1610 - parabolic arc

October 16, 2012 in 8, architecture, bar, colour, dinner, fisheye, germany, indoor, light, markdorf, nex 7, night, people, red, restaurant, sony, symmetry, urban, walimex samyang rokinon

setup: sony nex 7 with walimex pro 8 f2.8 fisheye | 8mm | f2.8 | ISO1600 | 1/20 | cornerfix & lightroom 4.2

in the past i often moaned about the minor opportunities to spend a great evening.

but i told you a few, proper possibilities, too. after a long and intense week in berlin and hamburg i was wishing for a more comfortable and smaller surrounding to enjoy nothing but the presence of tina when i arrived at home. the restaurant lichtblick gave us this environment without limitation.

great place for a tiny little town like markdorf.

cu, trshptr

1510 - shadow play

October 15, 2012 in 50, abstract, architecture, building, colour, door, facility, germany, green, light, markdorf, minimalistic, nex 7, night, pattern, sel, shadow, sony, townscape, tree

setup: sony nex 7 with sel 50 f1.8 | 50mm | f2.8 | ISO1600 | 1/15 | lightroom 4.2

till today i extremely rarely came home very late in the evening and work wasn't over yet. from now on this case will arise more often.

nevertheless now, that i'm writing the daily post, i'm completely satisfied and relaxed although i've organised and worked up to now. i don't think that this is down to the picture above that i've captured on my way home after work today: the interesting monochromatic shadow-light-structure of the green illuminated entrance of a office building in markdorf in connection with the equally coloured tree pleases me although there is no message within this pic. sometimes simplicity counts.

i think my today's positivity is still down to the fact that i'm home again. i'm very happy about that.

cu, trshptr

1110 - dancing towers

October 11, 2012 in 50, abstract, architecture, blue, building, facility, germany, glass, green, hamburg, house, light, nex 7, reflection, sel, sony, tower, townscape, window, yellow

setup: sony nex 7 with sel 50 f1.8 | 50mm | f5.6 | ISO100 | 1/60 | lightroom 4.2

during my visit in hamburg this week i absolutely wanted to take a look at the new highrises that were built at the eastern end of the reeperbahn since i left hamburg in 2009. in 2012 the workings are finally ended now and the buildings are already used by the economy.

the tower project was designed by the architect hadi teherani and includes two buildings that are 75 and 85 meters high and host 24 floors each. the strange naming arises from the supposed similarities between the two different high towers and a couple that is dancing the tango. the reeperbahn is considered as the most sinful mile all over the world and has a long tradition as a party quarter with a certain mess - for that reason its inhabitants slash the clean, sterile and straight towers since the project was initially introduced years ago. now it's over and how shall i put it?

they please me.

cu, trshptr

0810 - glare of the sun

October 08, 2012 in 50, architecture, art, cat, flare, germany, glass, hamburg, monument, nex 7, partial chromatic, pattern, reflection, sel, shadow, sony, sun, townscape, wall, window

setup: sony nex 7 with sel 50 f1.8 | 50mm | f2.8 | ISO100 | 1/4000 | lightroom 4.2

the first photograph of my beloved former home town hamburg on my blog. so how can i do justice to this great city?

your best bet would be to approach this step by step like the cat in today's pic moves. during a three hour walk in the afternoon i soaked up the atmosphere of the elbe town again. my impression is that things haven't changed since 2009.

the german songwriter herbert groenemeyer said someday that home isn't a place, home is a feeling. there are no words that would describe this relation in a better word.

cu, trshptr

2609 - modern porto antico di genova

September 27, 2012 in 30, architecture, boat, cloud, coast, genoa, harbour, hills, italy, landscape, nex 7, panorama, sea, shore, sigma, sky, sony, townscape, trip, urban

setup: sony nex 7 with sigma 30 f2.8 ex dn | 30mm | f4.0 | ISO400 | 1/160 | lightroom 4.1

genoa is the biggest city in the region of liguria - thereby a must-visit - and one that is exceedingly proud of its harbour. as you can see in today's pic genoa is because of its location at the bottom of the apennine mountains almost exclusively facing its historical porto antico di genova and the mediterranean sea.

