Category Archives: Photography

Random short walk 15 March

Share Button

Beaver-spotting walk in Haselhorst with NABU 12 March

Share Button

Along a weird and wonderful wetland area, inaccessible to humans, and once the annoying leaves are back on the bushes and trees, cannot be seen by humans either.

The only beaver I saw was the one on the street sign, but there was lots of evidence, and I hope to find the time to go back soon, this time without the handful of braindead, incessant yackers. Just so I can remember where it was, here is the map on MapMyWalk.

I did get my first photo ever of a Great Egret.

Historical City Walk with Empor Berlin; Visit to “Lost Place” Alte Stadtbad Lichtenberg; Pub Quiz: 10 March

Share Button

Another enjoyable walk with Fritz Heiber, Empor Berlin.

Unfortunately, there are always people who,on those walks who, like badly-behaved children, can’t, or won’t, keep their mouths shut while the guide speaks, even when they are asked to be quiet. Yack-yack-yack-yack-yack. That is not only annoying because those standing near them can’t hear what the guide says, it is also impolite and rude towards the guide who in most cases, and certainly always in Fritz’s case, has put a lot of time and effort into preparing the walk. (Yes, I know, I sometimes wander off to take photos, but at least I don’t disturb the others, and I mostly try to stay within earshot).

Anyway, I had to cut the walk short in order to visit the current exhibition in “Alte Stadtbad Lichtenberg” (my only chance), and from there, take a short walk to “Alte Turnhalle” and the bi-weekly quiz.

Berlin Zoo 8 March

Share Button

IN PROGRESS

The weather exceptionally beautiful, I decided to pay Berlin Zoo a visit. Though I did take some visitors from Denmark there some time in the second half of 2022, I can’t remember when I last went there with my camera. I usually prefer the zoo which used to be East Berlin’s zoo (Tierpark).

With no leaves on the trees yet, I was astonished to see the number of cormorants and cranes in the process of building their nests in many of the big trees. The majestic lions posed nicely for the camera, as did a number of hoofstock and birds. And I think one of the hyenas is pregnant.

And finally, the zebras lent themselves to some experimentation with abstracts.

A walk through Park am Gleisdreieck to the area around Bayerischer Platz

Share Button

(on my way to an evening class at VHS Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf)

Along this route, more or less, with detours once I got close to Bayerischer Platz.

I wanted to finally see at least some of this memorial. I don’t know how many signs I missed, but those that I did photograph are in the last block of photos.

Naturpark Südgelände

Share Button

Visited and linked to many times before. This was a birdwatching walk with Volkshochschule. From that point of view, it was successful in that we saw quite a few different birds, but I did not manage to photograph any of them.

However, there are always things to discover and photograph at all times of the year, and in winter and early spring, when there are no leaves on the trees, it is easier to see not only birds but also how nature is taking over year by year.

This time, I spotted a building I had never noticed before and which I guess qualifies as what the Germans, for some strange reason, call a “Lost Place” – literally and officially – they don’t even translate that into German. I always wonder why. Those places are not lost. The rest of the world calls them “Abandoned Places”, which is what they are.

Photography: Personal Favourites 2024 February

Share Button

Photography – series: Off-the-ground garbage disposal, Berlin style

Share Button

ONGOING

2024

March:

February:

Earlier (started in 2021 (I think)). Latest update (the diptych and triptych with older photographs) 4 February 2024

Photowalk in Gropiusstadt with InterNations 18 February 2024

Share Button

(Photos from a walk there two years ago here).

Walkabout before meeting the others, a.o. in the bird sanctuary – saw many birds but only managed one half-way decent photo.

Walter Gropius School:

Dreeinigkeitskirche (and immediate surroundings):

Gropiushaus:

Hamburg February 2024

Share Button

Arrived in relatively heavy rain so spent the afternoon in Deichtorhallen. One exhibition of works by Claudia Andujar, and one absolutely magnificent exhibition called Dix and the Present. I was thrilled to see an Anselm Kiefer there. Always awesome.

Cindy Sherman’s Anti-Fashion had also reached Hamburg on what seems to be a European Tour, but I had already seen that in Stuttgart. (Not a fan of Cindy Sherman but I have to admit that she is a great make-up and costume artist).

10 February walkabout in misty weather, starting with a definite maritime flair, and ending in a park with a skating rink.

11 February AM NABU Birdwatching walk: Gefiederte Wintergäste und Durchzügler am Öjendorfer See.

Still misty, and the walk did not really seem to be going anywhere, so I did my own thing for a while before returning. Quite a nice area. Saw many birds but did not really manage any good photos. Just one of Mr Bigfoot here:

11 February PM wine fair “Weinfrühling Hamburg” in Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Supposedly. But I stayed for less than a minute. They had let in far too many people, and people were still arriving. Impossible to move, impossible to hear anything (I was supposed to meet up with a handful of people from InterNations Hamburg), and impossible to breathe – no air, and a temperature of about 30 C. A complete nightmare.

12 February Hagenbeck Tierpark and that abominable sculpture still outside.

A big zoo with NOTHING to eat or drink, not even a coffee slot machine.

Caspar David Friedrich at Hamburger Kunsthalle, pre-booked ticket for Tuesday, 13 February 10.00-13.00 hrs. Possibly with a small group of people from InterNations Hamburg. It gets good reviews, for example this one.

Unfortunately, here too, ticket sales count more than comfort, and it was much too crowded and the rooms were small. I felt like a sardine in a tin, and almost panicked. Also, a true superspreader of course. I had to elbow my way out and only saw a few paintings in passing, and only because I am taller than a lot of other people. I did wonder whether I was still suffering from post-Corona “stay-away-from-me” syndrome, but I have since read many newspaper articles criticising the Kunsthalle for letting in far too many people at a time, and that many, like me, gave up seeing the exhibition properly.

I hope the organisers of the CDF exhibition in Berlin later this year have learnt from this and do not make the same mistakes.

The day was saved by meeting up for lunch with an ex-colleague from the European Parliament in Luxembourg where we both worked in the late 1970s. Very enjoyable.

After lunch, it was drizzling occasionally but I did go for a quick, last walkabout:

For Hamburg in August 2024:

IACE DE annual meeting. Walk via Holzmarkt to Sandperle. Check out NABU’s birdwatching events and pick a lake to walk round.

This exhibition in Deichtorhallen.

And definitely this exhibition in Bucerius Kunstforum.

Recommended restaurant: Hotpot & Grill Restaurant Spicy.

Recommended Indian restaurant: Pabla Sweets.

More photo tours from the book “Hamburg Fotografieren”

Recommended Café: Café Himmlische Versuchung

Another recommended Café: Hadley’s, Beim Schlump 84A, 20144.

Traditional fish restaurant (traditional is not really my thing, but if they know how to cook fish, it is worth giving it a try: Fischereihafen Restaurant.

Alstertal, e.g. between S Bahn Ohlsdorf and SBahn Poppenbüttel.