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The Louvre was deemed to be too small and crowded for Louis XIV, “Le Roi Soleil”, who decided to build and move to Versailles. Today, the Louvre is one of the most notorious art museums in the world, and the location of the beginning of a famous plot, the daVinci Code (Dan Brown).
This glass pyramid was built in the 80’s, in the main backyard of the Louvre, to serve as the main entrance to the Museum.
I took this picture in July 2004, on a weeklong trip to Paris. Having lived in Paris for more than a decade, I knew where to head and setup my gear, waiting for the perfect light. One hour after sunset, the sky was turning dark blue, while the sodium yellow lights were abound, creating a contrast between the cool blue and the warm yellow. The reflection on the still water of the surrounding pools adds to the drama, by creating an imaginary reversed Pyramid right in front of your eyes. If you have read the daVinci Code, you will know about the inverted pyramid. It is there, but it cannot be seen from outside the Pyramid.
What I like about this pyramid is its apparent lightness. It weighs tons of steel and glass, but it looks as if it is feather light. The transparency effects are magnified at night. If you go to Paris, stop by the Pyramid of the Louvre after darkness.
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