Germany - Eckart Mayer Photography

Hamburg Speicherstadt harbour city hall and sunshades against blue sky

Historic harbour city hall at Hamburg Speicherstadt

Hamburg's "Speicherstadt" is the worlds largest warehouse ensemble. Built from the 1880'ies to the 1920'ies as part of the port, the building foundations rests on hundreds of huge wooden logs. The City of Warehouses now is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a very popular tourist destination. The huge buildings made from red bricks are testimony of Hamburg's important role in global maritime trade. One of the most iconic buildings is this so-called Hafenrathaus (harbour city hall). (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-09)

Closeup on window fascade of Hamburg Elbphilharmonie

Elbphilharmonie window structures and reflections

As impressive as the Elbharmonie building in total may be, I was more interested in the unique fascade. The curved glass results in amazing reflections, and in combination with the light constantly changes the visual appearance of the building. Whilst there was a lot of criticism against the project due to the much higher than planned construction costs, the city of Hamburg now has a new icon. (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-04)

Empty masts and dews of sailing ships against blue sky

Maze of sailing ship masts and dews

Like probably most children, I was always fascinated by the adventures of the great explorers of the past centuries. One item firmly associated with these stories are the iconic sailing ships. No matter how many masts, they opened up new horizons and enabled the discovery of previously unknown territories. Therefore, I was very happy to find not only one, but quiet a number of these impressive testimonies of the past in the port of Hamburg. Zooming in on their masts revealed a confusing, yet organized maze of dews. (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-10)

Many blue and yellow cranes in Hamburg harbour against sky

Hamburg port "Blohm + Voss dock 10" crane parade

One of the "MUST DO's" when visiting Hamburg is a harbour cruise. Apart from the scenic views of the city, I found both the terminals and the docks very interesting. As the largest port in Germany, Hamburg was always considered the gateway to the world. During our trip, this parade of loading cranes caugt my attention. (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-01)

Low angle view of dark orange sunshade with black spokes

Deep orange colored sunshade

This image is just one of a whole collection of photos that I took of sunshades in this striking dark orange color. In summertime, both businesses and private people supply these photographic elements to all cities Especially restaurants and cafes provide comfort and protection to their guests by putting up a whole collection of them. Some of them are true designer-style piece of art. If you invest a bit of time to find the right position and angle, you will identify many stunning photo opportunities. (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-12)

Low angle view of four white sunshades framing dark blue sky

White sunshade collection and dark blue sky

In summertime, both businesses and private people tend to add a very photographic element to cityscapes: sunshades! Especially restaurants and cafes provide comfort and protection to their guests by putting up a whole armada of them. Obviously, a lot of the sunshades are branded advertising, but then you also have the more neutral, designer-style sunshades. If you invest a bit of time to find the right position and angle, you will identify many stunning photo opportunities. (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-07)

Hamburg harbour cruise paddle steamer with Elbphilharmonie

Lousiana Star harbour cruise against Elbphilharmonie

The "Lousiana Star" paddle steamer is one of the many options to explore the Hamburg harbour area. Whilst not typical for Germany, it blends in nicely into the large variety of boats, vessels and ships. In the background, partially covered, lies the still unfinished Elbphilharmonie. (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-02)

Low angle view of modern residential building with yellow sunshade

Futuristic residential building with yellow sunshade

Walking around Hamburg on one hand is like a history lesson. There are a lot of unique old buildings to discover, giving testimony of the important role the city always played in global trade. On the other hand, there are many new developments, both residential and commercial. The one that almost called "Please take a photo" was this futuristic residential building. The unique architecture, combined with the intense color of both the fascade and the sky, plus the yellow sunshade made this ensemble a perfect photo model. (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-06)

Wooden man sculpture on buoy within Outer Alster Lake

Wooden buoy-man sculpture on the Outer Alster Lake

This gentlemen is one of four wooden sculptures created by artist Stephan Balkenhol. They are distributed within Hamburg's city limits. This specific one resides on a buoy in the beloved "Außenalster". This artificial lake is very popular amongst Hamburg citizens for recreational purposes and sport. Looking at the statue from a distance, one can get easily confused, and consider it a real person lost in the water. A great piece of art... (Hamburg, Germany, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-DE-08)

