks for visiting mine.

Powell River Books said...

A unique perspective of an iconic structure. Wonderful captures. - Margy

James said...

Your post make me want to be in Paris. I love the Eiffel Tower reflections. I've been to Paris many times but I don't think I have any reflections of The Eiffel Tower.

Thanks for sharing on Weekend Reflections! :-)

Karen, the next best thing to www.thenextbestthingtomummy.com said...

I have been to Paris twice, hope to visit again one day #anythinggoes@_karendennis

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

That is a fantastic shot - and the way you got there is even better - I too am sure it was more than 2.4 km for you - haha! I also like the flavoring containers shot - that is so whimsical!

April J Harris said...

Your photos are beautiful! The Eiffel Tower is so iconic, and it's really special to see it portrayed as a reflection. I was interested to read about your experience photographing it as well. Thank you so much for sharing and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party.

loopyloulaura said...

We are hoping for a mini break to Paris next year as we never had a honeymoon. I have been up the Eiffel Tower once and would love to go again. Thanks for linking up with #dreamteamlinky

Annette, 3 Little Buttons said...

That's such a fab photo of the Eiffel Tower! As the puddle water isn't completely still I think it captures the idea of Paris being a bustling City. It's really stunning. I hiked up it many years ago now LOL. Thank you for joining us for the #DreamTeamLinky :-)

French Ethereal said...

Jeanne, I am sooo glad you posted your Eiffel Tower Reflections at SYS #258 a couple of weeks ago now as I can feature your post! Your photographs turned out well!!! I've been off-grid with visiting our son, DIL and grandson then having to drive to CA for my father-in-law's memorial. Just getting back to pick up from two week's ago's Share Your Style for tomorrow at SYS #259. Thank you!!

Hugs,
Barb :)