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Home → Tours and Travel

Photographing Gloomy Paris

By Talha Najeeb 50 Comments
Published On May 1, 2018

Paris is the most beautiful city on Earth. Now I can see how that statement may be controversial, so to those who disagree, I concede the following: Paris is the most beautiful city on Earth. With that off my chest, I should also clarify that the word ‘gloomy’ here is used in the context of weather only. Paris is always alive, always upbeat. But in the winter months, it can be gray, cloudy and rainy and it can stay like that for many many days. In the absence of clear blue or partly cloudy skies, taking interesting cityscapes becomes challenging. In this essay, I discuss some of ways I tried to overcome these challenges and come up with (what I hope are) interesting shots.

I started at the Place du Trocadero, which on account being directly across from the Eiffel Tower and at a slight elevation, is an obvious choice for photography. I arrived there at around sunset, with the forecast for the clouds breaking and the possibility of some color and drama. Alas, the forecast was wrong.

I improvised by doing an unconventional composition that includes the tower but focuses on some of the beautiful Parisian architecture around it.

Paris Eiffel Tower
NIKON D810 + 70-200mm f/4 @ 200mm, ISO 100, 1/25, f/8.0

I did another, slightly different take, that reminded me of travel brochures and guide book covers.

leaning tower
NIKON D810 + 70-200mm f/4 @ 130mm, ISO 100, 1/30, f/8.0

Then I started walking around hoping to find interesting subjects with the tower in the background. This vintage Renault seemed perfect. In processing, I experimented with split toning and playing with the tone curve to give the shot a slightly faded, aged look.

pardon
NIKON D810 + 24-120mm f/4 @ 24mm, ISO 320, 1/125, f/8.0

The Trocadero offers sweeping views of the city.  A photographer does not have to limit themselves to the Eiffel Tower.

paris
NIKON D810 + 70-200mm f/4 @ 200mm, ISO 100, 1/50, f/8.0

Another great way to capture interesting photos is on and around the various bridges that connect the two banks of the city separated by the river Seine.

Paris Bridge
Pont de Bir-Hakeim
NIKON D810 + 35mm f/1.8 @ 35mm, ISO 320, 1/80, f/5.6
cold
Pont d’lena — NIKON D810 + 24-120mm f/4 @ 28mm, ISO 160, 1/80, f/8.0

Even if cityscape opportunities are limited, there are always the streets of Paris, brimming with interesting scenes and characters.

jetlag
GR II + GR LENS @ 18.3mm, ISO 800, 1/2500, f/2.8

I saw this gentleman playing the Accordion behind the Sacre Coeur in Montparnasse.

music
GR II + GR LENS @ 18.3mm, ISO 800, 1/500, f/2.8

If nothing else, I would visit Paris just for the Patisseries. No one makes pastries and sweets like the French.

not starbucks
GR II + GR LENS @ 18.3mm, ISO 800, 1/1000, f/2.8

Here’s a quintessential Parisian view, taken from steps behind the Sacre Coeur.

steps
GR II + GR LENS @ 18.3mm, ISO 800, 1/350, f/2.8

The rest of the images are from around the Latin Quarter, taken as dusk. I was able to overcome some of the gloom either by processing in B&W or waiting for the city lights to come on and add some life to the images.

Here’s one of the crowds headed towards the Institut de France on the Pont des Arts.

Institut de France
NIKON D810 + 24-120mm f/4 @ 120mm, ISO 8000, 1/125, f/4.0

Another image from the Pont des Arts, this time of Pont Neuf (Paris’s famous skyscraper, the Montmartre is visible in the back).

cest bon, merci
NIKON D810 + 24-120mm f/4 @ 24mm, ISO 125, 1/50, f/4.0

Same view, different perspective. This time the Notre Dame de Paris can be seen in the back.

un de plus
NIKON D810 + 24-120mm f/4 @ 100mm, ISO 64, 1/25, f/4.0
englightened
One of the entrances of the Louvre — NIKON D810 + 24-120mm f/4 @ 82mm, ISO 10000, 1/100, f/4.0

Yet another shot of Pont Neuf as seen from Pont des Artes.

the Latin Quarter
NIKON D810 + 24-120mm f/4 @ 86mm, ISO 64, 16/10, f/8.0

To conclude, I made the most of my photography in cloudy, gloomy Paris by doing unconventional compositions, looking for interesting subjects, playing with effects, incorporating street scenes and processing in B&W. I hope that this will be helpful to others who find themselves in this beautiful city (or any city for that matter) in similar, uninspiring weather conditions. Happy shooting!

