La Grande Arche de la Défense or simply La Grande Arche is just one of the many beautiful modern buildings that make up the la Défense business district in western Paris. This is a sneak preview of a series of photos that I shot there and these photographs will all be included in the next section that I’m adding to my main portfolio website. La Défense de Paris will be the title of this new section and there will be some really interesting images from a very cool part of Paris that most people who visit Paris for pleasure rarely go to see. Anyone who knows me is well aware of my great love of modern design whether it be furniture, buildings, cars or any other type of modern industrial design. So I was in heaven in la Défense when I was doing this shoot, I had all kinds of crazy weather from insanely thick pea soup fog in the morning, torrential rain, ominously cloudy skies and clear blue skies both day and night so that made it even more fun to get all the different kinds lighting in the photos.
During the Christmas season the main courtyard or le Parvis de la Défense is home to the Paris Christmas Market, with over 10 000 square meters of merchant stalls that are adorned with festive lights. On a cold day it’s great to walk around in there and smell all the comfort food that is cooking. You can get everything from your choice of sausage, paella, creole dishes, crepes, bisques, mulled wine and waffles. The merchants sell crafts of all sorts along with a ton of gadgety junk that are impulse buys. I mean come on, who needs a solar powered set of barbells or the all in one picnic basket, lawnmower, dog washer? Now I see why they sell so much mulled wine ;^)
I have many more photos from la Défense to show you, so stay tuned. If you like what you’re seeing I hope that you’ll take the time to share the blog posts with friends on Facebook, Twitter or any of the other social media services you use by clicking the buttons below the posts, it’s quick and easy. You can also join me on my Facebook page, Twitter or Linked In by clicking on their respective buttons on the left of your screen.
It’s Friday… Have a great week end!
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Wow. It makes me wish I was there again. Haven’t been there in 11 years. I love the little flecks of orange on the various buildings.
This is a beautiful shot. I was in Paris years ago and could see it in the distance, but didn’t have a chance to see it up close.
Thank you both, I think the whole la Défense area is a visual treat. Now, I’d like to see Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong!
Been to paris several times and never seen this building…yet, nice angle.
— What kinda building is this !???