France Travel Guides for Photographers - Paris + Provence

Paris Street Photography Locations: A Quick Guide to Photogenic Spots

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 05:07:31 +0000

Your Quick Guide to Street Photography in Paris Paris street photography opportunities blend architecture with haute couture, which, if you say together quite fast in my Australian accent, sounds quite funny. But you didn’t come here for jokes, you came here to find where to go for the best street photography in Paris. With its vibrant street scapes, timeless architecture, and the ever-present fusion of history and modernity, Paris is a muse for those keen to capture daily life. Street photography in Paris is more than just an activity, it’s wandering with your camera through a city that has inspired artists, writers, and creators for centuries. As we delve into the heart of Parisian street photography, this guide aims to uncover some of the most photogenic spots to visit. The charm of Paris lies not only in its iconic landmarks, especially with crazy high numbers of tourists all heading for the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, but also in the fleeting moments and everyday interactions that occur within its historic streets and lively neighbourhoods. From the quaint alleys of Montmartre, echoing the steps of artistic giants, to the waterside ambience of the Canal Saint-Martin, each location offers a unique...

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Paris Photography Locations – A Guide to the Best Paris Photo Spots

Lisa Michele Burns — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 02:00:20 +0000

A Photographer’s Guide to Paris Where to take beautiful pictures in Paris Paris evokes a feeling of wonder. Avenues exude French character; monuments portray elegance with gothic architecture, not to mention the Parisian rooftops, cafes and gardens. Photographing Paris is definitely a journey through time and you’ll want to visit famous icons and unique locations to secure the best view possible of this incredible city. What started out as my top five locations soon developed into more of a guide to the incredible sights and hidden gems you can photograph around the French capital. It’s definitely too hard to narrow this list down any further so be sure to give yourself a few days to explore all that this beautiful city has to offer. Below you will find a list of the best photography locations in Paris alongside a collection of images I’ve personally taken at each one. ** Paris Photography Location Map: Scroll to the bottom of this guide for a Google Map with a suggested walking route + all Paris photography locations mapped out for your next visit to this gorgeous city. There’s also a handy little section with links to other photogenic regions in France! eBook Announcement –...

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Perspectives: 14 Places to take Eiffel Tower Photos

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 01:47:23 +0000

Paris Photography: Eiffel Tower Photos Where to take the best Eiffel Tower Pictures… Paris is somewhere that always manages to sparkle no matter how many times you photograph it. It’s one of those fascinating cities that feels like it’s constantly changing even though it remains in the same beautiful historic state and the Eiffel Tower is one of those unique icons that never gets old, it is simply spectacular. Every visit to Paris offers a new chance to see the city and all of its charms from a new angle, in a different light or even with fresh eyes. When it comes to photography locations in Paris, there’s so many to list that it would take a collection of encyclopedia’s to really cover them all. Is it just me that still thinks encyclopedias are cool? Anyway, I published a guide to the best Paris photo spots two years ago and it’s one of the most popular articles on The Wandering Lens. This time I want to delve a little deeper into fourteen of my favourite perspectives you can take photos of the Eiffel Tower, sharing a few places that offer great views of this mighty icon. A little tip –...

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14 Photogenic Experiences in Provence, France

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 03 May 2019 12:50:17 +0000

Travel in France – Photo spots + Experiences in Provence From the shores of the Mediterranean to the peaks of the alps, France is filled with photogenic natural wonders. When moving to France over two years ago, I had envisioned the atmospheric fresh food markets, the cute villages with colourful window shutters and surviving on a diet of croissants. Let’s just say I was a little blinded by the Hollywood version of living in France, the joie de vivre of all things French surrounding me. To my surprise there is all the movie magic and so much more to France, especially if you’re keen to explore it with your camera. Oh, and don’t worry, there’s still croissants…lots of them, this part is true. The landscapes, the lifestyle, hidden caves, labyrinth like city streets and even islands. Exploring France over a period of two years was like unraveling little chocolate wrappers one by one. Not that I’m someone who eats chocolate by the piece…everyone does blocks right? I was based in a little old apartment in the historic town centre of Aix-en-Provence, although I dreamt of staying in a luxury villa in southern France. When driving through the countryside in Provence...

