The museum’s iconic entrance is the glass pyramid in the center of Cour Napoléon at the Louvre. However, there was much controversy over the design initially. The pyramid was part of an extensive renovation to modernize the complex in the mid-1980s into the world-class museum it is today — designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, the pyramid opened in April 1989.

The pyramid did not exist when I visited the Louvre on my first trip to France during high school, and I was looking forward to seeing and photographing it. Here are two pictures I quickly shot as we went inside. I’m not entirely satisfied with the images — I found it trickier than I anticipated to create the proper framing.

In retrospect, I should have used a telephoto to compress the pyramid against the ornate old-world architecture — that would’ve been more dramatic. Instead, I shot it up close with a slightly wide angle, playing upon its shape and reflection.

I think the contrast of the modern and minimal glass pyramid to the ornate stone palace was genius. The two structures are so different there is clarity in design. On the other hand, a modern stone structure without ornate detailing would compete and detract from the overall experience. From what I know about design, you must match the original exactly or create something diametrically opposite to produce maximum contrast.

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