besides its historical importance the harbour of genoa is one of the biggest concerning its container handling in the whole mediterranean ocean. apparently their expansion isn't completed yet - today we saw different places inside the container harbour where new spaces for probably more containers are built by reclaiming land. the harbour gained its importance especially because of the wide northern hinterland of liguria that involves the industry areas from milan and turin and even comes down to the switzerland.

despite the very industrial character of the harbour (and the whole city, too) a bit of chic and vain has found its way into the old capital of liguria. the modern influence in the yacht harbour really fits to the antico porto di genova and the beautiful townscape of this costal city.

cu, trshptr

2409 - surreality

September 24, 2012 in 30, architecture, building, cinque terre, cliff, colour, italy, liguria, manarola, monument, nex 7, scenery, sea, shore, sight, sigma, sony, townscape, trip, water

setup: sony nex 7 with sigma 30 f2.8 ex dn | 30mm | f5.6 | ISO100 | 1/250 | lightroom 4.1

so this is the cinque terre, the world famous cinque terre? in advance tina and i had thought about visiting the well known villages monterosso, vernazza, corniglia, manarola and riomaggiore for a very long time. should we do it or should we steer clear of this overcrowded world cultural heritage?

summarising i can tell you that the view on these villages, especially from the upper paths, are simply stunning. surely anywhere in italy or the rest of the europe there are villages, paths and landscapes like the one you can find in the region of cinque terre, too. probably you don't have to search for a long time, in the north in the so called little cinque terre from moneglia to levanto or in the south in portofino you might find (maybe a bit more authentic) wonderful places and postcard sceneries, too.

the most important fact when you visit the cinque terre is to know what you are letting yourself in for. in off-season many, in season times a great many people will want to walk the same way with you. all prices (accommodation; food; parking; local traffic; the path itself, that is partly charged) are overpriced, the journey there is complicated, the paths besides the mainstream ones are not really good signposted.

however the other side of the coin is definitely existing. the locals are pleasant, the architecture is great and the paths are simply terrific, especially the difficult ones. maybe all the negative and typically touristic points are something that you simply have to take in if you want to see a world famous monument like the cinque terre (or the empire state building, the great wall of china or the pyramids).

maybe cinque terre isn't reality, but anyway a really funny peculiarity is located in manarola, my favourite of cinque terre: there is definitely the most beautiful roof terrace of the world.

cu, trshptr

2309 - zigzag

September 23, 2012 in 50, abstract, architecture, beach, bonassola, ceiling, colour, contrast, corridor, door, dressing room, green, grey, italy, nex 7, pattern, sel, sony, wardrobe

setup: sony nex 7 with sel 50 f1.8 | 50mm | f8.0 | ISO100 | 1/100 | lightroom 4.1

yesterday i told you that we're already feeling at home in the region of liguria and also in our cottage. today in the morning we saw people that have to be at home on the go. stark contraries.

la spezia is supposed to be the ugly duckling of the region of liguria. wrongheaded architecture and dirty suburbs are supposedly defining. despite the fact that la spezia is the second biggest city in liguria with 90k inhabitants, the visitors should steer clear of la spezia. so much for tourist theory. today i've got to know liguria as an interesting and authentic town with a great harbour. because of napoleon who realised la spezia's strategic location, still today the italian military and the local economy use the harbour for their purposes.

one of them are the fishermen who are very special people. in their cases a hard life and working conditions on the sea are paired with being constantly on the go and a minimum of comfort in the duty. although i'm very interested in their work and despite the fact that i'd willingly like to participate in their doings for some days or weeks i wouldn't be prepared for the very challenging peculiarities of the attending circumstances.

in the afternoon we were swimming in the sea at the beach of bonassola, one of the few big wave surf spots in italy. so today was really no up and down like the zigzag of the changing cubicle design but a straight and steady increase.

