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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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

--- Click Here for Full Size Photos for Linking or Print at JohnBrody.com ---

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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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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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