Berlin by night

Dear all,

First of all, I want to apologize for the long break. Well, I am back. The above photograph is one of the first of a series I started recently. This city has so many cool locations that it took me – and will take me much more time to figure out where it’s interesting to shoot.

Here, the location was tricky, as I was stopping pretty close to the highway where you could always be questioned by the police. So, you’d better be quick.

For those of you who are interested in motorsports, here some background information: The first national event in German Grand Prix motor racing was held at the AVUS (Automobil Verkehrs und Übungs-Straße) race circuit in southwestern Berlin in 1926 as a sports car race. The first race at AVUS, in heavy rain, was won by Germany’s native son, Rudolf Caracciola in a Mercedes-Benz. The event was marred by Adolf Rosenberger’s crash into one of the marshals’ huts, killing three people. The German Grand Prix became an official event in 1929, but would not return to AVUS again until 1959, and then only once.

So much for now.

Stay tuned …

Location Scouting

If you are an outdoor photographer you are always on the hunt for interesting locations. And today was such a day for me. Checking out new and interesting places. And there are many of them around …

cable factory KWO

The KWO cable company was built in the years 1927/28. One of the many old factory sites in Berlin.

industrial crane

Here I imagine a Fashion Show ! Some colorful spot lights. A narrow long carpet …. Et voila ….

factory site

I will come back here with my Sinar large format camera, that’s for sure !

fire escape stairs on old factory site.

I love these stairs. In New York City they are around just everywhere. Here, it’s a more rare subject.

Comments are very welcome ! How do you find the location for your next big shooting ? Let me know …

Industrial Ruins

I don’t know what makes a few old walls, broken windows and junk in the backyard so fascinating, but the following of those places is huge. I have to admit, I am one of them. In this respect I am lucky, as one jewel is just in walking distance to my place …

backside view

Founded back in 1832 by Wilhelm Spindler, it quickly became the largest laundry in Germany and the outrider talking about “chemical cleaning”.

main building

1922 the company was transformed into a corporation and between 1922 and 1925 Schering AG took over the majority of shares.
After WorldWar II Schering was put under trusteeship in 1946 and split up in 1949. Later, around 1980 up to 4000 employees were working on site.

close up

After the German reunification the company’s name was changed to REWATEX AG and finally taken over by Cologne based firm Larose Hygiene-Service-GmbH. In the mid 1990s it stopped being productive. Today only the ruins are witness of a long history. However, there are plans to revive the huge areal and bring back smaller industries and housing.

I will dig in deeper and start exploring the site in the coming weeks …

Stay tuned …

Citylife.

Today, let me share a few of my photographic imressions with you …

Sometimes, the most interesting characters are just sitting around the corner. What is this guy doing there ??

This one is for my personal collection of billboards. Simple. Clear. And with a strong visual message. A winner … “Best german billboard 2008″.

This lady is enjoying a dinner with friends. You don’t see the lady ? Take a closer look ….

Did you know that 30 percent of the total surface of Berlin consists of water and local recreation areas.

Closeup on the Sculpture “1938-45. Trains to Life. Trains to Death”. Designed by artist and eyewitness Frank Meisler, the sculpture depicts children about to board a train as part of the “Kindertransport,” which is how Meisler himself survived. Many of those children never saw their parents again.

Inside “Oranienburger Tor” a selection of artists found a creative environment for working and presenting their art. In addition, this building is just a fantastic location for one of my future projects …

So much for today.

Stay tuned …

Summer in the City !

TV Tower Berlin

Exploring the city since around three weeks, there is one thing that becomes clear very quickly: Berlin is the city of countless little restaurants, daily demonstrations and the shortest pedestrian crossing green phases for traffic lights in Europe – maybe in the world.
Besides that, there are galleries wherever one goes together with cultural events for all possible interests. The mix in different styles in architecture makes every excursion for the photographer a successful trip. The important part seems to be to organize the personal projects in a wise manner – it’s easy to get lost in “never really followed” projects. There are just too many interesting options.

I am just doing that myself at the moment …

So, stay tuned …

There’s a new man in town …

The long silence can be explained by the fact, that I changed location. Being now based in Berlin there are so many spots to discover. This city is full of photogenic locations ! I can already promise updates in the architecture section. So much for today.

Stay connected …

The Art of moving

Volvo

Each year the latest and most stylish cars are presented to the public at the Geneva Automobil Salon. One thing that was new, is the large amount of “environmentally friendly” cars put on display: Hybrids, Natural Gaz or Electro-Cars, you name it. This might sound a bit boring to the sports-car enthusiast – but times have changed. Even driving a Porsche can be green in the near future.

Porsche Greenster

The impressive thing is, that most of these new cars are not just show-cars but already working prototypes or even already on-sale models. Change has come !

and you can safe on fuel ....

Feel free to check out more by clicking
here.

Stay tuned …

David Hobby – The Strobist workshop at CERN

For most of us it’s a hobby, for David it’s passion, enthusiasm and a job since 20 years. Being a successful photo journalist and a talented tutor at the same time – this is what makes David’s workshops very much recommendable. Far away from boring lessons, he is just telling the inside story. Showing several of his latest assignment works and explaining step by step how to get the light right using only simple accessories like camera system flashes (speed-lights) was the first part of a workshop organized by the CERN photo Club.

In a second part even the absolutely un-sexy auditorium was transformed into an on location set where David demonstrated how to make the maximum use of the room and the light.
With two bags full of cool toys, everybody could get a close look on all the little helpers like gel filters, pocket wizzards, mini soft boxes and many other small pieces of equipment that make the life of the photographer much more easy. Instead of fighting with high-tech gear, one should concentrate on the artistic part of the game. That’s the message.

Thanks for an entertaining and informative day, David …

EPFL Rolex Learning Center Update

EPFL Rolex Learning Center

With just 10 month to go before the official opening of the EPFL Rolex Learning Center end of the year the upper level is close to being finished.

A view inside is possible here.

Stay tuned, as I am following this project till the end (of the construction), which is the beginning of a new era for the students at the EPFL.

Winter Landscape Photography

duck in the snow

Have a look at the latest Landscape Gallery ! The Vallee du Joux, located in the Jura Mountains, north of Geneva, Switzerland is one of my favorite spots in the region.

Rarely more beautiful than in winter time. Check it out …