What color is the Eiffel Tower?
I woke up de très bonne heure (very early) this morning, so I decided to call my friend Mo in Paris.
I love chatting with Mo. Apart from the fact that he’s one of the most perpetually happy people I’ve ever met (c’est vrai, Monsieur Sunshine!), it’s a joy to “accompany” him as he walks Paris’ streets and describes what he’s seeing.
Today he was out for one of his legendary photo strolls, on his way to a camera shop. He described his surroundings to me and I guessed almost immediately where he was: Under the Bir-Hakeim bridge, near the Eiffel Tower.
Of the 37 bridges that span the Seine, the Bir-Hakeim is easily among my top three favorites. Its gorgeous ironwork takes me back to another time.
But it also happens to be one of my favorite spots from which to shoot the Eiffel Tower. In the mid-afternoon, the light can be spectacular.
I’ve always wondered what gave the Eiffel Tower its bronze iridescence. Today I found out, courtesy of Mo.
“They’re done painting the Eiffel Tower,” he said. We talked about what a difficult, dangerous job it must be—especially in winter.
“Did you know that they paint it several different colors?” he asked. He couldn’t remember if it got lighter or darker as it approached the top, so I promised to Google it.
Thanks to colourlovers.com, I learned that it’s painted in three shades of brown, the darkest at the bottom.
This hasn’t always been the case, though. At one point it was almost crimson; at another, yellow. Here’s the evidence, courtesy of Bret Arnett:
I must say I rather favor the brown.
A big thanks to Mo for brightening yet another day. Je te souhaite une très bonne journée!
Filed under: Friends and family, Paris, Photography, Random thoughts, Travel | 7 Comments
Tags: Eiffel Tower, MO 75, Paris, paris street photography, Photography, pont Bir Hakeim, postaday2011
I love how you captured the lightening sky in the background, beyond the dark clouds. It really gives the photo OOOMPH.
That’s fascinating – I never knew that it had been such different colours. For me the red works best. I rather like the idea of a Tour Rouge to complement the Moulin Rouge! Best of all though, would be to continue these stripes all the way up. It would look like something from Dr. Seuss. Imagine what the ladies of the 16me would make of that…
Red? Really?! Why, you’re so *daring*! I rather like your idea of painting it in stripes, as well. Or maybe with a tiger pattern. The ladies of the 16th would probably pass out cold.
Bonjour Heather ( Ms Sunshine ).
Merci infiniment, mille fois…
Je suis très touché par ta gentillesse et ta bonne humeur.
MO ( Mr Sunshine ) from Paris.
):
Right back at you, Mo! (“Relax Max!” Ça m’a fait rire toute la journée!)
Mrs. Sunshine
The photo of the Eiffel Tower is magnificent. I had no idea it’s painted at all, much less that it’s been painted different colors. I just wish I could be there now.
Thank you so much, Kathy! I was very surprised to learn about the Eiffel Tower’s technicolor paint job as well. I very much would have liked to see it in its yellow and crimson incarnations.
BTW: I just visited your blog, and it’s WONDERFUL. I just signed up as your newest subscriber.