Pictures] – Page 6 – empire of lights

Finestre

24/02/201720/02/2017 Tobias M. Schiel2 Comments

Fenster und Fassaden is Christina’s Magical Motto of the Month. And this time, I just seized the opportunity to show some windows (Fenster) I collected during our last trip to Italy, mainly in and around Lucca. I am always fascinated by glass and by the many shapes and designs of windows people come up with.

Please check out the other façades and windows at episoden.film! There are always great contributions to be seen there – and while Christina’s blog is in German, pictures know of no language barrier.

Against All Odds

17/02/201717/02/2017 Tobias M. Schiel8 Comments

This was the original idea:

Jemandem den Boden unter den Füßen wegziehen, lit. to pull the ground from under sb’s feet, equiv. to pull the rug from under sb’s feet, fig. (German phrase) to threaten someone’s existence

…but it also looks like this guy is standing up on the cobblestone against all odds, so this also seems to be an appropriate contribution for the Weekly Photo Challenge.

Eureka! Mir geht ein Licht auf!

10/02/201713/02/2017 Tobias M. Schiel6 Comments

“A light dawns on me” is how we say eureka! in German.

I am happy to continue the “Worlds Within Words” series with a contribution for Thursday’s Special at Lost in Translation. Paula wished to see profiles – and I think based on her description and the etymology, these pictures can also be regarded as a mini study of the concept.

Alternative Facts

04/02/201705/02/2017 Tobias M. Schiel4 Comments

The week’s Discover Challenge is Speak Out.

Shipping Forecast

03/02/201703/02/2017 Tobias M. Schiel2 Comments

The Shipping Forecast is actually a service by BBC Radio, apparently well known in Britain. Here‘s a link in case you are curious.

Litfaß 28 (Diptych)

27/01/201722/01/2017 Tobias M. Schiel6 Comments

“I’m not interested in the texture of the rock, or that it is a rock, but in the mass of it, and its shadow.” Ellsworth Kelly

What could abstract photography be about? I think we might get an idea when we borrow terms from music: Abstract photos, for me, should be about composition, about tonality and colours, about harmony and disharmony, measure and rhythm… and pauses. It is about organizing noise.

That’s what I am looking for in an abstract photo, and trying to accomplish. The ripped-off posters above come close to the idea. Ironically enough, abstract as they may be, they might also be more documentary than most of my other pictures.

This is my second contribution for Paleica’s 12 Magische Mottos, this month’s magic word being abstraction.

On the Same Page

23/01/201722/01/2017 Tobias M. Schiel5 Comments

Dear readers, a keen dancer myself, I would like to ask you for a little dance… or get on the same page with you – whatever works for you.

The above picture is part of a series called “Worlds Within Words.” Exploring figures of speech I realize that idioms derive much of their appeal from allowing charming glimpses into different cultures: Isn’t it wonderful that Italians say lavish persons have holes in their hands and the Dutch advise you to tread carefully and not wear clogs on ice? I love that – it’s vivid!

So here is the score: Please help me out! I suggest two ways to do so:

Think of your favourite figure of speech. Think of a picture to illustrate it. Make the picture. post it and link to it in the comments. And please link to my blog in your post so people can find this challenge.
Think of your favourite figure of speech. Mail it to me (or put it into the comments) along with an explanation of the literal and the figurative meaning if it is not in English or German. I will then try to come up with a good picture of my own – and link to your blog.

I hope you can join me here – and have fun looking into the schedules of different trains of thought (could not resist this one).

As the pictures show graceful dancers, I also see them as a contribution for the Weekly Photo Challenge.

Graceful

22/01/201721/01/2017 Tobias M. Schiel6 Comments

“Gracefulness is a tricky quality – it manifests itself as an effortless, subtle harmony between a subject and its environment,” writes Ben Huberman in The Weekly Photo Challenge. Nicely said, I think – and here is my response: I often find nature’s gracefulness (if I can call it that) by the water.

Abstract Nature

15/01/201717/01/2017 Tobias M. Schiel6 Comments

Paula at Lost in Translation suggests we defocus – and I wanted to try some abstract nature pictures. Here’s a glimpse.

Einer an der Mütze

13/01/201718/01/2017 Tobias M. Schiel5 Comments

Einen an der Mütze haben almost does not translate literally. “To have something/someone at the cap” comes close; “einen” can be either something or someone.

The adequate translation is easy enough though, since the English language has at least as many colourful expressions as the German: “Not playing the full deck”, “The lights are on but nobody’s home” or maybe “Not she sharpest knife in the drawer” come to mind.

Threshold

31/12/201627/12/2016 Tobias M. Schiel3 Comments

Wishing all of you a good start into the new year and a very happy 2017.

Euch allen wünsche ich einen guten Start ins neue Jahr und ein glückliches 2017.

Rubbish

19/12/2016 Tobias M. Schiel7 Comments

Surpassing Himself

11/12/2016 Tobias M. Schiel5 Comments

This week, Krista at The Daily Post presents us with a “New Horizon” challenge: “Think ahead and show your work in a representative photo. If you set New Year’s resolutions, give them some thought a few weeks early. If resolutions aren’t your style, show us something that you want to achieve — it could be setting a new goal, making plans, or even tackling that pile of laundry waiting by the washer. The goal is to get out of the busy ‘now,’ and imagine your new horizon. Go!”