Winter Light and Urban Poetry – Photos from La Villette Park
How can an urban park become a poetic landscape? In this photo series taken at La Villette Park, Sebastien Desnoulez captures the magic of a winter afternoon by playing with low-angle light and visual contrasts.
Sebastien Desnoulez presents a series of images captured at La Villette Park in Paris during a winter solstice afternoon. Deeply inspired by the low seasonal light, the photographer highlighted the striking contrasts between shadow and light in this iconic urban space where nature, architecture, and everyday life converge.
On a clear-skied afternoon with the sun low on the horizon, Sebastien wandered through the park, camera in hand, to capture the magic of the moment. Passionate about backlighting and flare (lens effects caused by sunlight), he used the raking light to turn the most ordinary scenes into nearly surreal moments.
Among the standout images is the Bassin de la Villette bathed in golden light, where silhouettes emerge from a soft atmosphere. The Porte de Pantin entrance is revealed in a graphic composition of shadow lines and industrial textures.
The Philharmonie de Paris building, designed by Jean Nouvel, becomes a monumental sculpture under this winter lighting. Some images focus on the metallic reflections of its façade, others on the interplay of light beneath the walkways, or on architectural details like the spiral staircases of the “Folies.”
Far from limiting itself to architecture, the series also highlights the life of the park. Children playing on the bridge, a solitary jogger, passersby captured in long shadows—each photo tells a story at a glance. The black and white treatment sometimes intensifies the mood, as in the photo of aluminum chairs aligned in the evening light.
The Géode, the park’s iconic mirrored sphere, plays with the sky and sunrays, creating a futuristic reflection effect perfectly framed by the lens. The staircase of the Folie becomes an abstract piece shaped by light and geometric lines.
This series reflects Sebastien Desnoulez’s unique eye: attention to detail, mastery of framing, and a constant search for the perfect light atmosphere. Each image reveals a sensitive approach to the city and its spaces—architectural, vegetal, or human.
See more architecture, landscape, and urban mood photography on my website, or discover the curated selection of limited edition art prints featured in the fine art photography gallery Une image pour rêver.
About the artist: Sebastien Desnoulez is a professional photographer specializing in architecture and urban mood photography. He captures light, textures, and everyday scenes with a sensitive and graphic visual style. Learn more.
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All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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