Portraits of Landscapes :) John Brody Photography at JohnBrody.com

Landscape Art? - A Slice of Moonrise Through Jagged Rusty Metal. Having shot two exposures to merge them with the distant landscape in focus, I found this Macro with background bokeh approach to be much more Interesting. A judgment call, but I didn't want just another landscape, so I improvised --- John Brody Photography - JohnBrody.com - JohnBrodyPhotography.com

Sea Reflections of Pelicans Over Sand Bar Fog Bank - Whiffing Spit - Vancouver Island British Columbia --- John Brody Photography - JohnBrody.com - JohnBrodyPhotography.com

Duck Strikes a Pose in a Beam of Sunlight - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

A brownstone near Washington Square in New York City, NY - In the same neighborhood as the Home Studio of Annie Leibovitz - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Something Bright and simple for a change! Is there anyone who's been to Paris and hasn't taken this shot? 😊 I doubt it, but here's another - My simple snapshot of the Eiffel Tower and surrounding grounds... 

Autumn Colored Leaf by the Pond - Simple shot of a backlit leaf with water droplet bokeh in the background. Big image but a tiny leaf, maybe an inch at most. Portrait Orientation - John Brody Photography / JohnBrody.com

Portrait of Light Beams from the Eiffel Tower over Pont des Arts Paris --- More Info FYI - All visitors to Paris take photos of the nightly light show from the Eiffel Tower; I have hundreds :) For some reason this particular image stood out from the rest of my shots. It may be the location, where it's seen over the Pont des Arts Bridge and the d'Orsay Museum (just an FYI, the D'Orsay is the best location other than Amsterdam to see the works of Vincent van Gogh), or simply the blaze of light with an unusually strong glow due to the soft fog of the evening. Whatever the reason, I liked it, so I thought I would share - Portrait Version --- JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Sunset Over Cemetery in Dijon France - I shot this unusual lighting as the sun was setting behind me, getting dark except for a beam of light on the trees. This hilltop path is to the cemetery in Dijon, France, the home of Gustav Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame, and, yes, Dijon mustard. I spent a week here and the town and surrounding countryside were quite beautiful. (updated image) - John Brody Photography

Gothic Backstreet in Dijon France - I could feel the centuries passing by as I walked further down this back alley. Some of the buildings are hundreds of years old, a few dated as old as 1,000 years... John Brody / John Brody Photography

A Butterfly Caught My Eye - This little lady was polite enough to pause for a portrait :-) Taken at the botanical gardens - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Tulip Trail in Holland - A rainy day at Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam. The rain would stop for a few minutes now and then and I'd shoot the rain soaked flower rows and beautiful tree canopy. Miles of tulip trails, lakes and forest - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Small Village in Belgium or Germany between the Spa Francorchamps and Nurburgring Formula One race tracks. I crossed the border so many times that day it was impossible to know what country I was in... A good day of exploration and race track adrenaline :) - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Statue and Reflections at the Paris Opera House - While composing this shot of the Opera House and this statue, an architectural light show of red, blue and white strobes lit up in the windows' reflection. It's a busy image, with a lot going on, but it just highlights the vibrancy and mood of of this part of Paris. This scene had a feeling that attracted a crowd of close to a thousand people - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Mystical Lighting and Cloud Cover Over Church - This scene seems like a composite, but it's not... The church was completely covered with clouds except for the small fingers of cloud breaks and light that pointed downward. I found it quite fascinating... John Brody Photography

Yellow Fields Under Cloud Cover in Luxembourg near the Roman Ruins - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Otter Posing during a rare moment standing still. I waited for ages while he swam and dove and chased his friends, Finally he climbed a stunt and posed perfectly in front of some bokeh creating sunlit leaves. All in all I think it was worth it :) - John Brody Photography

Pelicans Over Cove at Point Lobos California - John Brody Photography - JohnBrody.com

Pelicans Over Sand Bar Fog Bank - Whiffing Spit - Vancouver Island British Columbia.
 John Brody Photography - JohnBrody.com

Lone Cypress Seascape with Pelican Formation - Carmel California. The rain storm brought out pelican formations by the hundreds, JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

A Very old and Very rustic church in Bruges Belgium - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

A Puddle In Paris Holds The Eiffel Tower - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Stunning Skies Over Architectural Wonders by Frank Gehry & Parisian and Belgian Designers - John Brody Photography

Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles - High-Res HDR Image - The Rachmaninov concert inside was as great a work of art as the architecture outside... JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Sacre Coeur Basilica and the hillside artist colony shot from a nearby rooftop in Montmartre. The artist colony was a training ground for many painters including Vincent van Gogh, Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Monet, Mondrian, Pissarro and Modigliani to name a few. The history and architecture make this one of the most visited attractions in Paris   -   JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Portrait of Light Beams from the Eiffel Tower over Pont des Arts Paris --- More Info FYI - All visitors to Paris take photos of the nightly light show from the Eiffel Tower; I have hundreds :) For some reason this particular image stood out from the rest of my shots. It may be the location, where it's seen over the Pont des Arts Bridge and the d'Orsay Museum (just an FYI, the D'Orsay is the best location other than Amsterdam to see the works of Vincent van Gogh), or simply the blaze of light with an unusually strong glow due to the soft fog of the evening. Whatever the reason, I liked it, so I thought I would share - Portrait Version --- JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Moonrise Over Pont des Arts Paris - This bridge is never a boring place. During my last trip I saw so many types here; locals and travelers, the friendly and the pick-pockets, painters and musicians. On my last night there, three motley guys pulled out instruments and broke into a blazing version of Sunshine of Your Love followed by a string of well played classics; a wonderful performance. They then bowed to the crowd and headed off into the night... This footbridge is a very special place... JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Mystical Lighting and Cloud Cover Over Church - This scene seems like a composite, but it's not... The church was completely covered with clouds except for the small fingers of cloud breaks and light that pointed downward. I found it quite fascinating... John Brody Photography

Mansion on a Canal in Bruges, Belgium - I first saw this 500 year old house in the movie In Bruges,  and I wanted to see the house and the village ever since. It was worth the trip - John Brody Photography - JohnBrody.com

Louvre Museum and Reflecting Pool in Paris - Always a beautiful location, the cloudless skies and the lack of crowds made this a stop and shoot moment. The visuals really seemed to 'pop' this night, as beautiful as the Mona Lisa inside - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Moonrise Over Pont Neuf Paris France. When visiting The City of Lights, my days usually begin and end here, my favorite place in Paris. It's a swirl of activity with dozens of cultural greats surrounding it; the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, the Tuileries Gardens and the D'Orsay Museum to name a few. The list is endless. A wonderful place you must visit.
John Brody Photography - JohnBrody.com

The Eiffel Tower and Pont Alexandre III at Sunset - A stormy dull day in Paris until the sun wedged itself out from between two clouds, and Pont Alexandre lit up. Dull skies replaced with blue white tones and light beams and shadows moved across the sky like spotlights. From drab to beautiful in minutes. Just carry a camera and wait... JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Schooners moored At Pont Neuf in Paris - Pont Neuf is a favorite gathering place for young locals on nights and weekends. They sit in circles of friends, sharing wine and just hanging out from sunset to late night. The mood was very always playful and vibrant, friendly even to a stranger (me) hauling a sack of camera gear along the riverside. I can't think of anything to compare with it here in the U.S. - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

Small Village in Belgium or Germany between the Spa Francorchamps and Nurburgring Formula One race tracks. I crossed the border so many times that day it was impossible to know what country I was in... A good day of exploration and race track adrenaline :) Square Aspect Ratio - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography

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French Beauty at the Louvre Museum Paris - John Brody Photography

No Hottie Comments Please! This lovely girl was an absolute French Doll. I met her in the Louvre Museum in Paris when we were both looking at the Venus de Milo statue. After a little talking with her with her English speaking friends who helping translate, I asked if I could take a few photos we would share, and she liked the idea. Surprisingly shy, I snapped off a few in our mini photo shoot before the inevitable happened: A crowd gathered, she turned red in the face, laughed and then hid behind me - Very shy. By then, nobody was looking at the Venus de Milo stature she was standing next to, just her.  Paris, France - JohnBrody.com - JohnBrody.blogspot.com

Sacre Coeurs Photograph From Nearby Hi-Rise Rooftop - Finally, An Eye Level View...

I met a great French woman on the subway on the day I was heading up to Montmartre to shoot Sacre Coeur Basilica. We hit it off and talked about photography and her work as a clothing designer. When we got off the subway and climbed the stairs to the street level near Sacre Couers, she was trying to tell me something, but with her moderate English and my zero French, I couldn't understand. I finally waved, smiled and started to walk away. She literally grabbed me by my sleeve and dragged me in a direction away from my destination - I, of course, gave in and followed... she obviously knew something I didn't.

