From Germany

[Troy]

I don't do a lot of people photography. I've gone back to the original edit and just selected the eyes

Much better in my opinion.

I like the light trails in this last shot, and it looks like a great composition of a very interesting scene

[singingsnapper]

I don't do a lot of people photography. I've gone back to the original edit and just selected the eyes

Much better in my opinion.

I like the light trails in this last shot, and it looks like a great composition of a very interesting scene

I'll have to tell Malena to wear something lighter next time that doesn't accentuate the noise!

I could spend days and days in Dresden, such a stunning place. Germany has lots of little gems like Gotha, Weimar and many other places that were spared from destruction. Other places like Hildesheim which I visited yesterday, had t heir medieval hearts bombed with just a few weeks to go in the war, and having little strategic importance. It does demonstrate the fragility of life when half timbered houses stay up for nearly a millenium and are torn apart in one night.

[simon3116]

Great shots, Paul.

At least the Germans have tried to retore most of their cities back to their former glories instead of turning them into concrete jungles. All the cities I've visited in the last 6 years I've lived here at least of some "Altstadt" where you can get a sense of what it was like before the war. The other good thing about the german people is that they will always try and get out of the way when I'm taking shots of cathedrals etc.

[singingsnapper]

Great shots, Paul.

At least the Germans have tried to retore most of their cities back to their former glories instead of turning them into concrete jungles. All the cities I've visited in the last 6 years I've lived here at least of some "Altstadt" where you can get a sense of what it was like before the war. The other good thing about the german people is that they will always try and get out of the way when I'm taking shots of cathedrals etc.

Very true. Bristol is a good example of how the planners did as much if not more damage than the bombs. Broadmead shopping area was a place with many old buildings some damaged and many not. Nearly all were torn down to make way for shopping area that has been copied in Plymouth and Swansea.

Indeed German people are very polite. I have taken photos for my tour programme here and when taking one in nürnberg, a courier waited until I finished before driving on. He ebabled me to catch some great light without his van being in the way. He got a Vielen Dank from me.

[singingsnapper]

Didn't get my camera out as much over last few days as the mist came down and we commuted between venues in North West Germany from Hannover.

here are a few from Mannheim. I have the last show of the German tour here tomorrow night and I took a walk around for an hour, getting plenty of questions from the locals (it's quite funny that I'm not often recognised when I'm in blacklisted_site and a coat. Mind you the hood helped quite a bit!

Mannheim's main sight is the watertower. This is a nightview of it and the Christmas market.

Pentax 645D FA 33-55mm f/4.5 at f/13 and 30 secs ISO 100


mnnheim watertower night by singingsnapper, on Flickr

I got even more funny looks when I stood at the pedestrian refuge taking photos of the tramlines and the trams. Every other person was asking whether I was a photographer for the local paper (I have managed to find the local papparazzi coming out to catch me snapping a few times! They give themselves away with their flash which when they are shooting from 50m with a 70 - 200 lens would be a challenge for the flash to reach me!)

I converted this to Black and white in Silver efex

Pentax 645D FA 120f/4 at f/16 and 13 secs


Trams in Mannheim by singingsnapper, on Flickr

As I strolled around the Christmas markets I got rumbled so after shaking a few hands I slipped away and went to the back of the square by the Rosengarten with this view of the fair

Pentax 645D FA 120 at f/16 and 8 secs


The wihnachtsmarkt in full swing by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[digitalfingers]

Fantastic shot of the Trams! Would look amazing in print blown up. Very well done!

[singingsnapper]

Fantastic shot of the Trams! Would look amazing in print blown up. Very well done!

Thank you! I felt when I took it that it was always a B&W shot, because I liked the texture of the image in my viewfinder at the time. Lots of people looking at me as If I was nuts though. But everyday items can be interesting. It's just having a different perspective. The great thing about a longer lens is that you can single out a section, and give it context. I love the 120 macro it's a nice focal length on the 645D (about 100mm on 35mm) and it's not often left my camera since I bought it in Hamburg at the start of the tour 3 weeks ago. Because I love the lens so much I have been forced to look at my composition more as I am using my feet to zoom even though I have two zoom lenses in my backpack. I have been asked why I have used a 120mm lens on a pano when a wide angle would be easier. I still have work to do on panos, although I love the Koblenz one, but I think it's important to use the sharpest lens for it. I can see how sharp the shots are even looking at the flikr image of the Koblenz Pano.

Am really happy with how my photography is going - part of it is shooting at better times, part of it shooting in better locations for a less than ideal shooting time, and I think my processing has improved. I still need more skills in PP - I'm not very good at cloning and using the quick selection tool is still something that I find fiddly. I think though I m being more selective in the shots I take (although having bought another 1TB portable hard disc, it's still taking up a lot of space!) and being more strict with what I select for posting. I still have some ways to go but at least I am moving forward not backwards!

[Troy]

Good to hear you are enjoying your photography so much Paul. Can see a definite improvement from your first shots, and the black and white tram photo is your best yet.

A good way to combat the paps could be to just turn your camera on them, or just flaunt that yours is better

[Rosie]

Love the BW tram - you are stood in just the right spot with the action of the tram heading right towards you and the glistening tram lines heading away - it makes for a really dynamic shot. The starburst tram lights are fantastic too.

The wihnachtsmarkt in full swing shot is too dark in the foreground - it doesn't really hold your interest as much as your other shot.

[singingsnapper]

Revisited this shot, using silver efex pro 2 to convert to black and white



frankfurt rail tracks by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[simon3116]

Nice shot Paul, good processing as well.

[singingsnapper]

In Cologne having recorded a TV show. Took a stroll in the cold after dinner to the Rhine where there is a great view over the river of the rail bridge and the Cathedral:

Pentax 645D FA 75 f/11 25 secs ISO 125


Cologne-2 by singingsnapper, on Flickr

The row of lights attracted me on the way back as I approached the Dom

Pentax 645D FA 33 - 55 at 33mm f/11 and 30 secs ISO 100


cologne dom-2 by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[simon3116]

Two very nice shots Paul. Well done for braving the cold, it hasn't been above -9C here for the last two weeks, even during the day. I haven't been to Cologne for a few years now but I do remember it being very photo friendly.

ps I think the first shot needs straightening judging by the roof of the Dom.

[4colourprogress]

Cologne 2 is the stronger shot with better lines. I would have taken another shot at a slightly shorter exposure though and blended the two together, check out the wall where the lights are shining on it... it's beginning to burn a hole in the image.

You could definitely benefit from exposure stacking / HDR photography I would study these 2 subjects if I were you as the knowledge will be invaluable in the long term.

[Lorna12]

Beautiful shots. Jaw Dropping!!!

The river on some of your shots looks so still and tranquil, and of course the glowing church in the first picture stands out for me!

Great work.