Lights after rain on Place Vendôme,Paris, a photo from Ile-de-France, North

Photographer's Note

Lights after rain on Place Vendôme, Paris

Place Vendôme, a prestigious square located in the first arrondissement, was created as a monument to the glory of the armies of Louis XIV, the Sun King.

History and Architecture of the Square

Place Vendôme (Vendome Square) was laid out in 1702. Architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, who built Versailles, had originally purchased the land where it sits in hopes of making some money in real estate.
But when the venture was unsuccessful, the land was given to the King's minister of Finance, who proposed the public square. Appearing octagonal in shape, the square was to be built near the site formerly occupied by the palace of the First Duke of Vendome.

Later, when the land passed from the minister to King Louis XIV, Mansart re-entered the picture and was drafted to create the design for the square meant to rival the Place des Vosges, which had a statue of the king's predecessor - Louis XIII - at its center. Similar to the Place des Vosges, Mansard made all the buildings on the square identical, with arched ground floors and tall-windowed second floors. Ornamental pillars were placed between each set of windows.

Place Vendôme was originally known as Place des Conquêtes (Conquests Square) but was later renamed to Place Louis le Grand (Louis the Great Square) when things weren’t going so well for Louis’ armies. However, a statue of the king was indeed erected in the square and remained there for about a hundred years until it was torn down in 1792, during the French Revolution.

Colonne d'Austerlitz

The column you will find today in the center of the square was erected by Napoleon as the Colonne d'Austerlitz. The 44 meter tall column (144 ft) is modeled after Rome’s Trajan’s Column. It was built to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz in 1805, one of Napoleon’s greatest. The column’s continuous ribbon of bas-relief bronze plates by the sculptor Pierre-Nolasque Bergeret were made from 1200 cannons taken from the combined armies of Russia and Austria during that battle.

Later, the statue of the emperor at the top of the column was removed and the bronze melted down to provide the bronze for the recast of the equestrian statue of Henri IV on the Pont Neuf. The statue that is seen today was erected by Napoleon III and depicts Napoleon I as a Roman emperor.

Place Vendôme in Modern Times

The buildings on Place Vendôme serve today as residences as well as retail stores, including those belonging to two famous jewelers and a number of well-known dress designers. The very expensive Hotel Ritz and Hotel Vendôme are also located on the square.
(Source: avienoncities.com)

Graal, besnard, mirosu, rmajum, bona, lakshmip1949, kathryn_weir, jlbrthnn, Sonata11, siamesa, bukitgolfb301, CLODO, Cricri has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

siudzi (23891) 2012-06-28 2:32

Hi George,
The visual effect created by evening lights is outstanding! Love it! Excellent work executed with superb saturation and good light control. TFS.

Regards,
Malgorzata

carlo62 (12610) 2012-06-28 2:46

Ciao George
una foto molto originale per presentare Place Vendome.
Il riconoscimento della piazza è appena accennato, il tutto ruota intorno alle luci riprodotte molto bene che creano un fascino romantico su tutta la foto.
Complimenti
Carlo

Graal (88908) 2012-06-28 2:55

Jó napot George,
nice photo from your archive. Amazing Paris by night. Fine lights and reflections. Good composition. Photo I like.
have a nice day.
Aleksander

maxifred (2415) 2012-06-28 3:09

Hello George,
After rain photography is agreat theme which I like a lot,mostly in this excellent picture.Low shutter speed adds even more interest to this view...
Very nice and well done!
Best regards,
Fred

besnard (48793) 2012-06-28 3:46

Bonjour George
Un très joli cliché nocturne, un format adapté et une bonne gestion de la lumière.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

jemaflor (68943) 2012-06-28 3:53

Hi George,
Very well seen and framed with this fg, interesting lights with golden tone with these reflections on the wet ground.

mirosu (5533) 2012-06-28 4:06

Hi George, marvelous light and light reflections. Excellent deep DOF and very good composition in vertcal format.

Sergiom (39259) 2012-06-28 4:54

Bonjour George,

Du très beau travail. La construction de l'image est impeccable avec ces beaux reflets jaunes sur les pavés à l'avant-plan.

Amicalement

Serge

npecanhuk (53909) 2012-06-28 5:00

Hi George!
Unique and original chosen pov and composition in this very beautiful picture!
Exposure and colors are wonderful too!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

Bluejeans (64239) 2012-06-28 5:04

Ola George ,
Beleza esta tua foto noturna com este chão molhado em tons dourados , muito bonita esta praça com estes candeeiros , bons detalhes e cores, gostei do ângulo de visão , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

rmajum (1077) 2012-06-28 5:16

Hello George,
Nice effect of the reflecting light on the water swept ground, it has amplified.The evening blue hour light does magic. Well managed exposure and natural colours. Well taken,
Ranjan

GiovanniG (1619) 2012-06-28 5:17

Wow George,
A splendid capture so perfectly done! Well done & bravo!
Warmest regards,
GiovanniG

holmertz (26958) 2012-06-28 7:34

Hello György,
Light, shades, colours play the important parts of this photo, instead af the architecture. You used the wet surface and evening light very nicely.
Kind regards,
Gert

mohammad_H (6598) 2012-06-28 9:02

سلام
نمایش و ثبت .نور پردازی به نمای این بنای زیبا بینظیر است
و لحظه ضبط بسیار مناسب
نور و رنگهای طلایی زیبا
عصر بخیر
Hello
View and register. Lighting to the facade of this building is beautiful, unique,
Very good and capture the moment
Beautiful colors and light golden
Good afternoon

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2012-06-28 13:07

Hello George,

Love the shimmering reflection in gold and purple colors. The after effect of rain is superb with the reflections, colors and clarity.

