Tours Société Générale Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the twin towers are the Tours Société Générale (also called Tour Alicante and Tour Chassagne) in la Défense Paris. The towers were built in 1995 and are the headquarters of France’s largest banking group. The buildings are identical and were designed by architects, Michel Andrault, Pierre Parat and Nicolas Ayoub. The height of both towers is 167 and the number of floors is 37. In its interior the two towers differ though since one is decorated with red Alicante marble and the other with white Chassange stone from which the towers got their names.

In the background the Tour Granite could be seen, an office skyscraper ordered by the Société Générale. The building is newly constructed (2008). The architect is Christian de Portzamparc. It has 40 floors and a height of 183 meters. Like the twin towers the Tour Alicante and the Tour Chassagne, Tour Granite has an inclined roof.

avene, patshoo, leo61, PaulVDV, gracious, syd1946, amazon, Tue, Docarmo, jhm, alvaraalto, rodgerg, asajernigan, Morac, romanaa, jaywalker, maloutim, dabeed, martou, ruisc_pt, buscape trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

avene (11080) 2008-06-15 10:56

excellent shot, Ulf, I like a lot the upward looking point of view and how well the glass surface works to create a feeling of weigthlessness, something many pieces of mordern architecture could use :) fascinating collection of different angles and shapes, this is very well seen and presented.

with best regards,
Kristine

Greg1949 (8511) 2008-06-15 10:59

Ulf, great urban-scape, it is really impressive looking and the distortion of looking up is not at all obvious. Color and saturation and crispness of focus are great and the composition is excellent; great lines and reflections. Fine presentation,.

Greg

npecanhuk (14426) 2008-06-15 11:00

Hello Ulf!
One more picture showing pretty interesting modern architecture in Paris!
The vertical position of the photo enhances the height and beauty of the buildings!
TFS - Congratulations!
Greetings from Brazil,
Neyvan Peçanhuk

patshoo (944) 2008-06-15 11:00

Impressive architecture photo,Your POV usaully made a strong major line to made a relevant of the photo.Sharpness still play the great role in this photo style,Well composition and well prepare story.Good work,TFS.

leo61 (43494) 2008-06-15 11:20

Hi Ulf!
Excellent architectureshot,taken from a great POV.I like a lot the perspective and the blue tones.Great sharpness overall and a nice sky with these clouds.
Regards,leo

kmarscher (2881) 2008-06-15 11:20

Very nice angle of the architecture as it becomes one with the sky. The up angle also eliminates road traffic and pedestrians that may clutter the view. Well balanced compostion too.

PaulVDV (5314) 2008-06-15 11:51

Hello Ulf,
Another very beautiful modern architecture picture of yours.
I like the composition, the colours (buildings and sky) and the reflections of the buildings on each others.
Regards, Paul

chawax (6132) 2008-06-15 12:50

Hi Ulf,
I love the POV, it makes these towers very impressive. Very good sharpness and a nice sky.
Regards,
Olivier

jonathan_hart (22580) 2008-06-15 12:58

well framed, good exposure, the skyscrapers are well named ! interesting BG sky
regards
jo

tomescuc (2837) 2008-06-15 17:22

Good POV to outline the shapes and reflections.
cheers,
CT

gracious (20017) 2008-06-15 19:53

Hello Ulf,
Superb composition on these modern architecture well captured!
excellent pov with perfect sharpness, awesome colour and details
great exposure and focus
well done
best regards
Tony

lacroux (3172) 2008-06-16 1:15

Hello Ulf
Superb symphony in blue of the towers at La Défense. You have succeeded magnificently in doing justice to the beauty of this ensemble of modern architecture, set off by the sky and the light.
Regards.
Pierre.

syd1946 (17945) 2008-06-16 10:29

Hello Ulf,
I think this is the more impressive image from your last series...Excellent architecture composition from this low point to the great perspective to the top!

Greetings,
Thomas

amazon (10799) 2008-06-16 11:31

dear friend,
majestic builts...
great composition,
excellent pov,
best regards from istanbul,
iffet

vincz (19043) 2008-06-16 13:25

Wow... very spectacular with such great blue colors. You did an excellent job here.

Tue (25608) 2008-06-17 4:59

Hi Ulf,
An impressive capture of the office twin towers. Great reflections of glass facades in glass facades as well as a beautiful graphism. The slightly cloudy sky is a great background and the light is enhancing. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

Docarmo (8844) 2008-06-17 11:01

Hi Ulf,
This POV is even better than the previous one, you surpass yourself. The blue buildings and sky, in ton-sur-ton, are really eye-catcher. The sharpness is also very impressive. A really good job. TFS!