Gravel path through dandelion meadow against dark stormy sky

Scary looking clouds approaching dandelion meadow in full blosso

Do you also happen to still have a huge collection of old analogue photo treasures burried somewhere in your house? Maybe time to scan the best of them, so you can transfer them into the new digital age. I completed this exercise in 2022. This is one example of my really early work, taken at the small town of Laubach (Hesse) where I spent my teenage years. June at that time was often wet, relatively cold, and with frequent sudden weather changes. The beautiful countryside served as an inspiration for my passion for nature photography. (Laubach, Germany, June 1983 - Image ID: 198306-DE-01)

Beautiful summer meadow with blooming flowers and trees

Healthy summer meadow with dandelions, white flowers and trees

Maybe you still have a huge collection of old analogue photo treasures burried somewhere in your house? Then it's time to scan the best of them, so you can transfer them into the new digital age. I completed this exercise in 2022. This is one example of my really early work, taken in the small town of Laubach (Hesse). This is where I spent my teenage years, and the beautiful countryside was an inspiration for my passion for nature. After school, I spent a lot of time outdoors, with sports and photography as main leisure activities. (Laubach, Germany, June 1983 - Image ID: 198306-DE-02)

Low angle view of Berlin TV Tower and Red Town Hall against sky

Berlin TV tower and Rotes Rathaus (=Red Town Hall) with clouds

The sky over Berlin ("Wings of Desire") is a famous movie by German director Wim Wenders. When I visited Berlin in early May 2023, this sky presented itself at its best with a nice blue and dramatic cloud formations. I used this opportunity to take a few photos of places that I had visited before with less attractive light and weather conditions. I added the arch of a passage of another building to frame the famous Berlin TV-tower and the Red Town Hall ("Rotes Rathaus"). (Berlin, Germany, May 2023 - Image ID: 202305-DE-07)

Berlin cityscape with historic port of Berlin against cloudy sky

Historic port of Berlin and cityscape with TV tower

Despite of many visits to Berlin, I always discover places that I have not seen before. When I returned in early May, I went for an urban exploration walk in the city center. This included the Fischerinsel / museum's island. At its southern tip, I found the historic port of Berlin. A number of vintage ships and boats are moored in the harbour, which doesn't operate as such anymore. From there, I enjoyed spectacular views of the skyline of Berlin Mitte & Alexanderplatz. (Berlin, Germany, May 2023 - Image ID: 202305-DE-09)

Low angle view of large and colorful Berlin residential building

Colorful residential building in Berlin with street lantern

During my walk in the center of Berlin in early May, I intentially left the area with all the famous attractions, to explore some of the less touristic parts of the city. In general, this gives you a much better feeling for a place and the people who live there. South of the museum's island (Fischerinsel), I found this huge residential building, that occupied almost an entire street. In total, it must be more than 250m long. After some renovation, it's beautifully painted in different colors. (Berlin, Germany, May 2023 - Image ID: 202305-DE-10)

Macro shot of green roofing succulents illuminated by sunshine

Green roofing succulents - The mystic imaginary forest - I

Isn't it sad how as adults we tend to loose big part of our imagination from childhood times? When we were young, everything could become anything. It just depended on whom we were playing with, and how far we would allow our mind to go. I thought about this when I recently took some macro-shots of succulent plants used for green roofing. Just 3cm high... Don't they look like a fairytale enchanted forest with giant trees? Who knows what else we might find once we go inside and start to explore... (Esslingen, Germany, May 2023 - Image ID: 202305-DE-11)

Macro image of green and red colored roofing succulents

Green roofing succulents - The mystic imaginary forest - II

Somehow I believe it is sad that as adults we tend to loose big part of our imagination from childhood times? When we were young, everything could become anything. It just depended on whom we were playing with, and how far we would allow our mind to go. I thought about this when I recently took some macro-shots of succulent plants used for green roofing. Just 3cm high... Don't they look like a fairytale enchanted forest with giant trees? Who knows what else we might find once we go inside and start to explore... (Esslingen, Germany, May 2023 - Image ID: 202305-DE-12)

Green roofing succulents - The mystic imaginary forest - III

Would you agree that as adults we tend to loose big part of our imagination from childhood times? When we were young, everything could become anything. It just depended on whom we were playing with, and how far we would allow our mind to go. I thought about this when I recently took some macro-shots of succulent plants used for green roofing. Just 3cm high... Don't they look like a fairytale enchanted forest with giant trees? Who knows what else we might find once we go inside and start to explore... (Esslingen, Germany, May 2023 - Image ID: 202305-DE-13)

