The Changing Seasons: January Hues and Blues

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These pictures were taken on my way to work, roughly between 8.15 and 8.30 a.m., on January 12, 13, and 15. They show two of my favourite places: One is just behind the parliament of the federal state of Hesse, with a contemporary facade on one side and some very old structures on the other (I liked the modernist building better these mornings). The other one sports beautiful rows of plane trees and two war memorials, a frumpy obelisk and a wonderfully corroded horse.

I am amazed at how different the light was due to the weather conditions. I also realize that these days, I was lucky to walk to (and from) work during the Magic Hour; I now know why it’s also called Blue Hour. Last, ot least: The red shine on the church towers was gone within seconds!

These pictures are my contribution for Cardinal Guzman’s Monthly Photo Challenge: “Find a location near your home, take somewhere between 5-20 photos and post them in a gallery in your blog. Continue to do this every month. For my project I’ve chosen the general area ‘downtown Oslo’, but if you like to, you can choose a more specific area like a park or a building. It doesn’t even have to be a city. If you live on the countryside, there’s probably plenty of locations to choose from nearby: a field with some trees, a beach, a mountain, or just a simple dirt road? It can be whatever. Just keep the project going throughout the year. Try to shoot every month, so that in the end of the year, you’ll have a nice and diverse set of photos in your portfolio. The idea is to capture all the changes: the seasons, the weather, different times of the day, some night photography perhaps?”

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Downtown Strolls

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When we walk, it is often without a planned route, just seeing where our feet take us (I will elaborate on that later, when I show photos from my favourite walk, and when it will be more appropriate). Strolling in Hamburg, we visited Chilehaus (above, top left) and the Danske Hus just opposite (bottom left). We also lingered around St. Nikolai (above, top right, and mirrored in the modernist building beyond) and wondered just how many buildings were undergoing reconstruction.

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344-21When in Hamburg, one cannot help going maritime. Close to the harbour, someone will inevitably display a ship’s propeller. This one had a brass plaque mirroring the opposite building…

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345-06Once we reach the water, we find a variety of bollards with a variety of coins on them.

If you have enjoyed this walk, head over to Jo’s Monday Walk for more walking, strolling and looking around other corners of the world.

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The Steep Approach to Baumwall

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There are places that attract me again and again. Baumwall station, overlooking Hamburg’s harbour, is among them. It is one of many stations of the Hochbahn – the elevated train that also runs underground in many parts of the city. While the latter is neatly out of sight, one can hardly ignore the El. Along with the rivers and the canals, it definitely adds something special to the urban landscape.

The black structures of Hochbahn seem to call for black and white photography, but almost all the photos I made more than a year ago did not entirely satisfy me. Maybe I did not really know what makes Hochbahn worth photographing for me. Maybe I could not imagine what the pictures should look like. Coming back this fall, I tried my hand again.

Sometimes it is quite a journey until I arrive at a picture that just feels right: The bottom picture dates back to March 2013, the three other pictures were made in September 2014.

298-07Hopping off the train here could be a first step in joining Jo on her Monday walks – see you in Hamburg, Jo!