Pont Alexandre III
Built in 1900 and dripping with gilded statues, ornate lamp posts, and elaborate stonework, this Beaux-Arts bridge over the Seine is one of the most photographed structures in Paris. You have several strong compositions to work with: shoot from the riverbanks below to frame the bridge's low arch against the sky, use the lamp posts as repeating foreground elements along the deck, or position yourself at either end to compress the full length of the bridge with the Eiffel Tower or Les Invalides in the background. Golden hour light in the late afternoon warms the gilded details beautifully, and blue hour after sunset brings out the bridge's lamp illumination against a deep sky. A 24-70mm lens covers most compositions well, though a longer focal length helps compress the lamp post rows. The bridge is always open to pedestrians and is never closed for access. (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
