Friday Postcard: Place de la Concorde

Paris in the spring

Fontaine des Mers, Place de la Concorde, Paris (2019)

Happy Friday!

Today’s postcard is from Paris, where I took a group of photo enthusiasts in the spring of 2019. Sadly, we arrived about a week after the tragic fire at Notre Dame; you could still smell the smoke as we walked by.

Even when we have a planned photo itinerary, I like to offer my clients “independent exploration time.” This is especially true in larger cities, where everyone has their own interests and tastes. The middle of the day isn’t always the best time for prime photography, but you can make it work if you know how. My independent exploration took me to the Place de la Concorde, the largest plaza in Paris. Here is where you’ll find the Luxor obelisk, a gift from Egypt in the 19th century, and two ornate fountains, one of which I’ve photographed here. You can see the obelisk in the background.

There’s a lot more history here than just being a popular tourist destination, of course. The square has been the site of expositions, protest, and yes, German tanks in WWII. Before the current plaza was built, it was here that King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine in January of 1793. Marie Antoinette would be executed here later that year.

Behind the Shot