Annecy, lake, boats and castle

Annecy, lake, boats and castle

 

A beautiful october morning in Annecy.
Not the kind of photo i make the most but i think that this image perfectly shows why Annecy is so visited by tourists from all over the world.

Imperial Palace in Annecy

Impérial Palace in Annecy

 

During the past weeks, i spent 2 mornings in Annecy making images around the lake. Expect to see more in the next days  ...

Initially built in 1913, Impérial Palace is a 4 stars hotel just near the lake and also contains a congress center and a casino. It's obviously a private place but gardens and beaches are opened and very appreciated by the public (locals or tourists).

Paris, dusk light around Bassin de la Villette

Paris, dusk light around Bassin de la Villette

 

One more from these few days in Paris about one month ago.

Bassin de la Villette is a large water area in Paris, built in 1808.
It's used by boats carrying peoples or goods and by tourists who love to have a walk or drink on the banks.

Seine river crossing Paris

Seine river crossing Paris

 

Another view of Paris from the Eiffel tower.

Seine river is one of the main french rivers and probably one of the most famous because it crosses Paris.
It's a 777 km long river, coming from the center of the country and going to the Manche sea.

Paris, Into the legs of the Eiffel tower

Into the legs of the Eiffel tower

 

A view of the stairs going from ground to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Paris, Cite des Sciences and Geode

Cité des Sciences and Géode in Paris

 

Cité des sciences is another famous place in Paris. It's main goal is to spread scientific and technical informations to the public.
The big ball you can see on the picture is named géode and is a very special cinema where you can see some films on a 1000 square meters hemispherical screen.

Paris, tourists waiting to climb the Eiffel tower

Paris, tourists waiting to climb the Eiffel tower

 

Another image from our recent visit to Paris.

This day there was just one lift working and i guess some people had to wait a very long time ... This image was done in the very late afternoon but a few hours before, the queue was really longer.
Personally, we choose the scale. Waiting time was very short, the view is amazing and that's really not a hard climb.

Paris and the Invalides Museum from the Eiffel Tower

Paris and the Invalides museum

 

The Invalides museum was built in Paris in 1670 by king Louis XIV to help the soldiers seriously hurted and disabled during the wars.
It includes a church (under the golden dome) in which are stored the ashes of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Paris, Montparnasse and Military School from Eiffel Tower

Paris, Montparnasse and Military School from Eiffel Tower

 

I'm just back from Paris.
I had to spend a few days in the big city to meet some clients. It was not really a photographic trip but i had some free time and a camera ...

This image was done from the Eiffel tower and shows the Montparnasse tower which is one of the highest building of Paris (it was the highest until last year). In the foreground you can also see the famous Military School which is more than 250 years old.

Annecy - The old city around the Thiou river

Probably one of the most touristic place in Annecy.
Fortunately, this image was done by an early autumn morning and the streets where almost empty.

LINKS :
My photo gallery about annecy and its lake
All my images about Annecy.

Corsica - The citadel and the old houses of Corte

The citadel and the old houses of Corte

One more in the Corsica serie.

Weekly commented photo #5 - Visitation basilica by night in Annecy

Visitation basilica by night in Annecy

I've to say the truth : i've never liked this monument. But when i arrived back in Annecy in july i saw it by night and thought it could make a beautiful photo.

I love night images but that's not what i'm doing most. I usually prefer the special lights of dawn or dusk. So that's only in january that i decided to try this image.
One afternoon i went to the lake for some dusk shots on the Imperial beach and took a long lens with me for the basilica.
When the night started to fall, i left the beach and walked along the lake until i found a nice point of view.
After one first test, exposing the shot for the highlights on the bell tower, i was sure that HDR would give a relly better image.
Keeping in one single exposure all the details in the highlights would give dark shadows on all the left part of the church. So i did 5 shots at f11 from 4 to more than 80 seconds.
As the evening was a little windy, i weighted my tripod with my bag and as usual i used mirror lockup plus a remote shutter release for each exposure. Getting sharp images with long exposures while using a long lens in the wind can be a little tricky but this night, i was lucky.
After this 5 shots, i walked deeper in the city to make images of some other monuments and also to warm me up.

I processed the raw files 2 or 3 days after with silkypix and Photomatix, trying to keep the tonemapping at a soft level.

Annecy - Dawn on the lake at Imperial beach and 5 sites to discover

Annecy, dawn on the lake at Imperial beach

Another image from Annecy lake at the Imperial beach.
Done the same day but a few time later than this one.

The 5 sites to discover if you're interested in photography :

• http://www.xavifuentes.com
  Beautiful long exposures from Xavi Fuentes.
  
• http://www.friedmanphoto.com
  Amazing panoramic landscape by Stevel Friedman.
  
• http://dudewithcamera.com
  Various and beautiful images from Jesse Pafundi.
  
• http://www.85mm.ch
  Street photography by Thomas Leuthard.
• http://www.mikehollman.com
  Stunning landscapes from New Zealand by Mike Hollman

Annecy town hall at night

Annecy town hall at night

Just another one to give you a night view of Annecy.

Yesterday, i spent the afternoon hiking in the mountains above Annecy lake.
The weather was really cloudy with a dull light.
I just did a few images in a dark forest during the afternoon and waited for late dusk to make two mountain landscapes. You'll probably see them one day.

Annecy - Palais de l'Isle at night

Annecy - Palais de l'Isle at night

An image from this night.
I went to Annecy in the end of afternoon to make some images of the lake at dusk and when it was too late i moved to the heart of the city for a few night shots.

I you want to know more about this place and see how this place looks in day light, you can have a look here.

And for people who like this kind of information, this is an HDR work done with Photomatix from 5 exposures.

Skywatch Friday - Autumn leaves over the channel in Annecy

Annecy - Autumn leaves over the channel

Here, snow is falling again since yesterday night.
I publish this autumn image today as my third contribution to Skywatch friday.

It's a scene that regular readers will recognize because i've ever posted an horizontal version here some weeks ago.

Annecy - Autumn colors on the city

Annecy - Autumn colors on the city

An image from a few weeks ago, when the trees still had some colorful leaves.
The big church is the Visitation Basilica and was built in 1909 to 1930. I think the monastery on its left is really older but i'm not sure :)

Today in the evening, we had the first snowfall just around the house. I hope a nice view tomorrow morning ...

Annecy - Autumn colors over the channel and some beautiful images from China

Annecy - Autumn colors over the Vasse channel

This is the same channel going to Annecy lake that the one you have ever seen here. Done a few hours later and from the other end of the channel.

After these few words, i'd like to share some beautiful images from China i've discovered some days ago. They are from Ferit Kuyas and you can look at them here.

Annecy - Palais de l'Isle

Palais de l'Isle in Annecy

I've eared that this very pretty little castle was one of the most photographed monument in France. I don't know if it's true but this place is hugely touristic and you can read anything about Annecy without seeing such an image.

This castel was built in 1132 and is also very well known under the name of Les vieilles prisons because it was used as a jail during a while.

You can learn a little more about it with this english page of Wikipedia and much more on the french page.

And for peoples who like technical info : this image is the result of a HDR work done from 3 exposures and processed with Photomatix and Oloneo PhotoEngine.

Annecy - dawn over the channel

Annecy - Dawn over the Vasse channel

The very first lights of a new day on this famous place in Annecy.