This may seem like a long winded explanation for a seemingly mundane thing that most of us take for granted. But, if you trust me now, you’ll thank me later. While you’re in Paris on your way through the Parisian countryside, there are a few things you have to do. Obviously, you’re going to want to stop off at all of the tourist attractions that keep people flocking back to France each and every year. But, what do you do when you’re done at the Eifel Tower and want something a little more memorable than a post card that you clearly paid too much for? You get a fantastic photograph of your own of the Arc De Triomphe.

If you’ve ever been to Paris and have tried to get a picture of the Arc by using conventional picture taking wisdom, you’ve probably noticed that there is nowhere along the Champs De Elysse that is suited for taking a proper picture of the monument. For the uninitiated, there are trees all along the Champs de Elysse sidewalks. And, when you make it all of the way to the end of the walking path, you’re practically right on top of the Arc de Triomphe, meaning that nowhere along your “safe” route were you able to get a view of the monument without it being obstructed by some obstacles. That’s where a little ingenuity comes in. If you’re willing to take your life into your own hands, get ready for the ultimate photo op. As cars barrel down the Champs de Elysse, there are a few pedestrian crosswalks that let people cross every few minutes. But, only about 10 or 15 make it across, as there’s not much time at all. If you’re daring enough, dart out into the middle of the street, camera ready, and snap a shot of the Arc de Triomphe as traffic is stopped. You only have one shot at this because you’ll need to dart back to safety after just one camera click. If you do it correctly, you’ll have the photo no one else does!