Warm Winter Colours

At the moment my Instagram feed looks mostly monochrome with pale greys and off-whites if I've taken the photos during the day, or rich reds, yellows and oranges if I've taken the photos at sunrise or sunset. I thought I'd gather together the warm brightly coloured photos I've taken recently to help us through these bleak winter days.

Here we have Paris and the Eiffel Tower, viewed from the road in front of the Sacré-Coeur. What I like most in this photo is the way the lamppost glows despite not being lit up yet.

The Eiffel Tower looks so good at sunset.

And with some winter lace thrown in for good measure it looks even better.

A flock of chimneys.

A lamppost shadow is cast in the low evening sun.

No sun involved here, sometimes you just have to make your own. Tulips and a red wall. 

This glazed facade of an office building in the 15th arrondissement caught my eye. I would be interested to see what it's like being inside this building. 

The grey concrete ceiling in one of UNESCO's main auditoriums was glowing yellow in the artificial light.

And then of course there's always blue-o-clock once the sun has gone down.

I post photographs daily to my Instagram feed here if you're interested in seeing more photos of Paris.

An Artful Washing Line

I came across the work of artists Levalet and Philippe Hérard on Rue Veron in the 18th arrondissement of Paris completely by chance. I had decided to get out at Pigalle Metro station, one stop before my usual stop, Abbesses. The walk home is a little further, but it avoids being squashed up with a gazillion other commuters in a giant Metro lift. I wasn't in the mood for that.

I walked towards home along Rue Veron. The first piece of artwork I noticed was this one.

Then this one ...

I then started to look further and realised that there was a washing line of sorts along the whole length of the street, on both sides.

It was getting dark so I wasn't able to take such good photos, so I went back a few days later on a sunny day and took some more. I love the work of these artists. I love the gentle humour, and poetic nostalgia. I love the attention to detail, the artists have even painted shadows on the wall beneath the images which have been stuck on the walls..

Some saucisson sec anybody?

I think a witch may live at No. 26.

Maybe a ghost lives here, only the shadows can be seen.

An elephant.

A flipper. Why not?

A skate board and a brassiere at No. 23.



False teeth (!!!) and some bloomers.

And a bat, of course.



There was an exhibition of Levalet and Hérard's work at the Joël Knafo Art gallery at 21 Rue Veron. I missed the exhibition which is now finished, but I think the washing line will be around for a while.

Enjoy!

Looking at Light

I've been blogging less lately. I've been busy which is good, busy is definitely good. It's not as if I've stopped taking photographs, I take hundreds of them, my computer hard drive is weighed down with photo megabytes. Taking photos keeps me centred, makes me happy, keeps me looking at the world in a different way, seeing details I might otherwise miss. 

Like this. Winter lace, lace curtains.

And this. A horse's shadow, up by the Sacré Coeur.

Spring is most definitely here, the light in the mornings has changed. A few weeks ago I took this photo early in the morning.

The other day, at about the same time, I took this photo from the same spot. 

Before developing this passion for taking photos I don't think I appreciated the way the light changes at different times of day and throughout the year. Early morning light at this time of year is beautiful, bright, crisp and full of hope.

Rue l'Abreuvoir.

Allée de Brouillards.

Rue Saint Vincent.

Soon there will be leaves on this tree and the Eiffel Tower will be no longer be visible from this point. In the mean time, I'll enjoy the view of La Grande Dame, and take more photos!

I have an Instagram account here where I post photos daily.

I also have a Facebook page - bbonthebrink - if you fancy taking a look, the link is here.

The Sacré Coeur Up Close

I've been living eight minutes walk from the Sacré Coeur for the past 10 years, however the last time I went up to the top was in 1981. 34 years ago! Oh my, that makes me feel so old.

Time to do something about this. Access to the dome is at the west side of the Basilica: 4€ for children and 6€ for grown ups. Given the fantastic view you get from the top I think this is money well spent. 300 steps take you to the top. For me, the physical side of the ascent was fine, I've been living in Montmartre for long enough to have plenty of practice with stairs. The narrowness of the stairs, however, was a little challenging. Claustrophobics beware! As well as those prone to dizziness.

What helps the journey up to the top is the way you pop out at at different levels and get to admire the domes and roofscape 'eye-to-eye'.

Not to mention the gargoyles.

The textures and patterns on the domes are right there for you to enjoy.

I often admire the copper winged statue from ground level. Here I got to see it up close. 

Looking up.

Looking across: a copper lightening conductor.

Looking down: traces of copper, bleed across the roof.

And then of course there are the magnificent views across Paris. Towards La Défense ...

Towards the Eiffel Tower.

What's not to like?

The Sacré Coeur in Green

The celebrating of St. Patrick's Day has well and truly arrived in Paris!

The Colosseum in Rome is apparently green too. 

More information can be found here, on the Irish Toursim website.

Sunrise in Montmartre

One recompense of winter is that you can see the sunrise without getting up at a ludicrous hour. Here are a few photos I took post school drop-off.

A timely pigeon.

Bonjour Paris.

Sunlight moving its way along the facades.

Winter lace.

By the time I got to Place Ravignan the sun was fully up, and the light was still beautiful.