Night in Heidelberg
A lovely night begins in Heidelberg, Germany…
I really love shooting cities as darkness descends on them. The lights come on and they just sparkle. Throw in a river running through it, and that is a recipe for a really happy Jim! I captured this one evening in Heidelberg, Germany. Such a gorgeous town, made more so in the fading light.
Last light in Bavaria
A lovely sunset in Bavaria, Germany…
We were driving back to our hotel in the little town of Fussen, in the Bavaria part of Germany, and I could see the light was just starting to get awesome. So I pulled over next to this river, looking for something of interest to capture during what I hoped would be a nice sunset. I found a little footbridge and starting shooting away. The light turned really gorgeous, and then a swan swam into the frame. Perfect.
Checkpoint Charlie
A quick stop at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin…
I have been to Berlin twice now, and find it a bit fascinating. On both visits I went by Checkpoint Charlie and of course grabbed a few shots each time. It’s an interesting spot, full of history. Well worth a stop if you are near!
Sunset in Rothenburg
A composite image from Rothenburg, Germany…
Ah, charming little Rothenburg, Germany - such a beautiful little town! We spent two nights here in Rothenburg, not because it takes 2 days to see it, but just to make sure I could get enough photos of the place. And guess what? I got plenty! :-)
This photo is a composite - sadly, I was not blessed with such beautiful light there. I added a new sky in Luminar and then did various other edits as well. But it came out pretty well, and I wanted to share it! There will be a video on my YouTube channel soon, showing how I made this one. Thanks!
That amazing arch in Munich
That amazing arch in Munich, known as Siegestor…
This is the Siegestor in Munich Germany, and it’s pretty awesome. When we visited, this was something that I kept seeing on various websites about interesting sites to see, so I made sure to check it out. The clouds were just perfect that day!
Overlooking Munich
A view over the rooftops of Munich, Germany…
I just adore European cities and always look for interesting vantage points - but it’s often difficult to get a view from above a city. In Munich, we took the tour to the top of their City Hall building which has a bell tower, and when we got there I knew this was a view I would enjoy. It happened to be approaching sunset, too, so I was lucky to get some decent light as well!
Phone check
A young lady stops to check her phone on the streets of Fussen, Germany…
Everyone everywhere is pretty much always checking their phones for something. I’m no exception, unless I am out shooting of course. In this case, I was wandering with my Mom in Fussen, Germany with no particular destination. We were just checking out the town. This lady was across the street from us and when she stopped, I couldn’t resist the shot. That red jacket just caught my eye!
A Stunning Sunrise in Rothenburg
A stunning sunrise in Rothenburg, Germany - a beautiful little medieval village.
I do love to get up and shoot sunrises!
When I visited Rothenburg, I knew I had to get up for sunrise one morning, simply because the town is small and popular. That's essentially a recipe for really crowded, and I don't like to do crowded. So I got up super early, and since I was staying right in the middle of town, it was a quick walk to get into position for sunrise. It's great to have quaint little spots like this all to yourself. It's as if you are the only person in the world, and you get to experience them in what I consider a magical way.
Rothenburg sunrise
Sunrise in Rothenburg, Germany and I was out in the streets firing away...
So much beauty in Germany!
I love Germany - it's just such a beautiful country. When I was there last year, I spent 2 nights in the little medieval town of Rothenburg. It was like being in a fairytale village. The architecture is beautiful and the little streets just beg to be photographed.
I got up early one morning to wander the streets at sunrise, and it was well worth it. I had the town to myself and walked away with a lot of images that I just adore. So fun!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas from me to you! Enjoy your holiday and thanks for the visits this year!
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!
This is a shot I took earlier this year in southern Germany - technically Bavaria - and it's of the Neuschwanstein Castle, possibly the most famous castle in the world. It's certainly near the top of the list. I was actually there in the afternoon and it was April, so no snow. So I decided to make it my own little snowy paradise using some tricks in Luminar. Enjoy your holiday!
Sunrise in Rothenburg
A golden sunrise in the stunning medieval village of Rothenburg, Germany...
Ah, what a gorgeous little village in Germany!
I loved my visit to Rothenburg Germany, even though it was only for 2 nights. It's small enough you can see it all in a day, but of course I wanted to dive in a little deeper (and get a chance to really shoot it).
The first sunrise there found me up and out shooting, which basically gave me the town all to myself. It was incredible. Wandering the little streets and photographing these scenes in solitude was just incredible. Highly recommended!
Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, such a wonderful and beautiful monument...
A must see in Berlin!
When we visited Berlin back in April (my 2nd visit there), I made sure that we made a visit to the Brandenburg Gate. It's basically a symbol of the city. The Berlin Wall ran through here and when it was removed this spot came to symbolize freedom.
I always seek out these sorts of things when I travel. I love to soak up the history of a place. My desire was to get up really early and shoot sunrise here (and hopefully have it to myself), but that never materialized as I continued to sleep in the entire visit. So, I opted for shots like this one where I focused just on portions of this famous monument. Still worth having!
Inside the Antiquarium
Inside Munich's Residenz, staring down the amazing Antiquarium...
At the Residenz Palace in Munich, Germany
This hallway, known as the Antiquarium, was the primary reason that I visited the Residenz in Munich, Germany. I do love wandering in castles and palaces but after seeing quite a few over the years, they do start to get overwhelming and a bit repetitive to me. Sure, they are amazing, but you know what I mean.
But before we got to Munich, I had looked up cool spots in the city and this one was high on my list. So we got there when it opened, and I wandered quickly around to find this place, knowing that if I was quick I could find it nearly empty. I succeeded and spent quite a while in here. It really is pretty amazing that this was someone's home. So opulent!
The coolest house in Oberammergau
Oberammergau Germany is a beautiful little town in Bavaria, known for the gorgeous frescoes that adorn many buildings and houses there...
What an interesting little town in Bavaria!
When I was in Germany back in April, we made it a point to visit the little Bavarian town of Oberammergau. I had heard about it and seen pictures for years, but had not been. Essentially the town is full of houses and buildings that have frescoes painted all over them. It's very interesting, and quite fun to photograph.
This house in particular was my favorite - it tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood. I had to ask around to get directions - which is a little hard when I don't speak German - but I did find it after walking a bit and exploring (which is always fun anyways).
Everyone there was very nice (like all Germans, in my experience) and the town was an interesting and beautiful place to spend half a day with the camera. I have plenty more of these that I need to edit - literally this stuff is all over town. It's amazing and so different than what I find in the US.
Sunrise in Rothenburg
Sunrise begins in the charming little German village of Rothenburg...
When we were in Rothenburg, Germany earlier this year, I got up for sunrise one morning. It's my favorite time to shoot, and doubly so in Europe because I love having the streets all to myself. Although the sunrise wasn't spectacular, the golden light spilling onto the tower in the distance with that one person walking through it really caught my eye.