Paris and London are a dream twin destination for photographers. Here are some locations to visit : As Paris shots go, cafe Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole has got it all: pretty painted purple chairs and eau-de-nil facade, half-covered with rambling bougainvillea. It’s tucked away behind Notre-Dame Cathedral and somehow remains a relative secret, making it a fabulous spot for coffee – and for photographs. Summer is the prettiest time of all. Where to get the shot: From on the Pont des Arts at sunrise. The light is incredible. Once you’ve got your photo, ‘chase the light’ along the banks of the Seine towards Notre-Dame.
Buckingham Palace is Queen Elizabeth II’s official residence and has been the official London residence of Britain’s sovereign since 1837. It was once a townhouse owned by the Dukes of Buckingham back in the eighteenth century. George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a family home near to St James’s Palace, where many court functions were held. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace have been opened to the public for the Annual Summer opening, in August and September, since 1993, after the fire at Windsor Castle in November 1992. Initially, the Summer Opening was considered a way to pay for the damage at Windsor Castle, but it became so popular that The Queen has continued to allow visitors every summer. The Queen is not at Buckingham Palace when it is open to the public–she goes to one of her country residences.
This museum holds fascinating secrets that will blow your mind. The London Transport Museum portrays all that there is to transport. The collections include everything from vehicles and infrastructure to old sound recordings, photographs, and relics. The museum is a great way to learn more about the history of transport in London and explore the transport system that the city is famous for. Guided tours of various transport landmarks happen throughout the year. The museum is situated in Covent Garden Piazza. Cost: Entry to the London Transport Museum is free for kids and about (?17.50) for adults.
Commissioned by Napoleon III in 1860, the Palais Garnier Opera House was designed by Charles Garnier in an exuberant Baroque style. Garnier worked tirelessly on the project for over a decade, from 1862 to 1875. Today, the opulent monument is a symbol of Napoleon’s Imperial regime. The facade features classical columns and eight sculptures representing allegorical figures: Poetry, Music, Idyll, Recitation, Song, Drama, and Dance. The loggia depicts busts of composers, including Rossini, Beethoven, and Mozart, while the cupola is topped with a statue of Apollo with allegorical figures of Poetry and Music. Upon entering the building, visitors are dazzled by the lavish 11,000-square-meter interior. Most of the building’s space is dedicated to the grand foyer with its fabulous Grand Escalier, marble entrance staircase, adorned by ornate gilded lamps. The auditorium has an intimate feel, although it can accommodate 2,105 people in its plush red-velvet seats. Gilded balconies, an enormous crystal chandelier, and a Chagall ceiling painting add to the theater’s marvelousness, creating the perfect dramatic backdrop for cultural performances.
Photographer Victor Guidini, who lives in London, has been photographing tourists in the capital of England since 2013. In recent years he has been doing photo shoots in France. “It all started when a customer who had done an essay in London asked if I would be available to shoot in Paris. At first I thought it would be difficult to be a profitable business, but I organized all the logistics that facilitated the rehearsals. Traveling by the Eurostar trains, I get to Paris in around 2 hours, and without all the waiting and paperwork that a travel area has. After considering the risks and investments required for this journey, I embraced the opportunity, “says the photographer. See more at Fotografo em Paris e Londres. In addition to offering photographic essays in Paris, Victor Guidini is also available to photograph in London across Europe. To know more about his work, just visit his website www.victorguidini.com/pt-br/ (in Portuguese).