La Grande Arche, Paris

[jmr]

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La Defense possesses some stunning modern architecture, if you like that sort of thing; happily, I do.

 

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[cboudier]

Please, tell me that you didn't use a Leica lens for this shot !?!

(The Arche is NOT a barrel...)

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[jmr]

Sorry Christophe, I used a Digilux 4.3 for this shot in April 2002.

 

It was prone to barrel distortion, not something I now tend to get with the Digilux 2 which is much truer.

 

I must admit that I have perhaps made things worse by some less than perfect perspective correction in Photoshop

[Michael-IIIf]

John,

 

The distortion on the D2 annoyed me so much I bought this plug-in for PhotoShop. It works very well and I've used it for other cameras too.

 

http://www.kekus.com/software/plugin.html

 

Michael

[jmr]

Michael,

 

thanks for the link, I've downloaded the trial version and played around with it on a couple of images; I agree, it looks good. I've let it loose on the image above - which offended some people's sensitivities. While not perfect, I can see the difference.

 

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Thanks again.

[cboudier]

... which offended some people's sensitivities ...

 

Far better now JR, and thank you for your effort

[jmr]

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Christophe,

 

thanks, you were right about the original. It's funny how one's feelings for a photo, and the time and place it represents, can make one blind to its shortcomings. I guess that's the real value of good criticism, thanks again.

[jlancasterd]

John

 

I like this shot - especially in its corrected form - but don't go a bundle on the vertical pipes(?) and their associated stays under the arch - are they permanent, or just a temporary scaffolding of some kind? I've only seen this building from a distance, so haven't had the chance to examine it in detail.

 

The Digilux 4.3 was my first essay into digital photography too and it almost put me off for good! The ergonomics are apalling for someone brought up on 'normal' rangerfinder and SLR cameras, the battery life is minimal and the memory cards are unreliable - it's no wonder that Leica left Fuji for Panasonic after that model, IMHO.

[andybarton]

Everything you see there (including the scaffold towers etc) is a permanent fixture.

[tuna]

Impressive capture of an impressive structure. Oh,...and an impressive fix.

 

Tuna

[hm1912]

A fascinating construction. Thanks for posting this (and for the fix).

 

Best,

[jmr]

Thanks guys.

 

John, as Andy says the "scaffolding" is permanent. Actually its the lift (elevator) shaft which takes you to an art gallery and a rather good restaurant at the top of the arch.

 

Here's a snap looking almost straight upwards

 

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and one of the lift itself

 

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