Cheers,
MCV

jhm (83093) 2008-06-18 4:31

Hello Ulf,

You chose a very good moment for take this wonderful image.
Modern architecture with the glass walls against each other.
Also the dark shadows give a good line on the walls, colour and saturation and focus are great and the composition is excellent.
Very well done.

Best regards,
John.

alvaraalto (5273) 2008-06-18 10:30

Hi Ulf,

The soccer-sky was not this high for France this time. But this picture is certainly three point worth. In about one hour we will encourage the Swedish team to be the next opponent of the Orange boy, but Guus Hiddink is a excellent coach of Russia, so it will be very thrilling.

Groet Rob

toto (18755) 2008-06-19 4:10 [Comment]

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danyy (69247) 2008-06-19 14:14

Bonjour Ulf,
tes 4 dernières photos sont des petits bijoux en matière architecturale. Dans des lumières très bien capturées et de mises au point tellement précises.
Ici, la perspective qui tue et des reflets magiques/
BIen à toi.
Daniel.

anducina (8127) 2008-06-20 2:47

Hi Ulf,
Excellent architecture, blue tones and futuristic feeling. Impressive architecture, I must admit, although I am not a great fan of skyscrapers...
Have a nice WE !
Andreea

rodgerg (24677) 2008-06-20 5:22

Hello Ulf,

A superb vew of this modern architectur. A very good POV. Beuatiful reflections in the buildings. A pictuir very nice and a photo tecnical perfect. Congratulations.
Roger

asajernigan (14236) 2008-06-20 5:27

Ulf,
This is an interesting shot of modern architecture. The different shapes and angles create nice lines through out the shot. The lighting and colors are fine with nice sharpness and detail.
TFS,
Asa

Morac (20737) 2008-06-20 11:49

Hello Ulf,

Again a superb contribution to the photographs of The Defense.
Cheer and thank you

Marc

romanaa (2551) 2008-06-20 15:04

Hi Ulf,
this is a great one. The perspective works well and the sharpness exceptional, the square windows make great graphical effect and the reflections are so nice and go well with the clear blue sky.
Best wishes
ROMANA

Ptitcaid (632) 2008-06-25 8:23

Bonjour Ulf,
J'aime bien cette photo pour les bâtiments en argent les uns à côté des autres.
Le soleil se réfléchit et c'est très beau, en tout cas moi j'adore.
Au revoir,
P'Tit Caïd

jaywalker (12248) 2008-07-05 6:46

Hi Ulf, I love old building best, however some modern structures do have an appeal, this sharp cornered architecture with it's full glass walls looks great, the reflective light is a wonderful sight, & I love your vertical composition, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

maloutim (4001) 2008-07-06 22:28

Hi Ulf!
I like this series of modern buildings at La Defense. The composition here is elegant with a good balance between the twin towers, emphasised by the entrance in the middle, and the Tour Granite in the background.
The beautiful cloudy sky reflecting in the glass of the buildings gives a very good effect too!
All the best!
MarieLouise.

jrj (34779) 2008-11-17 4:35

Attractive capture from these towers Ulf. Perfect pov and also the right clouded sky to have an overall bluish setting in this work. Well done.

dabeed (359) 2009-02-24 12:44

good graphic photo with interesting perspective.
useful note
thanks for sharing
dabeed

martou (1672) 2009-03-11 17:53

hi Ulf,
wow stunning view, vertigo stop right there, well framed with the vertical frame for this kind of shot, nice colors, interesting note, good job,
bravo Martin

ruisc_pt (6207) 2009-03-14 10:49

Fabulous concentric lines in this "vertical" perspective.
TFS Hulf
Rui

MichaelTrezzi (3170) 2009-03-21 5:22

Hello Ulf, lucky you, when you had such a beautiful weather in Paris. However this is a wonderful view and perfect composition of the blue constructions contrasting well with the orange artefacts. Well done. Thanks for sharing. Kind regards, Michael

buscape (3911) 2009-04-23 15:18

Hello Ulf,
great architecture shot with a fine perspective and good sharpness. I like the tones of blue and the reflections on the buildings. Nice symmetry of the two towers and a lovely sky in the background. Very well done.
Best wishes,
Helmut

quillo (7248) 2009-08-24 14:01

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Hola Ulf ------------>

Excelente encuadre de los rascacielos, me gustan
los tonos azules .... la sensación es de que están
integrados con los colores del cielo, buen trabajo.

Un saludo y feliz noche.

-

westcoastgirl1 (1475) 2009-10-04 11:04

Hello Ulf

Amazing urban shot! The colours and symmetry are magnificant. Crystal clear with great exposure.

Thanks for sharing,
Tosca