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Canon Image Challenge | all galleries >> Challenges From The Past >> 2015 Challenges >> CIC 140: Show Some Emotion (hosted by Alastair) >> CIC 140 - Exhibition > Love Locks
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12-NOV-2012 KChristian

Love Locks

Boyfriend takes a photo as his girlfriend places a "Love Lock" on the Pont de l'Archevêché Bridge in Paris.

"A love lock or love padlock is a padlock which sweethearts lock to a bridge, fence, gate, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love. Typically the sweethearts' names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolize unbreakable love, Since the 2000s, love locks have proliferated at an increasing number of locations worldwide. They are sometimes treated by municipal authorities as litter or vandalism, and there is some cost to their removal. However, there are authorities that embrace them, and that use them as fundraising projects or tourism attractions." - Wikipedia


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Canon Image Challenge04-Aug-2015 23:31
I like the unqiue point of view and the addition of people. A good street photography photo :)

As for the locks, I can't speak for Paris but in NYC... I've recently noticed locks on the Brooklyn Bridge. It's a tourist attraction on its own and a landmark. Overtime the locks (seem) to be removed. Which I agree with. If it was some other pedestrian passage which didn't attract any attention otherwise, then perhaps the added cost of maintenance would've been worth it.

-Techo
Canon Image Challenge20-Jul-2015 17:30
Paul, there have been some issues (from what I've read), but every time the authorities remove the locks, people just put new ones back up. The Wikipedia article I referenced below talks about this a little bit. - Ken
Canon Image Challenge20-Jul-2015 03:25
Seems like I read somewhere they were beginning to remove those locks because the excess loading on the bridges wasn't safe any longer. Paul
Canon Image Challenge19-Jul-2015 14:13
Thanks, Alastair! I posted a close-up of some the locks in pending:http://www.pbase.com/cichallenge/image/160778330. Wikipedia has some additional info on this phenomenon here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_lock . - Ken
Canon Image Challenge19-Jul-2015 02:50
Nice capture and back story. I hadn't come across this phenomenon before.
Alastair