Well-dressed Bin

It's always pleasing to come across pieces of street furniture that make that little extra bit of effort to stand out. Here something as mundane as a rubbish bin (or trasj can if you are American) is turned into a "cup butler" no less! And as well as being rather fun it's a clever ploy –for by "humanising" the bin –giving it hands and a bow-tie– it probably has greater effect! It may not have the added feature of a bin I once came across in Washington DC that UTTERED "Thank you!" everytime you deposited a bit of rubbish, but this is surely the most smartly dressed bin around...?

Location: Berlin, Germany

Airplane and Sunset

I just heard today that the airline Norwegian has decided to cut out its long-distance operations due to the ongoing economic and travel difficulties connected to covid-19. I suspect they will not be the last airline to have to resort to such measures. I have flown with Norwegian numerous times and have many friends who work for the company. In my case, most of my travel has been with them has been within Europe, and I am happy that the airline will continue with this side of its operation. Though there has been precious little international travel for me this last year I hope very much to resume discovering the world "when this thing is over" and one of the places I shall definietly return to when things are brighter is Berlin. But there too, changes have occured –such as the opening of the new airport, which I assume will be where I land next time I return –and not at Schönefeld, depicted here, which has closed for good, though parts of it are incorporated into the new Berlin Brandenburg airport. So it's kind of a historical picture, but I'm posting it mainly because of the Norwegian news and because I'm travel sick and because I'll never forget the magnificent sky we took off into on my last flight form Berlin. You can see some of it here as the Norwegian Boeing 737 is boarding. Though primarily a "train" person, there is often something equally exciting about a plane getting ready to depart. Let's hope we'll all be travelling again soon, one way or another.

Location: Berlin, Germany

Brick Buildings

The late afternoon sun strikes warm rays against these fabulous brick facades in Lübeck. Unlike the facades of many other buildings in Germany these do not seem at all intimidating, even though they loom high over the lowly pedestrian. As well as the fabulous colour I like the way the picture is divided into a man-made part (the buildings) and a natural part (the sky). Also, the warmth of a particular moment in time seems to have been captured well here.

Location: Lübeck, Germany

Spring Awakening

It's so nice to see a smiling, happy statue, but maybe that's a result of the joy of spring.Here we are in the grounds of the Kurfürstliches Palais (Electoral Palace) in Trier with the distinctive and ornate pink Hochschloss visible in the background, and beyond that the Basilica of Constantine. But the statue is the main subject of the picture. I don't know its history but it is one of many similar statues to be found in the beautifully kept grounds. Something about the expression on its face and the openness of its stance seem to say "welcome, and rejoice". I chose placing the statue to the side of the picture both to avoid conventional centring and so as to include the beautiful central facade beyond –without it dominating too much. The clouds are moody but the sky is blue, the grass green and all is well with the world.

Location: Trier, Germany

Imposing Building

I'm in two mind about this building –a townhouse in Nuremberg. On the one hand, I admire its individual features, such as the rounded glass of the window panes and the unusual turret, while on the other hand I find it a little ... well, intimidating; a bit imposing and mysterious. Perhaps this is as much due to the angle I have taken the picture –from below– as anything else. Or maybe, seen with "another" eye the whole facade seems to have something of a "Transformers" personality –the turret becoming a head and its upper floors the wide shoulders of some robotic creature. I don't know anything of the history of the building, but it does intrigue me –like all buildings of personality and character. Yet would I live here? Perhaps not. I'd happily have some of those windows though.

