Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
This smaller but beautifully ornate triumphal arch sits in the open plaza between the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden, and its pink marble columns and detailed relief sculptures reward close attention from a camera. The classic composition lines up the arch with the larger Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile in the distance, framing one inside the other along the historic axis, which works well with a telephoto lens in the 70-200mm range to compress the perspective and stack the two monuments together. Shooting from the west side, you can also use the arch as a foreground frame with the Louvre's Richelieu wing behind it. Golden hour light in the morning catches the warm stone tones beautifully, and the plaza is far less crowded early in the day. The area is fully open and accessible, with plenty of room to move around and adjust your angle. (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
