The last couple of months have been full of workshops! From Paris & Chicago with Photography Unfolded to private workshops in Chicago and a 3-day workshop with the Chicago Botanic Gardens (days 1&2, day 3). I have A LOT of editing to catch up on! Today I’ll share day 1 of 4 from Paris.
We started our day in the 13th arrondissement with some of the city’s modern architecture. Our first stop is the colorful 11 Quai d’Austerlitz. Its balconies can range from yellow and green to blue and purple depending on how the light hits it. We lucked out with some great blue skies and sunshine on this visit. Quite different from January’s scouting trip! And, while the colors are fun, it’s also great in black and white to emphasize the geometry and shadowplay of the building.



Also, depending on how strong the light is the colors can range from intense to subtle.


A short walk from here is one of my favorite stops, BEOPEN, a new office building also in the 13th arrondissement. It was a favorite of a lot of our students too.
I’m embarrassed to admit the excessive number of photos I shot and edited of this one, lol. Here is just a tiny fraction of those. If you want to be overwhelmed you can see all from this visit and January’s scouting stop.
It’s hard to stop playing with all the ways the light interacts with the undulating aluminum tubes and springs of the facade. It’s a fun one!








We then stopped by Cité de la Mode et du Design for a little photography and lunch. This is a very tough one to shoot with the best area being the staircase.

A short bus ride later and we were in the 5th arrondissement for some older, more historic architecture. First, the beautiful Saint-Étienne-du-Mont church. There are two great spiral staircases on each side of the altar. A little detail from its underside.

The arches are hard to pass up in places like this.

That light!

The stained glass, arches, and pillars are so beautiful, I had to get this wide, symmetrical lookup of this amazing space!

Just next door is the Panthéon. Originally a church but now a mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens. The ceiling and domes are incredible.

Who doesn’t love a good spiral staircase?!

And a little lookup just outside.

After a failed attempt to shoot from the Institut du Monde Arabe because of a private event, we had a nice, long dinner before heading across the street to shoot sunset and blue hour from Pont de l’Archevêché and Pont de la Tournelle. As you can see, nice views of Notre Dame.


Having a little fun zooming my lens during a long exposure.
I’ll be following this post with the other 3 days soon. To see everything from the workshop you can head over here. Also, stay tuned over at Photography Unfolded for the opening of our next workshop in Paris: June 6-9, 2019!!!