Location: Nuremberg, Germany

World Book Day

It's World Book Day, so I thought it would be appropriate to share a picture that features books. This little collection is on display at a used-books shop in Heidelberg, so all the titles are in German. You might care to try guessing at some of their original titles if you've got time on your hands. Collections of anything that are similar yet unique are always pleasing motives, and part of the pleasure of collecting books is having them on display; unlike many other items, books are seldom untidy or "cluttered". The only thing that annoys me about these particular books is that the titles on the spines are printed "the wrong way" ie, in the opposite direction to what is generally normal. You'll occasionally get books like this and they exasperate me as I never know whether to have them upside down in my shelf so that the spine is commensurate with all the others, or to have the face the right way up, thus causing an anomaly in the row! But, as I have used up all my shelf space long ago and books are now piled up in stacks all over my flat, the problem is largely academic and books that are "the wrong way round" get banished to less conspicuous corners. However, the important thing is really the content, and books of all kinds continue to thrill, entertain, educate and inspire me. And I hope they do the same to you. Happy World Book Day!

Location: Heidelberg, Germany

Footbridge in Nuremberg

I was watching a documentary last night about the last months of the Second World War. It partly dwelt on the city of Nuremberg which with its long Nazi past was particularly targeted and damaged as the conflict intensified. In fact, much of it was totally destroyed, flattened. Yet like numerous other cities that suffered a similar fate, it sprang up from the ashes to be reborn and to reclaim its historical heritage. When I visited the city a few years ago I was struck by how successful the reconstruction had been, and how little of the destruction and effects of war was visible. The city was not "modernised" or changed to suit new styles, but went back to its roots, recreating what was there before, without this seeming to be forced. A fine city to explore, especially on a warm summer day. Here we are by the river, looking at a quaint covered footbridge that seems to have been there for generations but is obviously -in its present regeneration– much newer than it looks. The vibrant colours of the trees and roofs and blue sky reflected in the water and the novelty of the bridge itself make this at least a mildly interesting picture; one to soak up and enjoy on an otherwise grey day in March when looking back (or forward) to hotter days is a tempting and rewarding pastime.

Location: Nuremberg, Germany

Down on the Tracks

It's been a while since I posted any pictures of trains, which is surprising considering how much of a train freak I am. I'd happily photograph trains and railway stations and everything to do with them all day long and nothing else, but I think that would be too much –at least for this blog, and there are so many other things that are worthy of photographing too. But, my thoughts at the moment are turning to plans for the spring and summer, and for rail travel in particular, and so I'm dipping into some pictures of the past for inspiration. Here's a picture from the fabulous German railway museum in Nuremberg, taken in its large outdoor yard (I've not wandered dangerously between mainline tracks if that is what you are wondering). Here, all sorts of glorious pieces of rolling stock enjoy their semi-retirement and all the attention poured on them by enthusiasts such as myself. I got right down to track level to give these two trains a sense of grandness, despite their fairly ordinary pedigree. Are the trains coming or going; do the tracks lead away from us or towards us? I'm not going to get too philosophical about it, I just thought it was a nice picture to share, and hope all your train journeys be pleasant and exciting ones!

Location: Nuremberg, Germany

Dom

Berlin is one of my favourite cities both to visit and to photograph. And, without quite knowing why, I have always felt the city looks best on pictures when the sky is bedecked with cloud. Perhaps it's an emotional reflection of the city's dramatic history, perhaps the relative flatness of the terrain is better served against a backdrop of ever-shifting cloud; perhaps it's to do with light. Probably it's a mixture of all three. Don't get me wrong, I love blue, clear skies (anywhere), but my photographic genes are always doubly excited or activated when I see turbulent cloud formations in the sky –and, especially in Berlin. Here, the sky is vivacious but not at all threatening –there had been drops of rain before and more were to follow, but these showers was light. Somewhere behind the clouds the sun was trying to poke through, but its bright light is gently subdued and disseminated –illuminating the facade of the Berlin Dom quite splendidly and vibrantly without harshness. The camera I was using had a bit of a lens issue which has caused the left side of the picture to be a little blurry, but I liked the rest of the picture so much that I've overlooked this deficiency. I wanted to capture the magnificence of the cathedral without it appearing too domineering or even oppressive (which can often be the result when photographing such buildings). Therefore I've taken the picture from a low angle but at some distance, capturing both the building itself but more importantly its setting in the city and against the lovely, moody Berlin sky. Location: Berlin, Germany

