Friday, December 12, 2008

Notre Dame Christmas Tree


I love the holiday season decorations, even if every year it's more or less the same... The lights on the Champs Elysées, the ferris wheel in the Tuilerie gardens and... the big tree in front of Notre Dame. Nothing much to say, it's beautiful, that's all ;)

51 comments:

  1. The tree does look so beautiful and the angle is perfect. How tall is that thing? It is HUGE.

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  2. Love the blue Christmas tree! And where are all the people?? Plus it looks like you might have been partying, as you were tipping over!

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  3. I was wondering where the people were also. The lighting is really fabulous. Your night photos are just amazing.

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  4. Katie, I was not partying!! I took this photo on my way home from the office, but it's so coled in Paris at the moment that people don't walk outside, even in front of Notre Dame!

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  5. Beauty speaks for itself. Nice shot.

    Yeah, cold. I get it.

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  6. Beautiful tree and Notre Dame looks as majestic and inviting as ever. It is so cold that to spell "cold" it comes out "coled." lol Well, it's a "cool" photo anyway! Merci.

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  7. That's very pretty, Eric. I didn't like blue lights at first but they are quite eye catching.
    It's very cold here too Eric. Brr.

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  8. Ok Eric now I feel bad that it's cold in Paris and you stopped to take this picture. The things you do for us!!

    Cali great job on the GF! I hope you'll put blue lights on the crown. I'm going to Union Square in SF after work to take photos of all the trees and lights and such. My favorite is lights on palm trees; oh so California.

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  9. Katie, I did the same thing last weekend. I was a little disappointed in the tiny size of the ice rink, but the Neiman Marcus tree and countless Macy's wreaths make up for it! Macy's has real puppies and kittens in their Christmas windows - so cute. There are lit up palm trees for you, of course.

    Eric, this is a beautiful sight! Thanks for braving the cold weather to take this shot, which must have been late at night given the barren streets.

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  10. Hey, it wasn't blue last year, was it? I could have sworn they had red/orange lights last year.

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  11. It really sets off your sepia-toned city quite nicely. 6^)

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  12. I'm watching a French film 'The Beat My Heart Skipped'. I should really go to bed but it's too good. You know it, Eric?

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  13. I stuck some quick photos of San Francisco on my blog for Katie and anyone else interested in the things I described earlier.

    Lynn, never miss a chance to watch a good French film!

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  14. Yep that's what I thought, Suzy. The main character speaks impossibly quickly and mumbles so it's not easy (I'm still working so not always looking at the screen for subtitles) - he is quite hot though. :)

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  15. Well..a Big Fat MERCI for that photo Eric!! Funny, I was looking at the PDP Calendar just this morning[which is a photo of the tree in front of Notre Dame]and I was wondering if you might post a picture of this years tree.

    Oui tomate, the tree lights were red and yellow[orange]in the photo on the calendar but that pic was probably taken in 2006. Ahhhh, Christmas in Paris!

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  16. This tree is huge! I have to go there and see it. You're were lucky that it was empty, the shot is nice. I like the unframed effect. Let me add: down on your knees!

    Lynn, "De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté" is a greaaaat film! Enjoy it.

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  17. Coltrane, perhaps you should adjust the temperature on your thermostat?

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  18. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. I love the mellow background light and the immense Christmas tree.

    I just can't imagine a Christmas without snow though, I must say. We have only had one in the last several years, but it was fortuitous as we gave our children bikes that year and they got to ride them that day! And then put them away for 4 months... No chance of that this year though, we have plenty of snow!

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  19. "I'll meet you by the Christmas tree in front of Notre Dame,' he says. "You know, the one Eric will so magnificently photograph and post on PDP to further wow his many fans. The blue lights will set off those flecks of green in your hazel eyes that I so adore."

    "'I'll meet you by the Christmas tree,' he said. Where are you? When will you be here?," she thinks, waiting some distance in front of the right portico with her arms folded against her nearly breaking heart in the too coled night air, torn between staying near the tree and moving closer to the direction from which he will surely come.

    "He will surely come, won't he?"

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  20. So beautiful! Even I would brave the cold for such a sight.

    Tall Gary, you romantic poet. She should have waited by the tree, as he asked her to do, not in front of the right portico. Will he think to look for her there?

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  21. Then she wondered: is this the right portico? Am I a fool? Oh, the cold. The cold. The blue cold. The icy blue lights seemed to intensify the empty cold. She could hear her heart beat. Then she heard the skipped beat. Yet, though her heart hardened, the tree sang to her

    "I am the stillness, the emptiness, the cold that love can be when he doesn't keep faith. Who but I can offer you company? Can you not love my still, medieval beauty?"

    God, I'm tired, she thought. It is too cold to wait, too cold to be lonely in absence.

    Fxxx it, I'm going home and having a drink. And so she did.

    The end.

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  22. I have been working hard and playing hard on my layovers, Guille, that I missed the past three days of photos. I am SICK that I missed yesterday's Mennager!!!! His figures are always proportionally correct, and it is fun to find these figures all around Paris.
    I will be flying Rome all month, and I am struck by how underplayed the decorations are there. After looking at this pix, I don't think I saw a Christmas tree the entire time there! Hardly any tourists either.

