2210 - gothalona

setup: sony nex 7 with sigma 30 f2.8 ex dn | 30mm | f4.0 | ISO100 | 1/250 | lightroom 4.2

the architecture of the new barcelona remind me of the clear, contrasty and straight environment of gotham city. a lot of new towers were built during the last years mainly directly next to the sea.

setup: sony nex 7 with sigma 30 f2.8 ex dn | 30mm | f4.0 | ISO100 | 1/1600 | lightroom 4.2

the structures and shapes are really stunning whereas i don't like the basic implementation of the townscape design here in barcelona: contrary to for example manchester where all architecture styles are mixed throughout the whole city and this mix of old and new buildings is well-balanced, too, here in barcelona the styles are mainly separated per quarter. that's why as far as i can see the city and especially the new parts appear a bit sterile and misplanned.

nevertheless gothalona is worth the visit if you are a fan of modern shapes and patterns.

cu, trshptr

1510 - shadow play

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

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

2409 - surreality

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

1609 - katz orange

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

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

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

3108 - home time

setup: sony nex 7 with sel 50 f1.8 | 50mm | f13.0 | ISO100 | 5s | tripod | lightroom 4.1

finally it's home time. tomorrow we'll visit the local rock music festival in constance which will take up our whole day and night. the weather forecasts are very bad, it'll probably rain the whole time. so what? we'll be prepared. unfortunately  the camera has to stay at home for that reason.

also the last employees had already left the offices when i took the night shot of an interesting facility in markdorf. maybe tomorrow there will be some of them among the 25.000 visitors.

cu, trshptr

2408 - edge transition

setup: sony nex 7 with sel 50 f1.8 | 50mm | f5.6 | ISO320 | 1/80 | lightroom 4.1

sometimes the assessment of the current situation depends on the perspective you are looking on the issue.

going to school was almost always boring and annoying at school days. now, 10 years after the graduation, school (and study) days seem to be prime of life. i think you might know many of these constellations.

today's transition was a whole lot simpler: with an angular view on straight objects like the colour-framed windows of the quiescent-looking school of friedrichshafen - there are still holidays in south germany - square shapes shift to parallelograms.

cu, trshptr

2108 - entrance into new life

setup: sony nex 7 with sel 50 f1.8 | 50mm | f4.5 | ISO100 | 1/80 | +0.3ev | lightroom 4.1

it's safe to say that with marriage (at least a few) things change. the most people celebrate this transition with a huge multi-day party, usually they want to experience the best day(s) of their lives. subsequently the bride and the groom depart to the greatest journey they have ever planned...

well, this is the way the majority of the marrying people handles their weddings. not we. the documents were signed at half past 10 and in the afternoon tina went to work as usual. we didn't do many things different from normal days because we don't want our life to be different from before the marriage. it was great before this date and it hopefully will be also similar great after it. in our opinions great changes are followed by great disillusionment - of course exceptions prove the role.

for that reason till today we haven't trespassed the entrance into new life yet.

cu, trshptr