As we’ll be heading back to Paris next spring for our second workshop here, we thought we’d share one of our favorite modern architecture stops, the Frank Gehry designed Fondation Louis Vuitton. We’ll be spending quite a bit of time exploring both the exterior and interior of this museum. Beginning outside you see the billowing “sails” that are common in his designs. The reflecting pool is a great place to start, even on a cloudy day…black and white makes for a better choice under these weather conditions and the calm water allows for a nice symmetrical perspective of the building.

However, let’s hope for the great weather we had on our last visit…blue skies and sunshine! It really shows off the transparency of the building and Gerhy’s homage to the 19th-century glass garden buildings common in Paris. Just think of the Grand Palais. Below are three details of the sails, with the last shot reflecting the surrounding neighborhood.

Using an even longer lens you can go really abstract and play with the overlap and reflections of the building onto itself in the sails, resembling a double exposure.

Or you can go a bit wider and use the surrounding glass wall to pull your eye into the frame and structure.

Sunbursts also add a nice effect. As does standing nearby and shooting wide and up to emphasize the magnitude of this building.

Once inside there are multiple levels to explore. A favorite area is the lower level which has this fantastic reflecting pool with yellow lights and lots of angles and mirrors. So much geometry and ways to play with triangles, leading lines, patterns, layering and framing in one space!

You can go even tighter for some interesting detail shots here as well.

The top floor is another favorite area. You can get glimpses of La Defense and the surrounding neighborhoods through the sails, which offer great ways to frame these areas.

Or check out the stairs, looking up and looking down….leading lines and layers abound.

We’ll end with a few abstracts of the “icebergs” and stairway.

We just opened up registration for Paris, stop by here for all the details and we hope you’ll join us in exploring so much in this one-of-a-kind city!