Boats and Ducks

Here is a little group of boats on a calm blue lake in Germany. It is a hot summer's day with a light, pleasant breeze and one would think that all these boats would be occupied and out on the water, but here they remain waiting, guarded by a pair of ducks. I liked the way the two boats at the front mirrored each other, their bows almost kissing, and the little splashes of red and yellow add a little vibrancy to all the blue, which I find quite appealing. A nice "summery" picture in other words, with no pretension of being anything else, but yet I am a little intrigued as to why there should be a barbecue out on the quay... Location: Nuremberg, Germany

Street Scene

I found this little moment of an urban summer both charming and irresistible. In front of an ornate and somewhat extravagant fountain sculpture, a man is playing a guitar. His main audience is three little children standing seemingly mesmerised by his music. Other people nearby are enchanted as much by the children as the melody. I don't know which of them, if any, are their parents, but I love the span of life that is indicated by the elderly man on the side looking at them, perhaps remembering his own childhood with fondness. And who could not be captivated by these sweet children -only the ones smoking and checking their mobile telephones! (I wish I could erase them from the picture, but they are part of the moment too.) What I like above all else about the picture is the contrast of the bombastic lavishness of the statue and the simple yet epic moment of the human interactions. I'm tempted to say "All of art and all of life in one picture" but that would be stretching it a little too far. I am just glad I was able to capture such a magical little scene, even though technically the shot is not as sharp as I would have liked it to have been; sometimes (most times, perhaps) the content of an image and what it signifies is what really counts most. Location: Augsburg, Germany

Waterfront at Sunset

I'm kind of weak on sunsets, but I've never really found it sufficiently rewarding to photograph the sun itself; the resulting image never seems to capture the breathtaking magnificence of the process, which has to be experienced to be fully absorbed. And it's more the effect of the sun on other things that proves to be of interest –be that clouds, water, mountains or buildings. And I'm in a bit of a "sunset phase" at the moment. Here there are few clouds and no mountains, but there are pale buildings rendered gold, and calm water to reflect the colours. It's no wonder this time is called "the golden hour", so beloved of photographers and film-makers. The mood is mellow, peaceful, alluring. Everything is clean and tidy because this is a german town. I love the colours here -the browns and golden tones, the muted bright greens and the little specks of red. Ideally, the cyclist should have been midway, closer to the tree in the centre, but he sped by too quickly! Nonetheless, I think the picture captures something of the soft magic of a warm evening at sunset. Location: Lübeck, Germany

Street Library

Being a book fanatic, I wish there was a little library like this on every street in every town in every country –a place where books can be left and picked up at random and you never know what you may find. Happily, there are more and more of these joyful communal repositories popping up, some in parks, or old telephone kiosks. I even saw one at a tram stop a couple of weeks ago. Hotels, guesthouses, hospitals and cafés have had them for ages, but wouldn’t it be great if airports or train stations had such pocket libraries scattered about. They won’t of course, because there’s no profit to be made from it and they’d prefer to have you spending money than quenching your thirst for literature, be it romantic, educational or enlightening. Here, I liked the fact that someone has stopped to peruse the books even though it’s raining. I felt an immediate sense of identity of solidarity –that person could be me! And often when we take pictures we are actually taking pictures of ourselves –not selfie-style, but expressed through what appeals and reaches out to us. Keep reading folks, and support these schemes by leaving a book or two when you come across such places. Location: Heidelberg, Germany.