Rainbow against dark sky illuminating the left side of a forest

Evening rainbow illuminating the forest above the Neckar valley

I guess there are few people who don't like rainbows. Their prisma colors combined with a dark sky shortly before sunset are just breathtaking. A typical photographer's problem is that they are hard to predict. Most rainbows that appear in the sky above Esslingen (near Stuttgart) tend to surface above the forest covered hills on the south side of the river Neckar. (Esslingen, Germany, May 2023 - Image ID: 202305-DE-01)

Closeup on a rainbow with a small jet plane flying though it

Business jet crossing an evening rainbow

The advantage of shooting photos locally is that a.) one usually has the complete equipment at hand and b.) over time gains experience about the best location. Most rainbows that appear in the sky above Esslingen tend to always surface above the hills on the South side of the river Neckar. And if the wind direction fits, planes landiing at Stuttgart airport might just have to cross that rainbow in their final approach. (Esslingen, Germany, May 2023 - Image ID: 202305-DE-02)

Macro shot of three yellow flower buds ready to open soon

Yellow flower buds macro - Ready to open soon...

Whilst I am not an expert in macro photography, I do enjoy having a closer look at some of the small thing around us. Usually, most of us don't take the time to really appreciate the natural beauty in all its details. For example, weed in our gardens is mostly considered a nuisance. However, when we sit down, nature reveals interesting botanical details. In this case, I was even lying flat in a bed of red gravel, used for green roofing. I especially liked the striking color in the background. Anybody knows which plant this is? I took this photo in Esslingen near Stuttgart, Germany. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2023 - Image ID: 202304-DE-10)

Macro image dandelion flower against unsharp green background

Dandelion bokeh close-up

Probably one of the most hated flowers in the world! Gardeners and especially fans of pure green front gardens with nothing but well-trimmed grass are usually merciless in their fight against dandelions. Nevertheless, they are quite beautiful once you take a closer look. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2023 - Image ID: 202304-DE-15)

Closeup on blooming plum blossoms against dark blue sky

Two plus two cherry (or plum) blossoms against blue sky

To get into spring feeling mood, flowering trees are probably one of the strongest signals that winter will be over soon. And no matter how often one may have taken photos of cherry blossoms, the temptations returns annually. This activity is particularly popular in Asia, where thousands of people chase picture perfect as soon as sakura season starts. For this photo, I went for a real macro close-up to highlight the beauty in all its details. Can you spot the single spider web thread on top of the left flower? And is it a cherry blossom, or a plum blossom? I always get confused... (Esslingen, Germany, April 2023 - Image ID: 202304-DE-12)

Closeup of green leaves with raindrops in the morning sun

Raindrops on fresh green leaves with morning sunlight

The color green is always very calming. Once you have a closer look, you will discover all kind of shades of green in the vegetation around you. I took these images after some overnight rain in our garden on a nice April morning. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2023 - Image ID: 202304-DE-11)

Closeup of blooming forsythia branches against dark background

Two forsythia branches against dark background

In order to do something different, I underexposed this image of the two forsythia branches in full blosson to create a more dramatic contrast. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2023 - Image ID: 202304-DE-07)

Close-up on the remains of a logging victim

A closer look reveals the moss-covered splintered wood at the bottom of a felled tree. Whilst I know that we do need a sustainable timber industry, and that new life will soon emerge from the ruins, I always feel sad when I come across such signs of "destruction". (Esslingen, Germany, April 2023 - Image ID: 202304-DE-05)

Tree stump and cut trunk lying next to it

Freshly cut - fallen tree trunk

Just recently cut, this tree now waits to be removed from it's forest home. It's wood will have a 2nd life, maybe as furniture or in construction. Somehow looks like a violent crime scene (Esslingen, Germany, April 2023 - Image ID: 202304-DE-03)

Many cut tree trunks lying in the forest like a giant spillikins

Spillikins XXL - felled tree trunks

This scene reminded my of a giant spillikins setup, even though it's obviously not a game, but rather a business. Many trees are "harvested" in Spring, making space for new ones to take over their territory and restart the cycle of life. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2023 - Image ID: 202304-DE-02)

