Wonderful Windows

I've written about Paris doors before (Doors Galore). Lately I've become preoccupied with windows. Their different shapes, the reflections they create, their surround, their positioning within the facade of the building. Once you start looking, you realise how many variations there are and how much there is to see.

Here is a fairly typical Parisian facade. Only the windows on the lower floor have shutters. I wonder why?

The next road along, an apartment building catches the soft morning light. Shutters on all floors.

A cat watches the world go by from her window.

In the south of France, most windows have shutters. Everything is done to keep out the heat from the sun. Here are some shuttered windows in Arles.

Open.

Closed.

Trompe-l'œil.

And ... I'm not even sure what this is about. 

In Paris there are many huge north facing windows, designed to get as much light into the building. This amazing apartment block in the 14th arrondissement was designed by architect André Arfidson and ceramicist Alexandre Bigot.

Here is another beautiful glazed window on Avenue Junot in Montmartre.

Many Parisian windows at ground level have security bars. Here is a plain one. A street artist has felt the need to liven it up.



Another plain set of bars. This time it's the sun that has livened it up.



Curly bars.

French windows with elaborate metalwork balconies completely transform the way this apartment block in the 12th arrondissement looks when they catch the sun.

The way light reflects off windows can change the way they look. Here are some fiery windows at dusk.

Some windows detached from their frames are for sale at the Marché Saint Ouen. Lampposts and their shadows are reflected.

A stained glass window in the Église Saint Pierre diffuses the light from outside into the cool low lit church.

The dormer windows of Chateau de Versailles are some of the most ostentatious widows I've ever seen!

And finally, some bespoke burglar bars on a window in Montmartre. Even Spiderman is intrigued by these.

Spring Shadows

Chilly mornings with the sun struggling to burst through hazy (polluted) skies. But when it does there are shadows. Beautiful, crisp shadows.

A lamppost in Parc de la Turlure just behind the Sacré Coeur.

Another lamppost on place Ravignan.

Rue Caulaincourt.

Saint Patrick's day shadow bunting outside Corcoran's Sacré Cœur Irish pub.

Rue Gabrielle.





Le bateau Lavoir, Place Ravignan.



Rue Burq.

And then moving out of our neighbourhood, a tree on the roof terrace of the Louis Vuitton Foundation. 

And my favourite shadow so far this spring.

White Light and Crisp Shadows

It's been a while since I did a 'morning stroll' post. Given the cloudless skies we've been having lately I thought it was about time I went and savoured the beautiful neighbourhood where we live. White autumnal light and crisp shadows.

The new Paris street bins give a lovely shadow.

The lampposts too.

I love this corner in Montmartre, rue de l'Armée d'Orient, an 'L' shaped road that cuts a corner off the higher section of rue Lepic. This art deco house with the glazed veranda to the left is beautiful but looks like it needs some renovation work.

This view at the very top of rue Lepic never fails to make me stop in my tracks. 

The lampposts were catching the sun and glowing.

An orange long legged monster reached out for the lamppost.

Once at the top of the hill Paris presented herself. Hazy shades of smoky grey. Looking east towards the 20th arrondissement. 

Walking down the stairs in front of the Sacré Cœur these flowers caught my eye.

I looked back up towards the Basilica. The haze had lifted and the sky was an intense blue.

Down at the bottom of the stairs I passed the manège and watched the small white horse gambling through the trees.

Before the final flight of stairs I paused to take this photo, I was in the perfect spot to capture the facade straight on.

Finally I headed towards le Boulevard de Rochechouart, I glanced back one more time. 

More 'morning stroll' posts can be found here.

Magical Monday - A Night Cycle

Our 9 year old son helped me with this one.

Every Monday, Magical Monday, I post a photo that is hopefully puzzling, fantastical, unexpected or just plain daft. I played a little with the contrast for this photo, otherwise all done with props.

More photos from the Magical Mondays series can be found here.

Magical Monday - A Leaping Shadow

Every Monday, Magical Monday, I post a photo that is hopefully puzzling, fantastical, unexpected or just plain daft.

More photos from the Magical Mondays series can be found here.

A Quayside Walk

For the first time in ten years I am alone in Paris for five days. No kids. No Other Half. It feels a little odd and very quiet, but okay. I headed out yesterday afternoon, without a plan. As I walked up Rue Joseph de Maistre the 95 bus drew up at the bus stop I was walking past. I decided to hop on and head towards the river. Sometimes when I take photographs I am looking for a particular theme to capture. Sometimes I have no particular idea in mind. Yesterday was like this, I was waiting to be inspired. I got off the bus at the Louvre and headed down towards the river. It had been grey and dull all morning but when I reached the river the sun was coming out. The light was beautiful, fresh and crisp.

Here is a photo taken from the quai by the Musée d'Orsay, looking towards the Louvre and the Quai des Tuileries.

Down on the Quai des Tuileries that runs along the Rive Droite the water was lapping over the edges of the walkway.

I love the different textures of stone and iron, enhanced by the low winter sun.

The shadows were so sharp. The colours so soft, gentle and soothing. 

A crow caught my attention, though it was never still for more than a few seconds and I had to be quick.

This cat shadow was easier to capture!


More photographs from my stroll can be found on my Flickr account, here (thumbnails) and here (slideshow).