Lakshmi

kathryn_weir (1742) 2012-06-28 13:08

Hello George,
My favorite photo of the day. I love the reflections of light on the wet pavement. The balance and composition are interesting and works really well.
TFT
Kathryn

willperrett (2955) 2012-06-28 14:00

Hello George
The reflected colours in this evening shot are beautiful: the rain has certainly made this image special. The slow shutter speed to streak the headlights is a bonus: I wonder if you saw the car coming... Good work.
Regards
Will

mauro61 (52527) 2012-06-28 14:05

ciao George,
ottimo controllo della luce e bei riflessi dorati che si intrecciano all'architettura.
Ottima la resa
saluti
maurizio

jlbrthnn (79773) 2012-06-28 16:24

Hello George,
The colors are gorgeous. The picture is bright and crisp. A very beautiful and interesting photo. Bravo.
Good night
Cordially
Joël

Sonata11 (28341) 2012-06-28 17:19

Hello George,
Subsequnet beautiful blue hour postcard. The impressive reflection stand out in this picture. Colors, amazing light, sharpness, clarity are fabulous. I like George, your POV. Congratulation.
All the best,
Barbara

siamesa (27449) 2012-06-28 18:17

Boa noite George

It's a marvelous composition. The lights and the wet floor.Very beautiful photo. TFS
Abraços
maria

divail (7227) 2012-06-28 19:55

Bonsoir George,
Les reflets sont très bien rendus sur ces grandes pierres rectangulaires. J'aime la grande place laissée au dallage.
Mes compliments.

Diane

bukitgolfb301 (30067) 2012-06-28 20:34

Hi dear George

Yes another fantastic one! I have a sigh again.
Very very wonderful image, magical color world!
Your high sense and inspiration should be highly appreciated at this time too. Thanks for your sharing with nice shot and have a good day!
Best regards,

Takero from Tokyo

jjcordier (62344) 2012-06-28 22:02

George
De superbes reflets d'or (normal, place Vendôme!)sur ce pavé luisant. Ils éclipsent totalement le haut de l'image.
Amicalement
JJ

CLODO (24726) 2012-06-29 0:00

Hi George

you took the good opportunity of the rain at the blue hour to record the golden reflections on the pavement, with a line which direct the eye on the lamp post and the famous Paris place.
Cheers
CLODO

emka (58152) 2012-06-29 0:01

The view after the rain, with golden reflections in the wet pavement, is fantastic. Wonderful composition, with only lower part of the column, but with amazing light. Superb idea and excellent presentation.

have a nice day

MAlgo

Royaldevon (17791) 2012-06-29 0:38

Good Morning George,

Not only is this a competent night scene but you have conveyed the wonderful effects of light on wet pavements. The main vertical is strongly positioned and has a fine guide line towards it from the f/g.
Well done!

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

COSTANTINO (42746) 2012-06-29 0:55

Hello
fine lights and reflections
shot with great sharpness and lightness
exposures and colors are wonderful
interesting lights with golden tones
splendid capture so perfectly done
regards
Costantino

dkmurphys (36819) 2012-06-29 1:05

Hi Gyorgy,
Very beautiful night capture. I like the reflected lights on the pavement. Well seen!

Daniel

JFS (32153) 2012-06-29 7:43

So sophisticated! As the shops of Vendôme square...Great and creative shot!
Cheers,
Juan

Cricri (86463) 2012-06-29 9:47

Hi George
Magnifique les reflets colorées des éclairages sur le sol de la place a la tombé de la nuit, une note intéressante de la place avec des bâtiments et hôtel riche!!
Belle soirée
cricri

ifege (9440) 2012-06-29 21:21

Beautiful George - great colours on the wet pavement.
cheers
Ian

amaryllis (30149) 2012-06-30 1:46

bonjour Georg
une photo superbe de cette place Vendôme après la pluie qui donne le sol mouillé et luisant, les reflets perceptibles des lumières, un cadrage à la verticale bien adapté
excellente présentation
Juliette

abmdsudi (26281) 2012-07-03 7:55

Hi George
What a gorgeous night scene after rain, splendid shot with fantastic light and delicious colors on the pavement makes a striking overall contrast. Impressive comp in great depth with nice background. The sudden splash of evening quality light after rain does wonder here with spectacular details and sharpness. Excellent shot, Congrats.
Best regards