cu, trshptr

1609 - katz orange

September 16, 2012 in 30, architecture, berlin, brewery, brown, building, facility, germany, light, monument, nex 7, night, restaurant, shadow, sigma, sony, street lamp, townscape, trip, urban

setup: sony nex 7 with sigma 30 f2.8 ex dn | 30mm | f2.8 | ISO1600 | 1/20 | lightroom 4.1

already in advance we'd decided to stop by at the berlin restaurant and bar katz orange for an extensive dinner after we'd have explored the city. the search on an internet gourmet portal listed the katz orange next to sarah wiener's restaurant which by itself is a distinction, isn't it?

the ostentatious facility of the katz orange is an old brewery in which since more than 100 years no beer isn't brewed anymore. the building is located in a backyard at the bergstraße in the district prenzlauer berg. some of the interior could have been saved during renovations. solely the public toilets are a joy to use and look at. anyhow the whole furnishing is very cosy and generates a feelgood factor. in the upper floor a bar and a library wait for the satisfied guests.

the local atmosphere is very relaxed, you can wear jeans and shirt or suit and evening gown. you almost cannot be badly dressed for this occasion. if you come before 9pm you might get a (very) personal service, the young and motivated service staff is always kind and attentive.

of course we'd read about the cuisine of the katz orange. the boss in the kitchen is a cook who had worked with an other famous former michelin-starred german chef. we had pork that was simmered for 12 hours at very low temperature: you don't need a knife to part this meat, unbelievable tender. thereto a variety of delicious garnishes was served. value for money is very good in this location although you have to calculate with 80 to 100 euros for a nice dinner for two. it's useful to make a reservation in advance.

the bottom line is that the a visit at the katz orange is a great possibility to leave all your cares behind. an explicit recommendation by me!

cu, trshptr

1309 - the entrance

September 13, 2012 in 30, architecture, building, castle, facility, germany, house, immenstaad, light, monument, nex 7, night, sigma, sony, street, street lamp, townscape, village

setup: sony nex 7 with sigma 30 f2.8 ex dn | 30mm | f2.8 | ISO1600 | 1/10 | lightroom 4.1

tomorrow we'll have our last work day for the next two weeks. tina and i already long for our vacation in italy. after a few days of hiking in the ortler alps we are going to settle down in a cottage in the region of liguria after we will have visited the city parma on our way to south.

before we'll begin our vacation we've a hard row to hoe on the forthcoming weekend: tomorrow evening we will take a bus to berlin and already 24 hours later we will take the same bus to bring us home again. the reason behind this crazy journey is the international aeronatic exhibition in berlin, that we are going to visit on saturday. anyhow a few hours in the huge city of berlin and time for a hopefully great dinner should be left in the basket before we approach the second 800 kilometres of the trip.

somewhat shorter was my today's journey: after my climbing lesson in the evening i have passed the still occupied castle of kirchberg near immenstaad for a moody, handheld night shot.

cu, trshptr

0609 - rural parking

September 06, 2012 in 50, architecture, building, car, countryside, facility, germany, house, ittendorf, light, light beam, nex 7, night, oldtimer, sel, sky, sony, timber-frame, tractor, village

setup: sony nex 7 with sel 50 f1.8 | 50mm | f1.8 | ISO1600 | +0.7ev | 1/20 | lightroom 4.1

of course you might believe that you know everything about your local environment. and then one day you break the usual habit and suddenly you find your way into a completely new world.

after a great dinner in a nearby restaurant that is operated from a couple from the alsace we had an absolutely necessary after-dinner walk through the villages. thereby a neat timber-framed building that i'd never noticed at daytime attracted our unrestricted attention. not only the great illumination but also the in front of the house parked tractor cut a great figure. in my opinion this was a really suitable scene for a rural village portrait.

marginal note: today in the afternoon very creative thoughts appeared in my brain, funnily while i was hoovering - tina would say that i should do this more often. some interesting photographic ideas were shaped to concepts. there's more to come.

cu, trshptr