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Paris – La Défense

Moretti sculpture at La Defense in Paris, France

By Will Austin

Will Austin’s award-winning photography has taken him around the world. Although he regularly does editorial work, Will specializes in documenting cutting-edge architecture and industrial workplaces. He lives in the Seattle area with his wife and son, but hails from Colorado cowboy country.

April 14, 2011

I suggested to my wife that we go out to the Western side of Paris to the business district called La Défense, I wanted to take a few photos and check out the modern architecture.  We took the subway and as soon as we emerged from underground we were captivated by the immensity and beauty of this place.  It is at the western end of Paris’s 10 km long Axe Historique (Historical axis) which connects the Louvre, the Tuileries Gardens, the Place Concorde, the Champs Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe and crosses the Seine concluding at an amazing modern building in La Défense called La Grande Arche. We also spent a long time sitting in the sun watching kids ride their bikes, scooters and skateboards in an empty fountain with a view back toward the center of Paris.

It was really difficult to edit these photos down to one blog post as I took several hundred!

First, the great Moretti sculpture –

Moretti sculpture at La Defense in Paris, France

Moretti sculpture reflection at La Defense, Paris, France

This beautiful Parisian woman modeled for me in front of a massive Calder sculpture –

Calder sculpture at La Defense, Paris, France

Calder sculpture at La Defense, Paris, France

Two views of La Grande Arche –

La Grande Arche, Paris, France

La Grande Arche at La Defense, Paris, France

The fountain –

Children playing in an empty fountain at La Defense in Paris, France

Child riding bike in an empty fountain at La Defense in Paris, France

 

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3 Comments

  1. Francis

    Beautiful stuff, Will!

  2. Jeff

    scary good!

  3. heija

    Hey Will,

    Great pics! I stayed in La Defense a few years ago and we had a great time…easy commute to Paris, interesting taste of a different area. Thanks for the travel tips! I will report back…if we survive.

    Best,
    Heija