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  23. Tall Gary, OK I was all prepared to just tell Eric that I thought this was one of the most beautiful photos of Notre Dame that I had seen and the tree added so much and then you just cracked me up with that whole hilarious scenario. Sorry Eric. TG trumped you.
    V

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  24. Eric, I'm afraid I must agree with Virginia. And while TG started it brilliantly, Jeff turned out to be the perfect coauthor. You guys are a hoot, 'tis true!
    However, Eric did create this superb image, AND he used the famous Tenin perspective.
    Still, Cali gets the prize—you go, girl.

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  25. Eric, I LOVE this image SOOooo much, the tree, the colors, the light, everything about it is perfect. Really beautiful. I want this for my Christmas cards!

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  26. Great composition Eric and very kind from you (to warm us with this beautiful light).
    Funny you took N-D like the Pise Tower and a bit cut!! very well caught;)
    I love Christmas decorations and thanks God, you are here;)

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  27. "What is that interminable ringing out there in the hall?" A bit unsteady on her feet from her "Jeff's Special" cocktail she ambles to the door, oddly angled for some reason, and opens it a crack. It's HIM!

    He gently pushes the door wider and enters. "I was precisely on time and look at my only reward: This little handbell I found at the base of the Christmas tree. So look at me. I'm a Notre Dame bell ringer."

    He reaches out and grasps her by her lithe flamenco-trained wrist. "Really, my little gypsy girl, you must set your watch to Paris time."

    Together in each others enfolding arms they set their lives to Paris time. Those glints of green in her hazel eyes, now hungrily closed, can only be described as being a kind of Spanish esmeralda.

    Judging from the moving shadow seen on the window curtain from outside (let's afford them a little privacy now, shall we?), his arched back makes him appear, forgive the lack of political correctness, decidedly hunchbacked.

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  28. > Lily Hydrangea. I'm glad you liked this photo. Your wish is my command! I made you Christmas cards, stamps and stickers that you can find in the Zazzle window on the left.

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  29. This almost looks too beautiful to be real!

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  30. I made a post on my blog about this perspective recently. Your photo is wonderful, but I prefer the perspectives at Strasbourg or Rouen.

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  31. I like how you've captured the image, even twisting the camera to achieve this great purpose.

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  32. Thanks for this beautiful picture Eric.
    But I'm sure this is more than just a Christmas Tree in front of Notre Dame. It seems you want to let us know about your feelings Eric : Tout bascule ! Our world is on the edge to turn upside down.
    But don't be afraid, your friends will be there !

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  33. A very beautiful Zazzle instant. Thk u

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  34. Ahh, Christmas in Paris! A beautiful idea! Any time in Paris would be just fine with me. The N.D. photo is exquisite and I may look at it all day to avoid looking at the world covered in ice here (Massachusetts). Upside? No school! (I'm a teacher.) Downside? Branches and large limbs falling all over the place; hoping none will crush my little house! Yes, I think I will spend the day in Paris, at least in my mind...

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  35. Don't forget the shop windows. I love them at Xmas time.

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  36. Ahhh..Notre Dame. It must have been either very early or very late to find it without the tourists. Beautiful photo. On our most recent visit ('08 Nov) we only did a 'drive by' and didn't get the chance to stand in front of the cathedral so as to be sure that we will return! Did that on
    '06 and, bien sur, we were back in
    '08. Eric, your lovely photo now fullfills the chance we missed! Merry Christmas Everyone

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  37. Where is the Christmas ditty from Michael this year????
    Just a request from a devoted fan.......

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  38. I've been Zazzling Christmas cards today too Eric! I think this notre dame one of yours will sell and sell, it's just lovely. The tilt adds to it too.

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  39. i'm speechless...its just beautiful.

    christie - i always imagine what it would be like to have snow for the holidays..hmmmmm - it was 80 degress yesterday.

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  40. Ok, TG -- even just for that one line ". . . they set their lives to Paris time"—you should get the PDP literary prize!
    Thanks for zazzling this, Eric!

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  41. Eric, dear heart, Thank YOU for posting this beautiful photo. It's been a bad week here as my company has downsized. I've watched many friends and coworkers lose their jobs. Your photo made my heart smile and for that I cannot say MERCI enough. You are a darling.

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  42. Eric, I miss you. I have been going to a lot of holiday parties, visiting friends and family. So, I have not commented for a few days. The tree was red last year, no? This blue tree is so beautiful (blue is my favorite colour). I think I will email your photo to some dear friends as a card Noel. I am reading "Notre Dame de Paris" and your photo looks better than the artwork on the cover of the book.

    See you. Happy Holidays :)

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  43. Eric, I need you to teach me how to do night photography !! Love, love, love Paris !!!

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  44. That looks beautiful. I like the blue lights.

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  45. Eric - Gorgeous photo! For some reason it reminds me of the Madeline stories.
    Suzy - Nice photos on your blog. You do know that the rotunda and tree in Nieman Marcus used to be the beloved City of Paris Department Store?

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  46. http://www.theparisblog.com/

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  47. Eric,

    I love the blue and gold
    And know it must've been cold
    But you're our man
    Cam in hand
    And now this diddy is old

    Sorry PHX, it is the best I can do at the moment.

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  48. wow great i have read many articles about this topic and everytime i learn something new i dont think it will ever stop always new info , Thanks for all of your hard work!

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