Composite of nine colorful autum leaves on beech

Autumn Visuals I (Beech)

For nature lovers, autumn is an amazing season of ever-changing visuals. This is a compilation of various photos taken for my series "Foreigners". Using the same background for differently coloured leaves, and putting them next to each other summarizes a golden October day. (Esslingen, Germany, November 2022 - Image ID 202211-DE-04)

Composite of nine colorful autum leaves on red oak

Autumn Visuals II (Red Oak)

Composite of nine colorful autum leaves on ginko

Autumn Visuals III (Ginko)

Composite of nine colorful autum leaves on ginko and red oak

Autumn Visuals V (Ginko - Red Oak)

Composite of nine colorful autum leaves on various other leaves

Autumn visuals - Mix of colorful leaves from various trees

For nature lovers, autumn is an amazing season of ever-changing visuals. This is a compilation of various photos taken for my series "Foreigners". Using diverse backgrounds for differently coloured leaves, and putting them next to each other summarizes the breathtaking beauty of a golden October day. (Esslingen, Germany, November 2022 - Image ID 202211-DE-09)

Composite of nine colorful autum leaves on red oak and ginko

Autumn Visuals IV (Red Oak - Ginko)

Composite of autumn leaves forming a 8-layer Christmas tree

Xmas Trees 2022 "Beech" - Limited Edition

Based on the colorful Autumn leaves series "Foreigner", I decided to go one step further, and to create three uniquely different limited edition Xmas trees. Each of them is available max. 8 times as image license and wall print. For details, check the image incl. the explanation. (Esslingen, Germany, November 2022 - Image ID 202211-DE-01)

Composite of autumn leaves forming a 7-layer Christmas tree

Xmas Trees 2022 "Red Oak" - Limited Edition

Composite of autumn leaves forming a 6-layer Christmas tree

Xmas Trees 2022 "Mixed Leaves" - Limited Edition

Colorful autumn chestnut tree leaf on bed of brown oak leaves

Foreigner (I)

Remember! Each of us is a foreigner everywhere in the world, except for one (or maybe two) countries. This series of Autumn leaves illustrates how cultural and ethnical diversity add color to any society. (Esslingen, Germany, October 2022 - Image ID 202210-DE-01)

Colorful autumn staghorn tree leaf on bed of yellow beech leaves

Foreigner (II)

Colorful autumn oak tree leaf on bed of brown red oak leaves

Foreigner (III)

Colorful autumn red oak tree leaf on bed of yellow gingko leaves

Foreigner (IV)

Colorful autumn maple leaf on bed of yellow plane tree leaves

Foreigner (VI)

Colorful autumn chestnut tree leaf on bed of brown beech leaves

Foreigner (VII)

Colorful green and yellow autumn tree leaf on bed of other leaves

Foreigner (VIII)

Colorful red oak autumn leaves on bed of brown oak leaves

Foreigner (IX)

This image is part of a whole series. The inspiration came from my work-related relocations around the globe. They provided me with the opportunity to live on different continents. Hence, I had the opportunity to experience completely different cultures. Remember! Each of us is a foreigner everywhere in the world, except for one (or maybe two) countries. This series of autumn leaves illustrates how cultural and ethnical diversity add color to any society. No matter if in business or private life: engaging with people of different backgrounds is very enriching. (Esslingen, Germany, October 2022 - Image ID 202210-DE-09)

One large and one small fly agaric mushroom on grass

Together

One of the most colourful and fascinating, but also toxic mushrooms to be found in German forests. I took this image with these two 40 years ago with my first own camera, a Revueflex ACX. (Laubach, Germany, October 1982 - Image ID: 198210-DE-03)

Fallen

Not sure who or what caused this fly agaric to collapse, but it still made a descent job as a model. (Laubach, Germany, October 1982 - Image ID: 198210-DE-02)

Close up of red fly agaric mushroom with cut in its umbrella

Injured

Last image from my fly agarics series: this large one had been injured, but bravely and proudly still endured on the forest floor. (Laubach, Germany, October 1982 - Image ID: 198210-DE-01)

