Last November, I bought tickets to see Linkin Park live in Paris. It would be my second visit to the city – and my first time seeing a world-famous band perform live at a sold-out venue. It was also going to be my first time at an Olympic stadium. Fast forward to July 11, 2025: the experience did not disappoint.
We arrived early in Paris, taking the Eurostar from Brussels at 06:03. After roughly an hour and a half, we reached a city that was just beginning to wake up. Our hotel check-in wasn’t until 15:00, which gave us the entire morning and afternoon to explore – and explore we did.
Armed with my beloved Fujinon 80mm MACRO lens, I set out to capture rooftops, facades, people, and all sorts of curious details that caught my eye. Judging by this list, you can probably guess what to expect in the galleries below.
The Unexpected Purchases
Before you start scrolling through my galleries, let me first show you what I unexpectedly bought.
To begin with, I’ve never been a true fan of any one band. Sure, I’ve had occasional flings with a few, but I’ve never traveled a considerable distance just to attend a concert. I’ve also never owned a band t-shirt – or any band merchandise, for that matter. So, you can probably imagine the significance of what follows.
I stood in line for nearly an hour to buy a Linkin Park t-shirt, a special limited-edition Haribo pack, and a handful of stickers. Fortunately, the weather was perfect during our entire stay, and we had plenty of water to help endure the wait.
My second unexpected purchase happened at the official boutique of Pierre Guillaume. While I no longer consider myself a die-hard fan, I couldn’t resist paying a visit to his little temple of olfactory magic. My all-time favorite perfume, JANGALA, had been discontinued by Mr. Guillaume himself. So imagine my surprise when, during our visit, I managed to find – and purchase – the very last 50ml bottle available. My signature scent. A fitting end to a truly memorable trip.
Now, let’s go deeper.
Street Photography in Paris
I like to think of myself as a street photographer. Admittedly, roaming the streets with an 80mm MACRO lens might not be the most conventional choice for someone in my shoes – but you work with what you have. That said, a more street-friendly lens may be on the horizon. I’ve been eyeing a few prime options: 23mm, 33mm, or 56mm. Will one of them make it into my kit? Stay tuned.
This time, I captured a girl having a smoke. An elderly man crossing the street. A cluster of Danish cyclists – either deep in a training camp or hopelessly lost during the Tour de France. A woman mid-phone call. And countless runners. We were honestly surprised by how many runners and cyclists filled the streets of Paris. Could some of them have been training for HYROX?
Take a look and see for yourself.
Food Photography in Paris
During our first trip to Paris, we mostly ate Italian. This time, we planned to change that. So, naturally, I had an English breakfast the morning after the concert. (Go ahead – roll your eyes.)
But to redeem myself: for lunch before the Linkin Park show, we discovered an exquisite restaurant serving proper French cuisine. I had slow-cooked chicken with mashed potatoes and sun-dried tomatoes. My wife opted for duck breast with grilled vegetables. The duck was pink and tender. The chicken? Simply wonderful. So wonderful, in fact, that I forgot to take a photo before diving in. You’ll just have to trust me – it was that good.
And yes, I did manage to try a Paris-Brest. Only once, sadly. No champagne this time.
The Seine Through My MACRO lens
Let’s be honest – four out of my five readers probably opened this article just to see photos from the concert. I get it. I really do. But stick with me a little longer – at least until I manage to make you look at the Seine.
Some of you already know that I have a soft spot for water. One of the few things missing in Brussels is a proper river. Sure, we have a canal, but it runs through a less-than-charming part of town. It’s not exactly the kind of place where you’d go for a picnic or stretch out with a book. Not like in Paris, where people actually enjoy being by the river.
As of July 5, parts of the Seine’s banks have been transformed into a faux beach, complete with palm trees, sand, and lounge chairs. A delightful surprise. You’ll know what I mean when you see the photo with the red umbrellas.
And just for context: on our first day – before the concert – we racked up 15,000 steps. By the end of the day after the concert, we had hit 23,000. So yes, we earned those riverside breaks.
“This is what you asked for…”
This was a sold-out show. After the concert, both the band and Stade de France confirmed that 80,000 fans came to see Linkin Park perform live. We were seated in sector Z10, row 21 – right in front of the stage, above the pits, with a perfect view of everything.
The sound was phenomenal. My Apple Watch kept buzzing with notifications – sound levels peaking at 90, even 100 decibels. Linkin Park played their entire new album FROM ZERO, along with iconic favorites like NUMB and IN THE END. To my surprise (and delight), Mike Shinoda even performed REMEMBER THE NAME.
By the time you’re reading this, I will have already bought tickets to our next Linkin Park concert. Time to start a new collection – official Linkin Park t-shirts. Thank you, and yes, in case you’re wondering: the photos below were taken with a Samsung S25 Ultra.
As for the opening acts:
- JPEGMAFIA – Experimental hip-hop. Let’s just say, he gave our eardrums a proper warm-up.
- ONE OK ROCK – A high-energy band from Japan. Powerful, dynamic, and currently on tour – they’ll be stopping in Brussels soon.
Now, have you seen the meme “Directed by Michael Bay”? When Linkin Park launched into WHAT I’VE DONE, three fans in front of us suddenly held up black posters with that very phrase. Right on cue with the chorus. It was cinematic. As Optimus Prime said at the end of Transformers:
“WE ARE HERE. WE. ARE. WAITING.”
And yes – we, Linkin Park fans, were indeed waiting.
Up close and personal
With an 80mm MACRO lens, you can truly get up close and personal. It allows you to capture details most people would overlook – textures, objects, and moments that feel almost hidden to the naked eye.
Have you ever noticed how photogenic Dr. Martens shoes are? There’s something about their shape, their wear, their attitude. Also, during my last visit to Paris, the Ferris wheel either wasn’t there or somehow escaped my attention. This time, it stood tall and unmistakable.
And finally, there’s something undeniably Parisian about watching a woman sit at a café terrace, order a black coffee, and light a cigarette. It’s a scene that feels effortlessly iconic. So very… Paris.
Building Photography in Paris
You’ve made it to the end. This will be the largest gallery – buildings, streets, and more buildings.
Here’s a little story. The Linkin Park concert ended around 23:30. Our original plan was to take the metro back to the hotel. But – as you can imagine – an ocean of people had spilled onto the streets, and the metro station was absolutely packed. So, we decided to walk. According to Google Maps, it would take us 1 hour and 27 minutes.
What I didn’t expect to encounter on this Paris trip? Street workers. Somehow, we ended up walking through a neighborhood that felt like the set of a gritty crime drama – one you’d associate with stabbings, shootings, and, well, prostitution. Fortunately, the only thing we saw was a handful of disinterested and unremarkable prostitutes.
On a more wholesome note, we also visited the Notre-Dame de Paris. Still full of scaffolding, tourists, and noise – but undeniably beautiful and majestic inside.
There you have it –
My second trip to Paris.
My first Linkin Park concert.
One unforgettable experience.
If you’ve scrolled all the way down to this point, thank you. I’d love to hear from you – drop a comment and let me know which photo stood out to you the most. I’m planning to enter a summer photo competition, and your input might just help me choose the winning shot.
Thank you, Paris.
And thank you, Emily, Mike, and everyone from Linkin Park – you made it truly unforgettable.
Kindly,
Olaaf