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20 Photos of Paris – The Left Bank + Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 04:01:56 +0000

Step into the streets where boutiques blend with galleries, museums and national monuments, the Left Bank of Paris… Walking in Paris along the left bank of the Seine feels a little like floating on air…or cobblestones in this case. The atmosphere makes you want to do a little twirl in the street, maybe that’s just me though and I’ve seen Midnight in Paris too many times? Nonetheless, it’s fashionable, historic and even if you’re in full tourist mode with a camera slung over your shoulder and comfy shoes, it’s somewhere you can wander within an artistic community and feel inspired. When photographing Paris, the left bank (La Rive Gauche) is somewhere you need to see, offering an insight into the 5th, 6th and 7th arrondissements, plus the 13th, 14th and 15th if you wish to explore a little further. For reference, the Eiffel Tower is located in 7th and you’ll also find Les Invalides, Musee d’Orsay, Luxembourg Gardens and Tour Montparnasse which offers one of the best views in Paris. Starting from Pont des Coeurs near Notre Dame, take a wander through the alleys of Saint-Michel, working your way towards Place Saint-Sulpice. You’ll stroll past photogenic cafes, street scenes and...

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Where + When to Photograph Lavender Fields in Provence

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 00:42:20 +0000

The Provence lavender fields are a photogenic landscape you need to visit this summer! Rolling hills of purple lavender stretch into the distance contrasting with wheat and sunflower fields that make photographers go gaga. It’s the kind of scenery that’s almost addictive to capture; every little patch of lavender seems more photogenic than the next, each sprig more plentiful and every changing hour produces a more beautiful light. Knowing when to visit to photograph the lavender is essential to planning a successful photography mission because you don’t want to arrive in August and find fields of dirt…it’s really not that fun. Of course there are still all of the beautiful medieval villages of Provence however if you time it right you can see all of them PLUS lavender, a combination that will keep your camera clicking all day long. If you’d prefer to skip scrolling, ditch the ads and download a 48 page PDF to take with you while exploring Provence, I’ve published a Guide to Photographing the Villages and Lavender Fields of Provence…Hooray!! Complete with photo tips, day trip ideas and itineraries of where to photograph and when. When to visit Provence for Lavender Fields… Each year the season...

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Provence Lavender Fields – A Photographer’s Guide to the Lavender Fields of Valensole

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 22:00:19 +0000

Provence Lavender Fields – The Best Locations to visit on the Valensole Plateau… Want to skip through purple fields of Provence lavender as bees buzz happily around you and the warm summer sunshine lights up the sky above? The Provence region of France is glowing in the summertime so if you’re planning a trip to Europe this summer, be sure to include a little of this gorgeous region in your itinerary. From mid June to mid July, you can witness the lavender at full bloom meaning rows of purple as far as you can see, rolling over hills and into the sunset. People flock from all corners of the world to experience the magic of Provence during the summer months with lavender being just one of the many draw cards. You’ll find fresh food markets in medieval villages, the crystal clear seas of the Mediterranean and about a 99% chance of sunny skies! If your sole desire is to see the beauty of the lavender fields then, I’ve got you covered with this guide to Valensole, the best area in my opinion to photograph the fields. In order to get a great photograph you’ll need a car to zip around...

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50 Photos: A Photographic Journey along The Western Front

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:30:22 +0000

At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them. It’s an ode read aloud every April 25th, in commemoration of ANZAC Day and the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives during World War I. A statement that for some reason sticks with me more than anything else. Every time it’s read, I think of how many families never saw their loved ones return from battlefields so far from home. How many will always remember the sacrifice, courage, bravery and resilience displayed in battlefields a world away from our Aussie shores. Today, as a way of remembering and researching family history, many Australians make pilgrimages to La Somme region in France where Australian soldiers fought some of the most significant battles of World War I. The region, more widely known as the Western Front stretches some 200km from Villers-Bretonneux in France to Ypres in Belgium. “Of the 295,000 Australians who served on the Western front, more than 46,000 died and more than 130,000 Australians were wounded. The Western Front fatalities amount to 75% of the approximately 60,000 Australians who died in the First World War.” – Figures from Department of Veterans Affairs, Australia. It’s...

