Alsum is the name of a small village on the eastern shores of the Rhine. Today, the area is used by the ThyssenKrupp Schwelgern Steel Mill, one of the largest steel mills in Germany. It is the combination of three elements, the river Rhine, the steel mill, and the Alsum Hill, which make this place a fascinating photo location, the latter providing a nicely elevated viewpoint on the other two.
Let me introduce you to Bobby. Bobby is a very special Gorilla. He is the heraldic animal of the Berlin Zoo, the first Gorilla ever to live there. And he is dead.
Most people hate it. It’s cold, wet, slippery, dark, dead. They prefer spring and summer which are hopeful, bright, and warm. I love winter. Yes, it’s dark, wet, slippery, and cold. But it also has the crystal clear beauty of ice and snow. The air is so fresh and clean and brand new, as it has never been breathed in and out by any living being before. And even if there’s no snow, the bleak and lonely silence of winter is also the sound of a new beginning. Somehow, with all distractions of colour removed, in winter it is easier to see and feel the essentials of life. So, here’s to winter, a collection of photographs of winter landscapes. Enjoy!
I am absolutely blown away by the news that six of photographs were awarded an Honorable Mention in the Monochrome Photography Awards 2017.
This post is the second part of my blog post on my top ten photographs from 2017. I don’t only share the images but also some background info which you may find interesting or entertaining. Let’s dive in!
Another year has gone by, and before I move on to 2018, it’s time to look back at 2017 and review my photography and to choose my top ten photographs. This is the 4th time I did this exercise, and besides the fun of looking back and relive all those moments, I think it also has significant benefits for everybody who wants to take his or her photography to the next level. I can’t thank Martin Bailey enough for introducing me to this exercise. At the end of this blog post you can find a video slideshow with all the images mentioned in this post.
„With all these sensational black and white image challenges going around social media lately, who else has been craving a slice of color? Well, time to bring out your glorious sunsets. Show us a hint of pink… or the sky on fire!“ This message is what my friends over at The Arcanum posted recently on Facebook. But why? Monochrome sunsets are so much more interesting!
Recently, I learned that some of my images received awards and recognition in a couple of competitions I participated in. So, in an act of shameless self-promotion, I’d like to present to you the award-winning photographs.
It was exactly one week ago to the day that I went to the town of Krefeld to participate in the 10th Worldwide Photowalk. An Arcanum friend of mine had organized a walk there, and I was eager to join. Here are the images that I took.
September 24, 2017, probably won’t go down in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany as a day of celebration. On this day, for the first time since 1949 a far right wing party, the so-called AfD (Alternative for Germany) made into the German parliament with a disturbingly good result of 12.6% of all the votes. About 5-6 million people have voted for this party. A trip to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial might help to put this disturbing new party into perspective.