Underpass 5.25pm

One day last year the band of my wristwatch broke suddenly. It could, I’m sure, be fixed and one day I shall get round to it, but since that day I have not worn a watch at all but relied on other means of learning the time. And it is amazing how accomodating the world is to the "watchless" among us! Everywhere I look now I seem to spot a clock of some kind, whereas before (when I had my own watch) I hardly gave them a second glance. We observe only what we need to so much of the time, or rather: when we need something we start to see it all around us, as if our brain is actively seeking it out. With photography it is the right or appealing motive that we seek. Here, I think it was the clock that initially attracted me, but I then became fascinated by the light and shadows and the reflections and lines I also was intrigued with the position of the clock –at the end of an underpass; a sort of goal for those walking towards it, or a last, quick reminder of the time for those entering from the opposite direction; perhaps an incentive to hurry up? I also found the urban orderliness pictured here rather pleasing. Location: Nuremberg, Germany

Favourite Pictures of the Year - 4

Earlier this year I had to misfortune to get stuck in the middle of Germany’s biggest ever rail strike, which started one day after I arrived in that country precisely to travel about by rail for a few weeks. Needless to say it was a highly frustrating time; but there was something rather fascinating about seeing normally busy stations deadly quiet all day –everything was open, tickets could be bought etc. but there were no people about –and of course no trains (apart very occasionally). I was struck by the emptiness of the stations, the unsettling views of bare platforms and unoccupied tracks, yet at the same time fascinated too. Such places have a strange allure when they are empty and still and I tried to capture some of it here, and took numerous pictures this and other empty stations. It certainly helped me pass the time while I was stuck. Location: Lübeck, Germany

Streetscape

Cobblestoned streets are always a treat for photographs; they seldom disappoint, and frequently come out far more beautiful and even than they actually appear in real life. They also tend to give pictures a timeless look. Take away the cars in the distance here and this could be a hundred years ago, or two hundred or even five hundred. But it’s not just the cobblestones that attracted me here; The brick arches that cross from one side of the street to the other create the effect of an open tunnel. I don’t quite know what their function is or was, or whether they are the remnants of some former structure, but they create an interesting effect. The lines and various odd-looking windows also intrigue me, and the way the left side of the picture looks rather foreboding while the right side is somehow more friendly and accomodating. Location: Lübeck, Germany

On Deck

There’s something theatrical about this shot; it could be the cast of a play placed on the deck for a poster, or group of musicians posing for an album cover. It seems staged, but it is quite accidental, just a snapshot I took while taking the ferry between Denmark and Germany, but I was quite struck by the result. It’s windy and the sea and sky is grey, but the blue of the deck compensates for this. However, it is the bright splashes of colour and the stances of the people that make this picture for me. They are all heading somewhere, with various expectations and I feel it is almost as if one can read their thoughts. Location: Near Puttgarden, Germany

Splash of Colour

A wet, grey, dull day –much like today. The view from the castle was not particularly great due to the clouds so my pictures were sadly disappointing; but I found the splash of colour provided by these umbrellas to be irresistible - brightening things up considerably. Why aren't all umbrellas like this! Location: Heidelberg, Germany

Boat at Sunset

A peaceful image – the water is calm, the sky is kind, and the rays of dipping sun catch the side of this boat in the canal that surrounds the Altstadt of Lübeck. I was so captivated by the boat that I failed to notice the man standing next to it, but his face glows with the same benign light as that on the boat, and rather makes the picture for me, making up for a slight lack of focus. A few minutes later the sun went down and the magical effect of the "golden time" was gone. Location: Lübeck, Germany

Waiting in Wannsee

Wannsee, on the outskirts of Berlin, is perhaps best known historically for being the setting of the notorious Nazi conference that was to decide the details of the "Final Solution", and it was to visit the house in which this heinous event took place that brought me there. The house is now a deeply moving, but chilling, musuem. Wannsee is however more than this – the lake itself is a magnet for day-tripppers from bustling Berlin, with a fabulous variety of boating possibilities, beaches, wooded walks and shoreside cafés. I took this picture at the end of a very pleasant day there, waiting for the train back into the metropolis. Everything here is so perfectly German – from the lettering of the station sign, the symmetry of the benches and two waiting passengers, and the striking colours of the S-Bahn on the opposite platform. There is a kind of beauty in the connection between the man and the woman – they are both alone, both waiting, but they do not speak. They must be aware of each other, but sit politely in their own individual worlds. Wouldn't it be magical if one of them turned to the other with a romantic smile... Location: Wannsee - Berlin, Germany