Bavarian Summer

So far its been a wonderful summer in Bavaria. The best thing is that we are only half way through. Here are some everyday shots to share! Hope you enjoy.

Munich U-Bahn

Every photographer is well aware of the photogenic underground stations in different parts of the world. There are amazing stations in Stockholm, Vienna, Prague and many other place. In Australia we didn’t really have a tube, and I have never really been into architectural photography. However, I recently discovered the Munich U-bahn!

Marienplatz station, Munich. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | f16 | Tripod

The photo above is of Marienplatz, in the heart of  Munich. The design is really cool, and an architectural photographer’s dream. There are many other stations like this. I am considering doing a U-Bahn project, and going around photographing these cool places. In this photo, I used the 16-35mm 2.8L II wide angle lens and a tripod for a long exposure. Architectural photography is all about symmetry, perfect lines and  perfect composition.. very hard to do well!

So lets see if I can get that project happening!

Happy Shooting!

Ettaler Weidmoss

There are a number of wetlands in the region we live, including Pulvermoos, Murnauer Moos, and Ettaler Weidmoss. There is lots to see, particularly if you like the flora and fauna found in this kind of environment. I went to Ettaler Weidmoss to check it out,as I spotted it coming back from the famous Schloss Linderhof. I went there a couple of hours before sunset. I didn’t really know what to expect, so I brought a few lenses including the 180mm 2.8 Macro and my landscape filters along.

Well I didn’t make it that far, despite the fact that there are lots of walking tracks there. I found lots of very pretty wild flowers, and got a bit carried away. I will have to go back and continue exploring some day soon.

Ettaler Weidmoss, Canon 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro | f4.5

Some tips for visiting:
  • Wear a pair of hiking boots or gumboots. Can we quite wet.
  • Go on a quiet day. You need to have no wind in order to get the best shots from a tripod.
  • Its good to go after rain. The rain brings out colour, and cleans everything up.
  • Best to use a tripod and low ISO. If there is no movement by the wind.
  • There is lots to photograph, but a macro lens will bring out a lot of small wonders.

Ettaler Weidmoss, Canon 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro | f4.5

I used mostly the 180mm 2.8 Macro as it allows me to selectively focus on the subjects I want, in an artistic way that has a lot of background blur or bokeh. I would not like to shoot these subjects with a lot of depth of field, because all the elements will be distracting to the viewer. A short macro lens will give the detail and close focus, but will not give the subject isolation possible with a longer lens.

Avoid taking these kinds of photos in the middle of the day, because the harsh sun will never allow the same kind of mood as that captured in this series. Here are some of my favorites from the evening!

Ettaler Weidmoss, Canon 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro | f5.0 | Tripod.

Ettaler Weidmoss, Canon 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro | f2.8.

Ettaler Weidmoss, Canon 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro | f2.8 | Tripod.

All in all it was a very nice evening. I did not get any landscape shots in, but plenty of wildflowers which is also nice. I only managed to walk about 400m as I got rather distracted by all the subject matter. I will have to go back and see what else I can find. There are a lot of insects, and anyone interested in macro would enjoy the photo opportunities there.

Location:

Gallery

Below are the keepers from the day. Most are taken with the 180mm 2.8 OS EX Macro lens which really came into its own on this adventure. No other macro lens can obliterate busy backgrounds like this lens.  I have previously made a review of the lens, which you can read about here. I highly recommend the lens, its big and heavy, but it really delivers the goods in the right conditions. Enjoy!

Signs of Summer

I found that my signs of spring post was fairly popular, so here is a signs of summer! It certainly is becoming summer here in Bavaria. Its been quite warm, and the flowers, grasses, and trees have been exploding. Its now bright green everywhere with lots of life! I once again took my 180mm 2.8 Macro lens out for a walk, and had a look at what I could find.

Bad Kohlgrub, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro

Bad Kohlgrub, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 24mm 1.4 Art

Bad Kohlgrub, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 12mm 2.8 fisheye

Macro or close up photography is somehow quite.. therapeutic. Concentrating on the detail, one little part of the world is refreshing. Modern life is complex.

Bad Kohlgrub, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro

Bad Kohlgrub, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro

Bad Kohlgrub, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro

Gallery

Eibsee, Bavaria

Its finally getting warm and nice here in Bavaria. The grass is green again and the flowers are blooming. Most people who visit here come in Summer, and most people visit the castles, beer gardens, and perhaps see Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. One little place thats very near to Zugspitze is Eibsee, a lake at the foot of the mountain, and about 10mins from Garmisch. I’ve been meaning to check it out, so yesterday I finally did!

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | B+W Polariser

The lake is about the same size as Alpsee near Schwangau, where you will also find Neuschwanstein. Eibsee has got crystal clear water which appears green in the shallows, and number of very cute islands in the middle and great montane forest surrounding it. The backdrop of the lake on two side is towering mountains.

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 50mm 1.4 Art | X4 Polariser

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro

We arrived early in the morning when the water was completely flat. It was such a reward! We saw perfect reflections of the mountains above on the lake. The weather was completely clear, and I used a polarising filter to enhance the colour in the sky and in the forest.

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | B+W Polariser

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | B+W Polariser

Despite the nice colours, black and white conversions have also worked very nicely. Although it is almost a shame to remove the rich colours in scenes like the one below.

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | B+W Polariser

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro

I also brought along my 180mm 2.8 Macro lens, which I only do on occasion. Eibsee is a great place to get some close up images. The one above is water droplets stuck in a spider’s web at 1:1 magnification (life size). There are also many nice wild flowers to photograph.

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 70mm 2.8 Macro

Finally, the surreal scenery is also a good place for portrait photography! The ‘beach’ is kind of small stones, and is a nice stage! Here is one with the 135mm f2L lens.

Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 135mm f2L

If you find yourself in the area, its totally worth a visit. We finished up with lunch at a cafe on the lake, very nice!

Location:

Photography Tips:

  • Bring a few different focal lengths, its a cool place to be creative.
  • You need a polariser!
  • In summer bring your swimmers and a waterproof case!
  • You can hike up to a look out if you want a view of the whole lake.
  • If you want the best images you should bring a tripod.
  • You can hire boats which might be good for photography as well!

Gallery

 

Germany Added!

Hello everyone, I have now added an album from Germany in my travel photography section.

Click here to view a gallery

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First photos after 8 months in Bavaria!