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Filed Under: Tours and Travel Tagged With: Guest Posts, Travel, Travel Photography, Paris, France

About Talha Najeeb

Talha Najeeb is a self-taught landscape, travel and street photographer. Please visit his website and his Flickr page to see more of his work.

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Alan Mosley
Alan Mosley
May 7, 2018 7:39 pm

‘Most beautiful city on earth’? I think Venice might beg to differ…

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Henno Geraedts
Henno Geraedts
May 3, 2018 10:21 pm

I used to live there – used a Roleiflex 6×6 in those days. Marvelous and unique city and some of your pictures capture it very nicely. Thx for sharing.

And yes, Paris can be gloomy in the dark months – in French “maussade” or “tristounet” come to mind.

But not at heart. And then, of course, comes springtime in Paris…..

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Lukasz
Lukasz
May 3, 2018 4:53 am

Nice article Talha. I spent there few days and remember the city revelas its full magic at night, totally new place at night, at least that’s my experience. Best, Lukasz

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S. Confiture
S. Confiture
May 2, 2018 4:37 pm

It shows the limitations of relying on a dictionary. An English speaker knows better than a dictionary just what a ‘gloomy’ city is. And yes, it is a description of nearly any European city in winter and not an insult.

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Anthony
Anthony
Reply to  S. Confiture
May 3, 2018 2:58 am

As a Parisian, I have to agree : Paris is gloomy in winter !

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Elaine Lansdown
Elaine Lansdown
Member
May 2, 2018 5:39 am

Spencer,
You have now made the opening two sentences make no sense.

“Paris is the most beautiful city on Earth. Now I can see how that statement may be controversial, so to those who disagree, I concede the following: Paris is the most beautiful city on Earth.”

It is good thing to be diplomatic and try to make everybody happy, but not at the expense of truth, honesty or common sense. And it is never good policy to give in to trolls. It only encourages them and makes them worse.

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Talha Najeeb
Talha Najeeb
Author
Reply to  Elaine Lansdown
May 2, 2018 11:29 am

Elaine, it’s my bad. That’s how I wrote it. Was trying to convey my love for Paris but backfired. And troll or no troll, the original opening (Paris is the most gloomy city) was kind of off-putting. Anyway, I think most people got what I was trying to say and we all got to look at some photos so no harm / no foul.

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Anthony
Anthony
May 2, 2018 3:47 am

Nice article ! Thanks. Just a little mistake : Sacre Coeur is not in Montparnasse but in Montmartre !

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Talha Najeeb
Talha Najeeb
Author
Reply to  Anthony
May 2, 2018 11:25 am

Yes, thanks. I realized that as soon as someone pointed out my other Montparnasse mistake. Don’t want to misinform readers but it is true, whether it is Montmartre or Montparnasse, you get stunning views of Paris.

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Howard
Howard
May 1, 2018 1:42 pm

I would love to see all of these images in b&w which would have imparted or conveyed that “gloomy” appeal.

I love Paris and London, but they are second to my hometown of Washington, DC!

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Alain
Alain
May 1, 2018 12:50 pm

I really love some of your photos, and yes, during winter there is time when you don’t see the sky for days.

NB: also, the tower in the background is Jussieu (the university) not Montparnasse.
“Another image from the Pont des Arts, this time of Pont Neuf (Paris’s famous skyscraper, the Montmartre is visible in the back).”

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Talha
Talha
Reply to  Alain
May 1, 2018 1:13 pm

Thanks and good catch, it is Jussieu.

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michael butler
michael butler
May 1, 2018 11:40 am

Very nice photos of Paris, thank you. I just returned from a very gloomy trip to the coast of Washington and even gloomier visit to the Oregon coast where driving with wipers on high speed was like driving through a car wash. So I have a much greater appreciation of those who take photographs in gloomy weather.

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Talha
Talha
Reply to  michael butler
May 1, 2018 11:47 am

Haha. Hope some of that moisture can make it’s way down to SoCal, we can always use some ..

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John Klassen
John Klassen
May 1, 2018 11:09 am

Wow!, Some really stunning photographs. Unfortunately, my images of Paris were not quite as dramatic even on sunny days. Maybe next time.

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Reply
Talha
Talha
Reply to  John Klassen
May 1, 2018 11:45 am

Thanks and better luck next time

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