Yellow clouds and condensation trails illuminated by evening sun

Evening Cloud Magic VI - Condensation trails

Sometimes it's good to be at home, so one can quickly access the camera gear when nature provides an unexpected photo opportunity. August 2022 was one of these occasions, where spectacular clouds were moving across the dark blue sky. With a bit of imagination, one can spot all kinds of animals, shapes and objects. The later during the day, the more dramatic they looked, illuminated by the warm and low-standing evening sun. To further enhance this effect, I digitally reworked the already underexposed images for more dramatic colours and contrast. As such, the condensation trails became more prominent. (Esslingen, Germany, August 2022 - Image ID 202208-DE-11)

Yellow cloud formations illuminated by evening sun

Evening Clouds (I)

Sometimes it's good to be at home, so one can just quickly access the gear when nature provides an unexpected photo opportunity. This series was taken on a late Summer evening in August in Esslingen, and digitally enhanced for more dramatic colour and contrast. (Esslingen, Germany, August 2022 - Image ID 202208-DE-06)

Yellow cloud shaped like an eagle illuminated by the evening sun

Evening Cloud Magic V - The Eagle

Did you immediately spot the giant eagle cloud in the dark sky? With a bit of imagination, looking up, one can spot all kinds of animals, shapes and objects. In August 2022, where spectacular clouds were moving across the dark blue sky. The later during the day, the more dramatic they looked, illuminated by the warm and low-standing evening sun. To further enhance this effect, I digitally reworked the already underexposed images for more dramatic colours & contrast. As such, this magnificent eagle appears more prominent. (Esslingen, Germany, August 2022 - Image ID 202208-DE-10)

Intense red colored maple leaf on black and white clay tile

LOVE - Red maple leaf on monochrome grey tile

It's arguably the most common link between human feelings and a color: RED means LOVE. After an extended period of rain, I found this colorful gift just outside our house in Taipei. The original photo, before digital editing for split color, was completely red, including the clay tile. Autumn leaves in general make great photo models. In this case, I liked the structure of the solid red clay tile providing a nice contrast to the soft and transient leaf. Whenever I look at this finished product, I do think about Canada and the Canadian flag. (Esslingen, Germany, September 2022 - Image ID 202209-DE-01)

LIGHT - Yellow leaf on dark grey bricks

Do you associate certain colors with specific feelings,events or other things? As the brightest basic color, people frequently think about LIGHT (or the sun) when they see YELLOW. This wet leaf set against the dark black & white background clearly illustrates this effect. I took the photo in Taipei (Taiwan) on a rainy day in 2013, and enhanced the color/contrast with a b&w split. In Asia, yellow is the color of virtue and nobility, whereas in western culture it is not such a popular tone. How do you like this specific type of yellow? (Esslingen, Germany, September 2022 - Image ID 202209-DE-02)

Closeup of green leaf with raindrops on black and white bricks

HOPE - green leaf on grey bricks

What are your associations when it comes to certain colors? GREEN is usually associated with HOPE, nature, freshness and environmental protection. To illustrate this feeling (currently in high demand), herewith another rain-inspired image from my time in Taipei. To enhance the effect, I turned everything except the main subject into black & white. And yes, green also may symbolize other feelings, such as jealousy and envy. But I clearly prefer the positive annotations. (Esslingen, Germany, September 2022 - Image ID 202209-DE-03)

Line of trees silhouette against cloudy sky in black and white

Esslingen airstrip panorama at sunset (black and white)

After weeks of almost continuous sunshine during the day, one starts getting happy to see a few clouds, even though they actually didn't bring a lot of rain. On the positive side, the evening sunset over the small airstrip at Esslingen-Jägerhaus was very spectacular (Esslingen, Germany, August 2022 - Image ID: 202208-DE-05)

Gravel road in the forest leading into the evening sun

Light at the end of the forest tunnel

Even the most passionate photographers do not always carry their full gear. During an extended evening walk in the forests above Esslingen, I fortunately still had my iPhone with me to take this shot against the low-standing sun. I was quite impressed with the result of this smartphone capture. (Esslingen, Germany, July 2022 - Image ID 202207-DE-01)

An iceland gravel road with colorful rainbow and dark sky

A stony road in Iceland towards the rainbow

When nature in June 2022 presented me with a jaw-dropping rainbow & sunray opportunity in Esslingen (Germany), I had to rush to get my camera and took a few shots. Whilst the original image was nice, I decided to do something special. So I digitally combined it with an older photo of an endless gravel road crossing a volcanic landscape in Iceland, taken back in 2016. Apart from the visual impact, I also consider the result a nice symbol for the still long and bumpy road towards true diversity. (Esslingen, Germany, June 2022 - Image ID 202206-DE-01)