A couple blocks and a few elevators later, she walked me though her office space and out on to a rooftop patio that had a stunning 180 degree view, the centerpiece being Sacre Coeur directly in front of me. She saw my thrilled look, gave me a hug, waved me out onto the patio and disappeared to get on with running her business. A couple hours and a couple hundred photos later I found her in her design studio, thanked her hugely, got another hug and headed on my way... Whoever started that rumor that the french are rude and arrogant experienced a different France than I did. Kindness like this lady's is common and I had nothing but good experiences.

One warning about Sacre Coeur... Don't go there on weekends or holidays. On weekends ALL streets near Sacre Coeur look like the photo below, so adjust your schedule accordingly.



A bit of Sacre Coeur history:
Montmartre is a hill which is 130 meters high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacre Coeur on its summit and as a nightclub district. The other, older, church on the hill is Saint Pierre de Montmartre, which claims to be the location at which the Jesuit order of priests was founded. Many artists had studios or worked around the community of Montmartre such as Salvador Dalí, Amedeo Modigliani, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. Montmartre is also the setting for several hit films.

Sacre Coeur, the full name being The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Paris, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Paris, France. An extremely popular landmark (see my crowd photo above for proof of this), the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. The view is beautiful from the top, but it's not for the weak of leg or large in size - I could barely force my way through some of the stairways during my ascent.

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Not Photoshop - Glass Cover on Art Gallery Chopin Painting Reflected Paris Street and Archtecture

A real simple shot I couldn't pass up - Walking by a painting of Chopin by Delecroix I notice the reflection of the buildings and the classic Paris architecture. When I focused my camera on the reflection instead of the painting, the street scene became dominant and Chopin faded into a transluscent image that seemed to be watching over his chosen new city. Just a change of look from a straight photo... JohnBrody.com

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Louvre Moonrise at 4am - Obviously, in Paris France - JohnBrody.com

Moonrise over the Louvre at 4am in the morning. One thing they don't mention is that there are NO available taxis at 4am. I waited for a half hour and then picked up my monster tripod and 35 pound gearbag and started walking, and I'd already been shooting for 18 hours - An hour and 3 miles later I was at my hotel. Not fun, so plan ahead - Click for full sized Hi-Res Image - JohnBrody.com - JohnBrody.blogspot.com

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Intense Chess Game - Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxemburg Garden), Paris - JohnBrody.com

Intense game of chess at The Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxemburg Garden) in Paris. These matches are quite serious with all brows furrowed and complete silence. My cameras shutter sounded like a firecracker to me... The gent on the left looked in hopeless shape when he got down to 6 seconds, his opponent having more than a minute. Three moves later with only 1 second left, the man at left was victorious. A six minute game of chess... It takes me that long for one move sometimes. These guys were impressive - JohnBrody.com

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Pont Neuf Bridge with Midnight Moonrise - JohnBrody.com

Midnight Moonrise Over Pont Neuf Bridge in Paris. This is my personal "Center" of Paris and my favorite location on this globe. An architechtural gem, bustling with activity and a view of everything 'Paris'... Per request I'm adding photo data: Canon 5D Mark II, Shutter 1.6 seconds, Aperture 9.0, ISO 1600, Focal Length 68mm. Cheers.


--- Interesting reading: A few tidbits about Pont Neuf's curious and sometimes deadly history:

All through the eighteenth century, the Pont Neuf was the center of Paris, lively with both crime and commerce: Czar Peter the Great, who came to study French civilization under the regency of the Duke d'Orleans, declared that he had found nothing more curious in Paris than the pont Neuf; and, sixty years later, the philosopher Benjamin Franklin wrote to his friends in America that he had not understood the Parisian character except in crossing the pont Neuf.

In 1862, Édouard Fournier traced its history in his lively two-volume Histoire du Pont-Neuf. He describes how, even before it was completed (in 1607), gangs hid out in and around it and robbed and murdered people. It remained a dangerous place even as it became busier. For a long time, the bridge even had its own gallows.

This did not prevent people from congregating there, drawn by various stands and street performers (acrobats, fire-eaters, musicians, etc.) Charlatans and quacks of various sorts were also common, as well as the hustlers (shell-game hucksters, etc) and pickpockets often found in crowds - not to mention a lively trade in prostitution. Among the many businesses which, however unofficially, set up there were several famous tooth pullers.

In 1701, Cotolendi quoted a letter supposedly written by a Sicilian tourist: One finds on the Pont-Neuf an infinity of people who give tickets, some put fallen teeth back in, and others make crystal eyes; there are those who cure incurable illnesses; those who claim to have discovered the virtues of some powdered stones to white and to beautify the face. This one claims he makes old men young; there are those who remove wrinkles from the forehead and the eyes, who make wooden legs to repair the violence of bombs; finally everybody is so applied to work, so strongly and continually, that the devil can tempt no one but on Holidays and Sundays.

