World Tour Part I - Darmstadt

Ta da! I am presenting you with the first part of a new photo series in which I am going to show places of the world, big or small, remarkable or not so much. We are beginning with a "not so much" candidate, Darmstadt.

In Darmstadt, you can always go for a walk:


whether you have four paws or two:


You can confess your sins:


or just admire the pretty colours and the beautiful architecture of the Russian Orthodox church:


Afterwards, you can have a quiet little chat in a secluded place:


And if you contemplate moving there, you should know that some of their houses, namely the Hundertwasser complex "Waldspirale", are not exactly straight:


but very colourful and royal looking:

Berlin.... du bist so wunderbar, Berlin...*

I was visiting friends in Berlin last weekend and was surprised to hear that they're not rejoicing the fact that they're here every waking moment ;-).

Here some impressions.

The Quadriga on top of the Brandenburg Gate:


Underneath this monument, several epochs come together:


Remains of the Berlin Wall:


Reichstag:


And while walking around the Reichstag in the blistering heat, I was seriously considering this arrangement:


In case you didn't know, Berlin is broke - but in style:


and nevertheless isn't losing its colourfulness:

*And the title "Berlin.. you are so wonderful, Berlin" is at the same time the soundtrack to the post.

Batman's own church in Würzburg

.. created in his image ;-)

Modern architecture

Seen from a different angle, the city's architecture can seem quite different...

Human Kangaroo

This picture was taken three years ago, at the first skyscraper festival I "witnessed".

Jump!

The square in front of the Cologne Cathedral is like made for skaters of all age and skill levels. This one managed to lift a few centimetres off the ground...

Cologne for beginners

The first image, the biggest clichée and the most famous monument of the city:

Nightlife Reloaded

This portrait of the city at night was taken on the last day of Luminale, hence in spring. I wonder if it looks any different from those taken in winter. Does it?

Haunted House

This is a run-down house behind Apolda's train station, looks a bit like a haunted mansion in this photo I think.

A tried and tested combination

Again, the city shows its old and new side together, at dusk this time. The skyscrapers seen from the old part of town, Sachsenhausen - nice area to go out but I wouldn't want to live there.

Family Picture

I love taking photos of photographers and their motives.. like this one, of a Chinese "tribe" ;-)

My Zeil

My Zeil is a relatively new shopping mall downtown with an interesting architecture (I will post one or two more photos some time later). Inside, they are very strict and don't allow to take pictures, so I shot this one from the crowded escalator :D

The full hour

Always at the full hour after 10 p.m., thousands of little lights start flickering all over the Eiffel Tower.
I captured this spectacle with my Nikon 2200 (in pre-SLR times), without a tripod and holding my breath...

What panorama software to use?

This is the first panorama shot I'm uploading to my blog and actually the first one I created with my DSLR that I'd be at least half way happy with. I mean it's not great but it's not perfectly sucky either. But it could be better.

The software I used for this picture is the one that came with the camera - PhotoStitch. There was one with my old camera but I somehow lost it (the software, not the camera) and I think it was better. But now I don't even remember what it was called. Anyway, if you have some experience with panorama software and can recommend a good one, please do! I'll owe you and be forever grateful ;-)


PS: Am I boring you with London photos? I don't care :p

Sky High

Yesterday, I left the house in time to catch the train ten minutes earlier than usual - which gave me a nice time buffer to set up my tripod before work and catch the world around the skyscrapers that adorn the city centre before dawn.

Oh and I have a question to you, visitors and followers of my blog: Would you appreciate additional information on the technical side of a photo or could you not care less?

In Bruges

Bruges (Brugge in Dutch) is a small picturesque town in Belgium and with all its narrow streets, medieval houses and green-bordered canals, it is "like a fucking fairy tale" ;-)

It's London, baby!

I took this picture when I was in London for the first time, in the summer of 2005, and fell in love with the city. So I'll go again this year, for the 4th time now, with the difference that this time, I will not only visit the city but most of all the friends I have there. And this photo is dedicated to one of them, my friend and "guru" Briejesh, a guy who is an awesome photographer and shares his software as well as his knowledge ever so patiently with me.