View from Printemps Rooftop
The rooftop terrace of Galeries Printemps Haussmann is one of Paris's best-kept open secrets for cityscape photography, offering a sweeping 360-degree panorama that puts the Opéra Garnier almost directly in front of you and the Eiffel Tower rising above the rooftops to the southwest. The Opéra is close enough to fill a significant portion of the frame, making it ideal for a mid-range zoom in the 24-70mm range, while a longer lens lets you compress the distance and layer the Eiffel Tower behind the ornate dome. The terrace is free to access during store hours, so you can visit without committing to the rooftop restaurant. Golden hour and the blue hour just after sunset are the most rewarding times, with warm light raking across the Haussmann facades and the city gradually lighting up below. Shoot from the southwest railing to align both landmarks in a single frame. (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