Three red rose flowers behind metal bars

Forbidden love - Heart shaped red rose behind metal bars - Photo Painting

During a walk in a tranquil wine village of Sasbachwalden (Germany), I discovered this red rose. Its three flowers formed a heart behind metal bars, which inspired the title "Forbidden Love" for this image. And yet, even behind the fence, the fresh red petals and the intense green of the leaves maintain their natural beauty (Sasbachwalden, Deutschland, Juni 1982 - Image ID: 198206-DE-01)

Close up of magenta clematis flowers against black background

Two beautifully illuminated magenta Clematis flowers

Spring-time equals flower-time! For just about 30min, the sun illuminated these two clematis blossoms against a very dark background. It almost felt like someone had generously switched on a spotlight, just for me. So I quickly interrupted my lunch for a few minutes and took a series of different shots of this natural beauty. Of all the clematis plants in our garden, I really like this vibrant magenta/pink/purple one most. Taking a close-up reveals this piece of botanical art. (Esslingen, Germany, May 2022 - Image ID 202205-DE-01)

Side-by-side view of grain and rapeseed field in full blossom

Green and yellow - side by side

Always great for striking color contrast: rapeseed fields in full blossom! (Laubach, Deutschland, Juni 1992 - Image ID: 199206-DE-02)

Tulip with red flower and green leaves covered by snow and ice

Red tulip surprised by the snow...

After an entire winter without snowfall, photographers got an early April present, providing excellent picture-taking opportunities of the flowers already in bloom. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2022 - Image ID: 202204-DE-09)

Magnolia flowers covered by powder snow against starry sky

Night sky Magnolia, covered by the snow...

Winter 2021/22 virtually never arrived in Germany's greater Stuttgart area. It was far too warm, and whenever it was cold, there was no precipitation. Then, in early April, snow finally fell overnight, and fresh powder covered all the flowers with a white dress. Perfect timing for taking some photos of the magnolia trees in full blossom. Even without snow, they are very beautiful. With the powder snow on top, and combined with the starry night sky, they looked even better. But I had to be quick, this beauty didn't last long until the snow melted away. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2022 - Image ID: 202204-DE-08)

Wet yellow orange daffodil flowerhead in the snow

Brave lonely daffodil surprised by the snow...

Winter 2021/22 never really arrived in Germany's greater Stuttgart area. It was too warm, and whenever it was cold, there was no precipitation. Only in April, when everyone was looking forward for spring, snow finally fell overnight. With vegatation already pretty much in springtime mode, fresh powder covered all the flowers with a white dress. This was a great photo opportunity for those who got up early in the morning. One of my favourites was this brave daffodil resisting the unexpected cold return of winter. Fortunately, this didn't last, and the snow quickly melted away. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2022 - Image ID: 202204-DE-07)

Red and pink cherry blossoms covered with snowflakes

Snowy red cherry blossoms - Photo Painting

The winter 2021/22 virtually never arrived in Germany's greater Stuttgart area. It was far too warm, and whenever it was cold, there was no precipitation. Only in April, when everyone was looking forward for spring, snow finally fell overnight. With vegatation already pretty much in springtime mode, fresh powder covered all the flowers with a white dress. This was a great photo opportunity for those who got up early in the morning. Can you spot the ice crystals on top of the cherry blossoms? I converted the image in an acrylic-style photo painting. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2022 - Image ID: 202204-DE-06)

Abstract digital painting of pink cherry blossoms

Snowy pink ornamental cherry tree in full bloom - Photo Painting

The winter 2021/22 virtually never arrived in Germany's greater Stuttgart area. It was far too warm, and whenever it was cold, there was no precipitation. Only in April, when everyone was looking forward for spring, snow finally fell overnight. With vegatation already pretty much in springtime mode, fresh powder covered all the flowers with a white dress. This was a great photo opportunity for those who got up early in the morning. To enhance the natural beauty, I converted the pink snow-covered cherry blossoms into a modern photo painting. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2022 - Image ID: 202204-DE-01)

