Choosing a drink

Here’s a quick video I did where I talked to the German Cumberbatch about this rather unique bar!

Daily Photo – Fragrances in the Ritz-Carlton, Berlin

Which one to choose? I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I really wanted that one drink that was served inside the small Swedish house that they burn down upon arrival. But I felt like it would be a huge waste and spectacle. I was alone there, reading my Kindle… and it seemed like a very strange, lonely, and elitist thing to be reading a book on anthropology while watching my drink-house burn down.

Fragrances in the Ritz-Carlton, Berlin

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-09-30 22:56:03
• CameraILCE-7RM2
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time15
• Aperture7.1
• ISO200
• Focal Length16.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-0.7

Behind the Scenes

Here’s our Facebook Live video that shows us arriving at the Berlin wall (after crossing this bridge) and quite excited. There’s a bit of Berlin Wall trivia in here too!

Daily Photo – Oberbaumbrucke bridge across the Spree river in Berlin

Upon arrival, Curtis and I jumped in an amazing car (the Audi S8 — thanks Audi!) and we drove immediately over to the Berlin Wall. I’ve always wanted to visit this place, being an armchair history buff. It didn’t disappoint at all, and we took photos here all through the sunset. There’s a 1.5 KM stretch of the wall that still stands and has been decorated by hundreds of artists. After that, we crossed the street and want about half a click down the river Spree to see this scene of the Oberbaumbrucke bridge as the sun was dipping below the horizon.

Oberbaumbrucke bridge across the Spree river in Berlin

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-09-29 00:59:30
• CameraILCE-7RM2
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time0.3
• Aperture16
• ISO200
• Focal Length85.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-0.7

Heading to Germany next week for multiple events including a private art show — wanna come? Here’s my schedule (contact assistant Ruby at [email protected] for scheduling)

Sep 21 – 24 — Photokina in Cologne

Sep 24 – 27 — Bits & Pretzels Conference in Munich

Sep 28+ — Berlin private art show (leave a comment or signup for our newsletter if you want one of the 5 limited tickets available)

Daily Photo – Across the River from Cologne

Here’s a photo of Cologne that I took last time I was there when all my camera gear was stolen! Hopefully, this time, it will be a smoother trip! 🙂

Across the River from Cologne

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2015-03-14 02:07:21
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1.6
• Aperture4
• ISO160
• Focal Length69.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-0.3

The Making-Of

The creation of my large format photographs in Dusseldorf…

Daily Photo – Beautiful Clouds in Dusseldorf

This is my favorite area to shoot while in this really cool German town. This is kind of the new media center… lots of crazy architecture and strange stuff happening! Check out those crazy frog-people on the right… Oh, Germany!

Beautiful Clouds in Dusseldorf

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2015-02-09 00:16:43
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/125
• Aperture6.3
• ISO125
• Focal Length19.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

New Article in the Daily Telegraph

Here’s an article that came out yesterday. It talks a bit about me, the blog, and everything! It features a few different “Online Influencers.”

Correcting Alignments in Architecture

I tried doing the automatic adjustments in Photoshop to send all the lines back to vertical. The look was okay, but it was a bit boring on this image, so I kept it with the wacky verts… which I generally like better anyway, but especially for crazy architecture like this!

Daily Photo – Gehry Building in Dusseldorf

How cool is this building? Gehry actually has three buildings here in this “Media Center” area of Dusseldorf that are grouped together. All the buildings are awesome, but this one definitely stands out. The three are very similar in design, but this is the one with the crazy mirrored outside. The “look” and feel of it change dramatically throughout the day and night, but around this time, I felt like it was an entrance to the Matrix!

Gehry Building in Dusseldorf

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2015-03-13 03:19:25
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time30
• Aperture4
• ISO125
• Focal Length21.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias+2

April Lightroom Presets, only $2.50 instead of $5

The monthly tradition continues with my Lightroom Presets! I hope you have enjoyed the previous month packs, and here comes a funky-fresh one!

Daily Photo – Amazing Cologne

I loved everything about Cologne… except for my train ride back to Dusseldorf.

