Is This Viral Photo of The Bir Hakeim Bridge Fake?
A striking photo of Paris keeps making the rounds on social media, showing a train crossing Pont de Bir-Hakeim with the Sacré-Cœur appearing impossibly large in the background.
Some say it’s a masterpiece of photography. Others insist it must be fake. So, what’s the truth?
Can You Really See Sacré-Cœur From This Bridge?
Yes, but not like this – at least, not with the naked eye. If you stand on Pont de Bir-Hakeim, you can spot Sacré-Cœur in the distance, but it appears much smaller than it does in this image. So why does it look so massive here? The answer lies in lens compression.
The Photography Trick That Changes Everything
The effect in this photo isn’t Photoshop, it’s telephoto lens compression. When photographers use a long focal length (think zoom lenses), objects in the background appear much closer to the foreground than they actually are. This is a common technique in photography, often used to make cityscapes look more dramatic.
For comparison, take a look at how the Eiffel Tower sometimes appears to be looming right behind the Trocadéro fountains in certain photos. That’s the same trick at play – distance is compressed, making landmarks seem much closer than they are in reality.
How You Can Capture the Same Effect
If you want to replicate this shot yourself, you’ll need a telephoto lens, preferably in the 200-300mm range. Stand on the right spot on the bridge, frame the metro line and the arches, and zoom in toward Sacré-Cœur. You’ll see the background pull forward, creating that surreal effect.
So, Is the Photo Fake?
Not at all. It’s just a brilliant use of camera optics. While some photos circulating online may be edited for color or contrast, the perspective itself is a real trick of photography, not Photoshop magic.
Next time you see a Paris photo that looks too good to be true, remember, sometimes, the camera sees the world differently than our eyes do.