Two branches of blooming cherry tree at night

Cherry blossoms at night

Worldwide one of the symbols of spring and most popular photo motifs ever: blossoming cherry trees, mostly in front of a bright blue sky. Even at night, they unfold their timeless beauty for a few days. (Esslingen, Germany, April 2022 - Image ID: 202204-DE-03)

Digital painting with low-angle view of cherry tree in full bloom

Cherry tree in full bloom from below (photo painting)

Even if it doesn't look like it: this photo was taken at night near the castle in Esslingen, and was then digitally edited. I especially liked the unusual perspective... (Esslingen, Germany, April 2022 - Image ID: 202204-DE-02)

Low angle view of weeping willow tree with fresh green leaves

Weeping willow in fresh green spring outfit

I assume most photographers have a number of motives in their close neighborhood that they revisit over and over again. Images taken in different weather conditions, times of the day, or seasons provide enough reason to come back. This large weeping willow in Esslingen (Germany) is an impressive sight all year round. It stands in a huge private garden with many other species of old trees. I especially adore it during spring season, when the young and fresh green leaves unfold, and provide a feast for the eyes. For this, sunshine and a blue sky is a big plus. (Esslingen, Germany, March 2022 - Image ID: 202203-DE-04)

A diverse lineup of trees in spring against blue sky

Spring Diversity

Even in nature, not everyone is the same, and only the combination of different species unfolds its full splendor. The spring awakening of the various trees does not take place in parallel, but with a staggered time. (Esslingen, Germany, March 2022 - Image ID: 202203-DE-03)

An usual climate change traffic light with colored icebergs

Iceberg traffic light reflections

Considering the huge amount of normal images with traffic lights, I wanted to do something more creative. This fine art composite originates from the times of analogue photography. Instead of digital post-processing, I worked with a mirror and different colored lightbulbs. With this arrangement, I created a magic iceberg-shaped landscape using the three-colored scheme of a traffic light. Each iceberg reflection makes it look as if they are floating on a pitch-black lake. (Germany, Esslingen, March 2022 - Image ID: 202203-DE-02)

Composite of four icebergs in different colors on a black lake

Four coloured "Icebergs" on a crystal-clear black lake

From the times of analogue photography, without digital image processing: Working with a mirror and different colored lightbulbs, I tried to create magical iceberg-shaped landscapes and details against a pitch-black background. Obviously, this composition of four different images was created using Photoshop. (Esslingen, Germany, March 2022 - Image ID: 199203-DE-01)

Close-up on iceberg peaks illuminated in yellow and green

Golden-green Illuminated "Iceberg" Detail

From the times of analogue photography, without digital image processing and Photoshop: working with a mirror and different colored lightbulbs, I tried to create magical iceberg-shaped landscapes and details against a pitch-black background. (Stuttgart, Germany, March 1992 - Image ID: 199203-DE-05)

Close-up on iceberg peak illuminated with vibrant red light

Red Illuminated "Iceberg" Detail

Macro shot of red amaryllis flower with pollen

Red amaryllis in focus

Natural beauty often reveals itself even better once you take a closer look. This is true for flowers, where it is worth zooming in on the fascinating floral details. (Esslingen, Germany, January 2022 - Image ID: 202201-De-01) Englisch  I always find it amazing how many of these magnificent flowers a single amaryllis produces within a few weeks. The NIKON 105mm Macro opens up even the smallest details. (Esslingen, Germany, January 2022 - Image ID: 202201-DE-01)

Zooming in on the details of blue icicles

Blue Ice Sculptures

30 years ago, we still used to have serious winters, lasting with November to March, with cold weather and a lot more snow than today. Extended periods of 24h sub-zero temperatures created beautiful ice scultpures like this one. (Stuttgart, Germany, January 1992 - Image ID: 199201-DE-01)

Macro image of magenta colored clematis flower

Clematis flower close-up - magenta color against black background

Spring-time equals flower-time! For just about 30min, the sun illuminated these two clematis blossoms against a very dark background. It almost felt like someone had generously switched on a spotlight, just for me. The 2nd image from my spontaneous flower photo shooting session is a macro close-up. Some of the beauty around us remains unseen to most of us. Usually, we tend to rush by without paying close attention... Please take a closer look and enjoy all the amazing details nature has to offer! To me this whole looks like an futuristic spaceship in the endless dark universe. (Esslingen, Germany, May 2022 - Image ID 202205-DE-02)

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