My whole camera bag was stolen! Can you believe it? I was distracted and before I knew it, my whole camera bag was swiped in a grab n’ run! What a bummer! I still was holding my tripod and A7r, so I didn’t lose those, luckily. But I did lost an A7ii, two Leica lenses, and a Sony lens. Ouch! Oh well, it’s just stuff… But kind of inconvenient now, you know? Ah well…

I filed out a police report and everything. We’re checking on insurance now to see what was covered… fingers crossed but I have low expectations!

Amazing Cologne

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2015-03-14 02:07:21
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1.6
• Aperture4
• ISO160
• Focal Length69.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-0.3

Freezing Germany

I’m just came back to Dusseldorf for a second time this year. The first time it was SO COLD and I decided to buy a good coat. I’ve never actually had a good, proper winter coat, but now I do. It’s super amazing and keeps me crazy-toasty. It’s got a big German-furry hood, tons of pockets, and, well, I’ve just never liked a coat so much!

Daily Photo – Exploring Dusseldorf

I am really getting to know Dusseldorf! What a cool city. There is this one really quirky area called the Mediahoffen that is full of some crazy-cool architecture. I spent quite a while there goofing around and taking photos. This is just one of about 50 cool places I found around there…

Exploring Dusseldorf

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2015-02-08 23:59:33
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/500
• Aperture6.3
• ISO125
• Focal Length16.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-1

Photography Gadgets

I was checking out my website stats with Woopra yesterday, and I noticed that one of my most clicked links is that Green Cube On My Camera That Everyone Asks About. Funny! You would not believe how many people ask me about that in person. It’s a $7,000 camera, and all anyone wants to know about is the $9 green cube on top! Hehe…

I have a few more things I will add to the Photography Gadgets page as soon as I get some time… I actually don’t use a whole lot of stuff. I’m pretty bare bones. I keep a running list of my stuff in the HDR Camera equipment section here on the site as well.

Daily Photo – Leipzig at Night

When I was changing planes in Zurich, I had to go through some of the Customs run-around. It turns out that the customs officer was German. He asked where my ultimate destination was, and I said, “Leipzig”. I pronounced it “Leap-zig”.

“What?” he asked.

“Leap-Zig” I repeated, careful to annunciate each syllable.

“I have never heard of that.” he asked, regarding me suspiciously.

I was in a pickle. This guy was clearly German, as I could tell from his accent. I was a bit surprised because he was in Switzerland, but I figured that all nationalities come there to work. No big deal. But, still, how could a German not know about Leipzig. It’s not the biggest city, but I think it’s in the top 5.

I tried again and again. He seemed to be serious and not joking.

Finally, after about four more back-and-forth sessions, he said, “Do you mean Leipzig?” He pronounced it “LIPE-ZEEG”.

“Yes!” I exclaimed.

He gave me a little self-satisfied smile and signed my paperwork, sending me through…

Thanks Christchurch!

I very much enjoyed the photowalk and talk yesterday. Everyone was genuinely nice and engaged. I got a bunch of good questions. People in NZ were even nicer than I expected! I look forward to seeing the Flickr group for the event…and perusing people’s shots! Feel free to post it below!

Daily Photo – The Flying Buttress

I mentioned during the photowalk tonight this effect of the wide-angle lens. Whenever you aim it above the horizon, everything leans in a bit. Now, I occasionally get negative comments that think that this “leaning” looks bad, unprofessional, and unrealistic. I have to disagree! It doesn’t bother me a bit. My eye adjusts, and, well, I think it just looks cool.

The church below is from Dresden, Germany.  I am 98% sure of this… I don’t know why I am having trouble remembering…  I think I am getting old.  I did have to wake up at 5 AM to go to the bathroom last night… a bad sign.

Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a place like this? I like these old European streets where great restaurants line edges… Let’s all move there… we can just go out and dine on the streets every night, eat fab food, see street performers, talk about photography, geek out, etc etc. Yes that sounds quite wonderful.

As you can see, I left in the HDR ghosting. Sometimes I quite like it, especially in these scenes where there is motion and feel like that’s part of the gestalt. I think these sorts of words are okay to use, even when not standing on a German street.

I am very appreciative to all the eyes out there scouring the intertubes! I had a nice girl who gave me the heads up on someone using images without permission. Her name is Shannon, and you can see her Flickr stream here. Thanks Shannon 🙂