With its numerous sellers of pamphlets and satirical performers, it was also a center for social commentary: In the 16th cent, the Pont-Neuf was the scene of the recitals of Tabarin, a famous satirist of the day, and it was long afterwards the favourite rendezvous of news-vendors, jugglers, showmen, loungers, and thieves. Any popular witticism in verse was long known as un Pont-Neuf.
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If you haven't been there you must visit if you get a chance... JohnBrody.com

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Brave Bicycle Girl Has Pont Neuf Bridge All To Herself - JohnBrody.com

Simple shot that I like and I don't know why... Probably all the photos I've seen by many of the great French photographers on the same subject... JohnBrody.com

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Artist at Sacre Coeur Concentrates On His Work - JohnBrody.com

This gents intense focus caught my eye, but his subjects were interesting as well. It seemed he was a French speaking Aussie artist who was sketching two girls, one a Muslim girl with a strong British accent, the other had classic Swedish features but it seemed Spanish was her native language. They bounce between languages when talking to waiting friends and then to English which seemed to be their common ground – good for me, I’m sad to admit, because that’s all I speak. The scene was a mix worthy of a United Nations poster – A fun crowd too. I couldn’t get a photo of the whole group – a wall of people appeared between us when I stepped back far enough to get them all in a photo - JohnBrody.com

Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris Photos and Info - John Brody Photography

Notre Dame Cathedral at Dusk - JohnBrody.com / John Brody Photography


Notre Dame Cathedral - Proceeded by a Gallo-Roman temple to Jupiter, a Christian basilica, and a Romanesque church, construction of Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII. Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone. The idea to replace the Romanesque church occupying the site - the Cathedral of St. Etienne (founded by Childebert in 528) - was that of Bishop Maurice de Sully (who died in 1196). (Some accounts claim that there were two churches existing on the site, one to the Virgin Mary, the other to St. Stephen.) Construction was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345.

The choir was completed in 1182; the nave in 1208, and the west front and towers circa 1225-1250. A series of chapels were added to the nave during the period 1235-50, and during 1296-1330 to the apse (Pierre de Chelles and Jean Ravy). The transept crossings were build in 1250-67 by Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil (also the architect of the Sainte-Chapelle). It was essentially completed according to the original plans. The reigns of Louis XIV (end of the 17th century) and Louis XV saw significant alterations including the destruction of tombs, and stained glass. At the end of the 18th century, during the Revolution, many of the treasures of the cathedral were either destroyed or plundered. Only the great bells avoided being melted down. The church interior was used as a warehouse for the storage of forage and food.

After falling into disrepair, a restoration program overseen by Lassus (died 1857) and Viollet-le-Duc, was carried out in 1845. This program lasted 23 years, and included the construction of the spire and the sacristy.

During the Commune of 1871, the Cathedral was nearly burned by the Communards - and some accounts suggest that indeed a huge mound of chairs was set on fire in its interior. Whatever happened, the Notre Dame survived the Commune essentially unscathed."



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Pere Lachaise Cemetery - Paris Photos and Info - John Brody Photography

These photos and history profiles of some my favorite highlights from Paris are being added here by request - by demand actually... Some playfully nasty letters from some Paris lovers have been hitting my inbox because they're not too happy that I shut down a web site that used to contain some of this travel info and pictures. So here you go you cranky Francophiles, Enjoy yourselves! ;)


Pere Lachaise Cemetery - A Brief History

In the early days Pere Lachaise was a poor district, with many outlaws, winding streets, shady avenues. It's located on a old hill of Champ l'Eveque where a rich merchant built his house in 1430.

In the 17th century the Jesuits, converted it into a hospice for members of their order. It became a meeting place under influence of Pere Lachaise Louis XIV's confessor. In 1803, under Napoleon, the Prefect of Paris bought it to build a cemetery. It was an incredibly successful piece of land speculation. Nicolas Frochot, the urban planner who bought the land, persuaded the civil authorities to rebury Molière, La Fontaine, Abelard and Heloise in his new cemetery. Pere-Lachaise became the ultimate symbol for the rich and successful.

Ironically, Frochot even sold a plot to the original owner for considerably more money than the price he had paid for the entire site. Even today, the rates are still extremely high. Some of the most celebrated dead have unremarkable tombs while those whose fame died with them or who were nonentities to start with have the most expressive monuments.

A winding stone pathway through the cemetery above and the grave of chopin at left. As with all pictures here click to go to full sized photo album.

- John Brody Photography