The Ultimate Scene Experience – Paris 2024 Recap

The Ultimate Scene Experience – Paris 2024 Recap

Last year, Sony launched Scene Festival, an inaugural two-month period during which the Scene platform would be filled with hundreds of events hosted by Sony Digital Imaging Advocates like myself, camera stores and Industry experts across Australia and New Zealand. To top it all off, five guests who attended an event during the Festival would win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris for the Ultimate Scene Experience, led by two event hosts from the festival. The more events attended, the better the odds of winning. While most competitions feel wildly unobtainable, the odds for this competition in combination with the prize on offer were unbelievably good, certainly better than you’d find in Vegas.  

DAY ONE - WELCOME TO PARIS 

Having arrived at 8:00 pm, we had a fairly low-key first day, which was much needed for the packed itinerary ahead! Although we didn’t do much exploring that night, our hotel, situated in the heart of the Madeleine district, was opposite the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. This incredible neo-classical-style church, built in 1828, set the tone for the different architecture and history that this city had to offer and that we were going to experience over the coming days.   

DAY TWO - PALACE OF VERSAILLES

On day two, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the hotel, featuring an assortment of French staples such as fresh baguettes and croissants. After devouring my fair share of croissants filled with Nutella and getting my caffeine fix, we departed for the Palace of Versailles. Being the former royal residence to French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI, it was no surprise that the Palace and its grounds were simply spectacular. After exploring and photographing the breathtaking architecture and pristine gardens, we enjoyed lunch at Ore Restaurant located in the Dufour Pavilion of the Palace. But our day didn’t end there. After lunch, we visited the Great Stables to witness the National Equestrian Academy of the Estate of Versailles perform La Voie de l’Écuyère. Walking into the theatre felt like stepping back in time, watching the symbiotic relationship of the horse and rider, carrying out traditions dating back to the reign of Louis XIV. After exploring the stables, we capped off our first day with dinner and a show at the iconic Moulin Rouge.

DAY THREE - PORTRAIT PHOTOWALK

Day three began with a sunrise shoot at the Louvre, and what a sunrise it was! If you’re planning a trip and hoping to capture heavily visited tourist spots, my tip is to get up early and shoot at sunrise. There is something special about visiting these world-renowned landmarks and having them all to yourself.

After grabbing some breakfast, we were back on the road to meet our two models, Eric and Mimi, to photograph as we explored several popular areas such as Rue Cremieux, Ile Saint-Louis, Tuileries Garden, and Notre Dame. The photo walk ended at one of my favourite spots, the Alexandre III Bridge, for sunset.

DAY FOUR - BALLET AT PLACE DU TROCADERO & OPERA GARNIER

On day four, we were up early for sunrise at Place Du Trocadero to capture sunrise behind the Eiffel Tower with our model, Colleen. While the wet and overcast conditions were not ideal for cityscape photography, they proved perfect for capturing Colleen’s ballet routine. 

After the sun had risen, we explored the neighbouring streets of the Eiffel Tower, capturing Colleen’s elegant ballet poses with the iconic Parisian scenery. One of our winners, Laura, had brought along a wedding dress which was also put to good use. After lunch, we were off with Colleen to photograph her at the Opera Garnier. Paris is full of stunning architecture, but photographing Colleen in the Opera Garnier was truly a surreal and unforgettable experience, definitely a personal highlight of the trip. 

But our day wasn't finished just yet. We ended with a final shoot at the top of the Arc De Triomphe to photograph the sunset. Whilst the sun was nowhere to be found, the overcast skies and light rain provided plenty of composition interest. 

.    - Sony Alpha 7R V - Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

DAY FIVE - CHÂTEAU DE CHAMBORD

Day five saw us with another early start, this time to board a minivan tour to Château de Chambord. The 2.5-hour journey provided an opportunity to catch up on some well-needed rest and a stop at a local boulangerie for freshly baked croissants. Once arriving at the Château, we took a self-guided audio tour, exploring the interior and exterior of this breathtaking palace. For lunch, we were driven to Caves Ambacia, followed by a tasting at Marc Brédif.

DAY SIX - SUNRISE AT THE EIFFEL TOWER

On day six, we were up for our final sunrise shoot of the trip, using the neighbouring streets and car trails as leading lines to the iconic Eiffel Tower. After sunrise, we had some downtime for independent exploration before regrouping at the Louvre. Unlike at sunrise, where we had the place to ourselves, we arrived to find thousands of people lining up to get in. This time, though, we were there to visit the museum and, of course, see the Mona Lisa. Exploring the Louvre at our own pace was a treat, but our next call time was back at the hotel for our farewell dinner cruise along the Seine River. To finish off our final evening of the Ultimate Scene Experience, we made our way to the Eiffel Tower to watch the light show. Seeing this iconic landmark twinkle and sparkle in the night sky, we all stood in awe of its beauty, the experiences shared, and the friendships made.

I want to thank Sony Australia for including me in this unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.