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Behind the Lens – The Historic Discovery of Vignacourt Photographs

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 09:07:35 +0000

[hygge_custom_banner title=”Behind the Lens” description=”The Historic Discovery of Vignacourt Photographs” image=”https://www.thewanderinglens.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Vignacourt-Photographs-08.jpg|1200|800″] an attic with crumbling floor boards and cracking walls lay untouched for years in vignacourt, france. Vignacourt, France [hygge_icon icon=”flag”]Coordinates – 50.0123° N, 2.1973° E Sunlight peeked through the cobwebs on occasion, but little did anyone realise that this attic was hiding one of the greatest collections of war photographs yet to be discovered. A wooden chest resting in the attic was revealed in 2011 to be housing over 3000 glass negative photography plates, each one depicting a side of World War I few had ever witnessed. Many soldiers were billeted to local families and within the images lies an eerie happiness and relief for it’s believed for many to be their final photographs… Capturing soldiers smiling, seemingly joking with comrades and posing with local children, the Thuillier Collection is such a striking series of images. Providing another insight into the harrowing campaign of the Western Front, the images also offer a rare glimpse into the personalities of the brave men who fought in the Somme. Many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice. Taken when soldiers were on rotation leave from the Western Front, the images were captured...

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Landscape Highlights of the Highest Road in France

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 05:26:47 +0000

The Col de la Bonette Coordinates – 44.3216° N, 6.8069° E I’ll confess, I didn’t actually realise we were driving on the highest paved road in France until we were nearly at the very top. Our old car was struggling more than usual, a weird puttering and grinding sound started at about 1500m in elevation and mountain peaks were surrounding us in all directions. Concerned about the noises coming from under the bonnet, we decided that if our car was going to have its last drive, it may as well be here, on the Col de la Bonette. Also, I wanted photos at the top! Winding its way through the landscapes of Mercantour National Park, The Col de la Bonette runs between Jausiers and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée in the French Alps. It’s the highest paved road in France and the most accessible in Europe (fourth overall in height) but when judged on whether or not it’s a pass, loop road or dead end, it drops down to the seventh highest in Europe. If however the scenic loop road at the summit was to be included as the Col de la Bonette, it then officially takes the title of the highest road in...

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Photographing the French Alps of Briançon in Summer

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 22:42:15 +0000

Once the snow melts and summer arrives the landscapes and alpine scenery around Briançon flourish. If you’re planning a visit to France this year, save a little time in your itinerary for a visit to the French Alps. You don’t have to wait for the winter and if you’re as “great” at skiing as I am, summer is probably a better choice anyway! The region around Briançon is mountainous and filled with photography opportunities if you’re keen to jump on a ski lift and go for a hike. The town itself is the highest in France at an altitude of 1,326m and has medieval castles perched on surrounding peaks. Take a peek at some of the best spots to visit for capturing landscape photos of the alps in the warmer months Below is a map you can open in Google Maps to plan your own journey… Col de la Pisse – Serre Chevalier Take the ski lift from Serre Chevalier station to the highest point and you’ll have your camera out within 60 seconds. The views from the station hut are jaw dropping but…a hike even further will ensure you’re amongst it to witness even more alpine landscapes. A 1-2hr hike...

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Hiking Saint-Véran and Lac Miroir, France

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 21:27:19 +0000

Queyras National Park – Hautes-Alpes Region, France There’s something about being in the mountains that lets your mind relax and creativity reign. Sure it could be the altitude making you a little loopy but I think it’s got a lot to do with the fresh air and those photogenic peaks that beg to be gazed upon. I recently visited the Parc naturel régional du Queyras in the Hautes-Alpes region of France for some outdoor adventures. Of course my camera and Clement (my partner) came along too. The Queyras region is actually home to Saint-Véran which is officially Europe’s highest village perched at 2042m. Visiting in summer the village felt bizarrely warm and the lack of snow made me question it’s altitude but having seen photos of this village in winter, it’s a total snow globe come to life! Saint-Véran – Europe’s Highest Village Throughout the village of Saint-Véran are a series of five hamlets, each sectioned off centuries ago to ensure there was a dedicated fountain and fire pump in case of fire. Within the hamlets are wooden chalets known as ‘Fustes’, a traditional method of building using tree trunks and logs. The wooden chalets create a fairytale like atmosphere...

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