Shooting suggestions for a quick trip to Paris and Amsterdam

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Shooting suggestions for a quick trip to Paris and Amsterdam

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gelu88

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Joined: Feb '10
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Hey all.

At the end of April i'm going on a short trip to Paris. I'm tagging along with some family for 3 days, after which they are going home and I am staying for as long as my budget can hold. My current plan is to make it a week, and maybe include a High Speed Rail trip to Amsterdam for a day or 2.

First of all, does this make sense as a general travel plan? any better ways to spend that length of time? I really want to include a Rail trip somewhere as i'm a rail lover coming from Canada.

More specifically, does anyone have any suggestions for images to make other than the obvious? I figure i'll do the normal tourist stuff the first few days, but would like to get off of the beaten path after.

Thanks.

Posted 1 year ago #
shawnino

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Joined: Jan '12
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Well, this might be OT but here's my two cents.

If you like trains, take the high-speed Thalys service from Paris to Amsterdam, and be prepared to shoot Gare du Nord in Paris )assuming that's still where it leaves from). I don't much care for Paris but there is a great deal to shoot there of course, from the cliched touristy stuff to the Latin quarter (which is where I stay).

In Amsterdam it's all personal taste again. Dam Square is where everybody starts and lots of people head for the canals. I'd be more interested in the Red Light district for street photography, but that's just me.

On the way there is a fantastic Nikon-heavy camera shop in Brussels, Belgium. When I was last there they had discontinued lenses, mint-in-box.Of course I can't remember the name, but it's down the street from the touristy restaurant Drug Opera.

Posted 1 year ago #
PaulR

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Joined: Nov '11
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Why Not take the Eiffel Tower at different times of day and night using different light on the same shot

Posted 1 year ago #
Pierre

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Joined: Mar '10
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In Paris, starting from the mussum Du Louvre, there are a few things that apparently allings perfectly. It would be nice if the alignment could be captured. You would most likely need to have a big zoom and to be on the second or third floor of the museum facing the pyramids, looking down at the l'Arc de triomphe and ending at the Grande Arche de La defense.
Tripod long exposures in the Opera de Paris would be worthed.

Paris is the one that convinced me to get a better camera. Lost of nice things to shoot inside, where light is dim and flashes not allowed. A tripod is almost mandatory unless you have a D3s but is not allowed in most museums.

Posted 1 year ago #
mcammer

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Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 98
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I wouldn't normally suggest this, but in Paris I took one of those bus tours around the city. The second level was open and that allowed me to take unobstructed pictures over a lot of the crowds and other vehicles. You can get on & off as many times as you like and take closeup pictures of the places you like best. Or know where to go back later. You'll at least get photos of all the classic sites this way.

It may still be too chilly, but shots of the outdoor cafes and waiters/food/drinks will make for a nice Parisian montage. If the weather is lousy, see what's going on in the Grand Palais.

You can take interesting shots of the Eiffel tower from many angles--in, on, under and up.

You might be able to take some interesting photos from the train. Going at 300kph, the foreground will be a blur, but you may be able to keep distant objects in focus.

In Amsterdam take a canalboat, just make sure you have good light for the whole trip. You could fill a card with building facades. I was intrigued by the wide variety of bridges. The floating flower market sounds good but isn't, whereas the bicycle parking garage at Centraal Station offers some interesting shots. Leave the camera at home when you go to the Red Light District.

Posted 1 year ago #
zlik

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Joined: Dec '11
Posts: 88
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Long exposures at night on the bridges above the Seine is what I prefer to shoot in Paris.

Posted 1 year ago #
bernard

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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 309
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Hello Gelu88,

The best way to take pictures different from the usual tourist clichés in Paris is to walk a lot with your eyes wide open. When I say a lot, I do mean a lot ! So, assuming you can do that, get yourself a good map (or may be a hand held GPS ?) and visit the places that tourists rarely visit. Small streets, small churches, narrow streets of the 1st , 2nd, and 3rd districts, the walkways a long the river Seine, the flea market in Saint Ouen at the north of Paris (during the week-end only), etc… Another very nice subject is Montmartre and the big church on top of the hill "Le Sacré Coeur". The back streets and endless steps around the church are vary tiring but very photogenic too :)

If you can walk 2 or 3 miles (or more) every day, you will get thousands of good opportunities for unusual pictures. It all depends on what you like of course, but if you can do that, you won't regret it.

Beware ! One hot subject right now, in Paris especially, are pickpockets who are legions. This is why I would recommend a good point and shoot like the P7100, or the V1 and a couple lenses (Ideal for that kind of work). Don't use a DSLR and a big lens ! They are far too tempting !

One last advice, try and think black and white. Photos in B & W are very "Parisian" if I may say !… :)

Enjoy your stay !

Posted 1 year ago #
bernard

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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 309
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bernard said:
Hello Gelu88,

The best way to take pictures different from the usual tourist clichés in Paris is to walk a lot with your eyes wide open. When I say a lot, I do mean a lot ! So, assuming you can do that, get yourself a good map (or may be a hand held GPS ?) and visit the places that tourists rarely visit. Small streets, small churches, narrow streets of the 1st , 2nd, and 3rd districts, the walkways along the river Seine, the flea market in Saint Ouen at the north of Paris (during the week-end only), etc… Another very nice subject is Montmartre and the big church on top of the hill : "Le Sacré Coeur". The back streets and endless steps around the church are very tiring but very photogenic too :)

If you can walk 2 or 3 miles (or more) every day, you will get thousands of good opportunities for unusual pictures. It all depends on what you like of course, but if you can do that, you won't regret it.

Beware ! One hot subject right now, in Paris especially, are pickpockets who are legions. This is why I would recommend a good point and shoot like the P7100, or the V1 and a couple lenses (Ideal for that kind of work). Don't use a DSLR and a big lens ! They are far too tempting !

One last advice, try and think black and white. Photos in B & W are very "Parisian" if I may say !… :)

Enjoy your stay !

Posted 1 year ago #

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Shooting suggestions for a quick trip to Paris and Amsterdam

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