Travel Photography: Germany

This is my first post on Travel Photography. Normally when I travel, I'm accompanied by my toddler and carrying a separate bag with a big camera and lenses is not possible, and to dedicate the time and concentration to something else while traveling is also a challenge. I tend to just carry a compact point and shoot camera that I can easily fit in my pocket or handbag, but it doesn't offer the creativity freedom and versatility as a DSRL. Depending where I go and who I'm going with I decide whether or not to take some of my photography equipment with me. This is something that I'm considering this year for our family trip to Vancouver.

Last year I travelled to Germany with a friend for a week and we were able to visit two cities: Dresden and Berlin. I loved both of them, each with their own look and feel. So full of history and character. A very different environment and culture from the Caribbean.... not to mention the cold weather... brrrrrr!!! However, that didn't stop us and we were very lucky that our trip was not affected by a major flood that happened while we were there.

Here is a compilation of some of the photos of these two cities. A combination of street photography, historical sites and landmarks. Editing of these photographs was done to a minimum, I wanted to keep the feel of what it was really like. 

Berlin: Siegessäule (The Victory Column) built to commemorate the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian war. At the top, a bronze sculpture of Victoria. Postcards sold in the sidewalk in Breitscheidplatz, walls in repair inside the old Gedaechtnis-kirche (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - Protestant) which was badly damaged by bombings in 1943. 

Berlin: new church altar at Gedaechtniskirche, the walls of the church are made of a concrete honeycomb containing 21,292 stained glass inlays. A piece of the Berlin Wall inside the old Gedaechtniskirche. Berlin traffic light with the famous Ampelmaennchen (this little walking man is quite famous in souvernirs).

Berlin: Champagne lunch at KaDeWe, Berlin street, Saxophonist in the street.

Berlin: Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) in the background, Brandenburg Gate. 

Berlin: Holocaust Memorial (2,700 concrete slabs gradually increase in height filling this 5 acre memorial site)

Berlin: modelling our Jamaica Hummingbird Watches with TV Tower in the background, The Reichstag Building, Berlin sign on the floor of our Hop on Hop off City Tour Bus, Frauen-parkplatz (parking for women, how considerate!- they are wider and better located). Photos taken with iPhone.

Berlin: Potsdamer Platz - outdoor display of wall pieces that used to divide east and west.

Berlin: Sony Center, Walk of Fame, public transportation tricycle at the Bahnhof Potsdamer Plazt.

Dresden: street photos, an old Trabant car,  Kunsthofpassage Singing Drain Pipes (beautiful building, it was raining when I was there but I guess not strong enough to hear the music).

Dresden: outside Pfunds Dairy (beautifully decorated from floor to celling with coloured tiles depicting the history of milk production) , outdoor seating at the Art Passage

Dresden: street leading to the Procession of Princes (a monumental mosaic wall made of porcelain tiles showing the rulers of the house of Wettin), Dresden 1900 Restaurant, Artist at the Zwinger.

Dresden: Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) a Barroque Masterpiece rebuilt in 2005 after it was turned into rubble during WWII, side facade of the Academy of art.

Dresden Panorama from bridge

Dresden: of course I had to include photos from the flood. Some of these photos were taken with an iPhone.

Cruising through Schneeberg, the Gemeindeamt (City Hall) on the right. Photos taken with an iPhone.

And of course, our selfie :o) - in Dresden. Photos taken with an iPhone.