Notre-Dame and the Seine Flood – Long Exposure Photography in Paris

1 January 2019 – Categorie: Architecture – Sebastien Desnoulez

Architectural Photography: How to Capture the Rising Waters in Paris?

On January 29, 2018, the Seine overflowed its banks, submerging the Parisian quays. That day, I shot a series of long exposure photos from the Cardinal Lustiger Bridge, perfectly aligned with Rue de la Cité. This vantage point offers a direct perspective on Notre-Dame Cathedral, illuminated by soft winter light under a shifting sky.

For this photo, I used a Nikon D800 with a Nikon 16–35mm f/4 lens set to 16mm. A ND1000 filter allowed a 180-second exposure at f/16 and ISO 50. This technique smooths the water’s movement while preserving architectural detail with precision.

Composition is built on several elements considered from the moment of capture. The ultra-wide angle emphasizes the foreground—the flooded Seine—which becomes the central subject. A diagonal begins from the lower-left corner, drawn by the edge where the wall meets the smoothed water. This leads the eye naturally to the cathedral. The visual path contrasts the uniform, fluid surface of the river with the structured details of Notre-Dame and the trees on the right bank. Finally, the streaked clouds from the long exposure converge toward the cathedral, enhancing the dynamic balance.

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Nearby, another photo—taken just a few meters away, almost in reverse view—shows the powerful current. A submerged tree trunk swirls in the eddies, visually pinned against the Montebello quay. This close-up contrasts with the apparent tranquility of the Seine in the monumental view of Notre-Dame, and in its own way, expresses the hidden tension animating the series.

Taken just minutes apart, the two images document an exceptional weather event while exploring an aesthetic approach to a flooded Paris. Black and white naturally imposed itself as the best way to emphasize the contrast of textures, forms, and light.

For a different vision of Notre-Dame during the flood, also see this night photo taken from the Pont de la Tournelle, shot the same day.

Buy a fine art print of this photograph, limited to 30 copies, at the online gallery Une image pour rêver

About the photographer: Sebastien Desnoulez is a photographer of architecture and urban landscapes. He explores slowness, visual tension, and climatic phenomena through precisely composed long exposures. See more Paris photos.

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