Sunday, May 27, 2012
"Rawr I am a T-rex!"
Okay he may not have said exactly that, but he certainly knew a thing or two about exercising one's mind and imagination. Actual advice from Niemann is to set tight deadlines for yourself even when the true deadline is far in the future and "the best time to reinvent yourself is when things are going fantastically great."
After showing some samples of his work we were anxious to bring some home with us. Luckily he had a box of his newest on hand. Check it out for yourself!Niemann's Website
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Von Osten Nas Westen und Vieder Zurück
Berlin's early-summer sun graces the horizon around 4:00. At this time the night air has cooled, creating a sensory heaven for the smoothly sobering window gazer. I feel that it is something existential to stay awake through the sun rise. The earth is calm now, and if calm is good for the earth the same must go for myself. The sun returns and it is our time to live by its light. I remember that my shorts, longs, goods, bads, and life are simply perceptions relative to my position in the universe. The molten mass of particles creeps up over the high rises, our beautiful provider. We are particle brothers in the cycle of energy and matter. I close the window and remember that bier ist gut and new friends are better. More than ever I am glad to be here, to exist. This is where today's adventure ends.
It began in a thrift store in Alexanderplatz. We mostly found common fashion in Berlin to be similar to that in the US. We split up and I stayed at Alexanderplatz to take photos. It wasn't long before I found something interesting. A group of punks dressed in black were sitting with a man passed out on the concrete and a woman with a bloody nose. I tried to sneak a few pictures, but turned away after a particularly dirty look. A sudden noise startled me, and on the floor to my right lay a broken glass bottle. The woman had thrown it at the concrete wall next to me. I guess it was a good reminder to keep up with my karma.
On my way back to the bus I met a friendly punk rocker who had just moved to Berlin form a small town in Southern Germany. He was eager to practice speaking english, rattling off names of american death metal and hard core bands punctuated by the fun facts of Berlin's thriving underground culture. "We are mostly like Swedes, we do not eat the flesh." Never have I heard someone promote Slayer or Lamb of God with such bubbly joviality. Our friendship was stifled by his refusal to participate in my photo-story assignment. I may have to dedicate my next hamburger him.
As if this was not enough adventure for today, Audrey and I headed to some hostel for the homeless to work on our stories in South Berlin. No really. We took the tram to the S-Bahn and would be getting off at a stop not pictured on the map due to the inconvenience of its southernness. Unfortunately the S-Bahn had other plans, and after the first of several stops all passengers had to switch trains. After a few connections and a few hundred butchered pronunciations of "entschuldigund" we made it, only to find out that the director would be out for three months and no one spoke enough english to be featured in the project. On the bright side, look at this cute old German man!
That night Professor Freeman took us to a bar in formerly East Berlin. Signs and decorations were too mainstream for this bar, and only a few people like Freeman are cool enough to know of its location. Even signs and decorations were too mainstream for this bar. The highlight was undoubtedly the ping pong situation, a hectic rotating sudden-death match. Exciting, highly charismatic, and a little scruffy around the edges, this bar is the best dog you never had. Thanks to Professor Freeman for a great night out after a crazy day!
It began in a thrift store in Alexanderplatz. We mostly found common fashion in Berlin to be similar to that in the US. We split up and I stayed at Alexanderplatz to take photos. It wasn't long before I found something interesting. A group of punks dressed in black were sitting with a man passed out on the concrete and a woman with a bloody nose. I tried to sneak a few pictures, but turned away after a particularly dirty look. A sudden noise startled me, and on the floor to my right lay a broken glass bottle. The woman had thrown it at the concrete wall next to me. I guess it was a good reminder to keep up with my karma.
On my way back to the bus I met a friendly punk rocker who had just moved to Berlin form a small town in Southern Germany. He was eager to practice speaking english, rattling off names of american death metal and hard core bands punctuated by the fun facts of Berlin's thriving underground culture. "We are mostly like Swedes, we do not eat the flesh." Never have I heard someone promote Slayer or Lamb of God with such bubbly joviality. Our friendship was stifled by his refusal to participate in my photo-story assignment. I may have to dedicate my next hamburger him.
As if this was not enough adventure for today, Audrey and I headed to some hostel for the homeless to work on our stories in South Berlin. No really. We took the tram to the S-Bahn and would be getting off at a stop not pictured on the map due to the inconvenience of its southernness. Unfortunately the S-Bahn had other plans, and after the first of several stops all passengers had to switch trains. After a few connections and a few hundred butchered pronunciations of "entschuldigund" we made it, only to find out that the director would be out for three months and no one spoke enough english to be featured in the project. On the bright side, look at this cute old German man!
That night Professor Freeman took us to a bar in formerly East Berlin. Signs and decorations were too mainstream for this bar, and only a few people like Freeman are cool enough to know of its location. Even signs and decorations were too mainstream for this bar. The highlight was undoubtedly the ping pong situation, a hectic rotating sudden-death match. Exciting, highly charismatic, and a little scruffy around the edges, this bar is the best dog you never had. Thanks to Professor Freeman for a great night out after a crazy day!
Today the group got the privilege of speaking with Timothy Falek. He offered some valuable advice about photography and photojournalism, from technical tips to discussion of ethical responsibility. Here is a link where you can check out some of his inspiring work: http://www.timothyfadek.com/
We were on our own for the rest of the day. The original plan was to visit the Volkspark nearby and the take the U-ban to the bombed out church in West Berlin. Step one went pretty much as planned. They really were not kidding when they named this the people's park. Features include a bar, green hills, lounging teens, sleeping drunks, and a mysterious hatch form which alternatively-clothed young adults emerge. No really, We watched it happen.
Due to complications on the U-ban step two became "aimlessly wander Kreutzberg." This is said to be the artist district of Berlin, and you can tell. Beautiful dark color schemes abound, coupled with tall shade trees and plots of grass where artsy girls juggle pins and practice hula hooping. It was another day in beautiful Berlin.
We were on our own for the rest of the day. The original plan was to visit the Volkspark nearby and the take the U-ban to the bombed out church in West Berlin. Step one went pretty much as planned. They really were not kidding when they named this the people's park. Features include a bar, green hills, lounging teens, sleeping drunks, and a mysterious hatch form which alternatively-clothed young adults emerge. No really, We watched it happen.
Due to complications on the U-ban step two became "aimlessly wander Kreutzberg." This is said to be the artist district of Berlin, and you can tell. Beautiful dark color schemes abound, coupled with tall shade trees and plots of grass where artsy girls juggle pins and practice hula hooping. It was another day in beautiful Berlin.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tri (Sonntag)
It is now day three and I think Berlin and I are really getting to know each other. By this I mean that I am building an amicable relationship with the structures and atmosphere. The citizens are certainly no friendlier or less adverse to photography.
Berlin truly is a city composed of and established by artists. Today our walking tour lead us around the central area, through Charlottenburg and the Tiergarten area.
While the bike tour circumnavigated most of the city's outskirts, our walking tour lead us around the central area of Berlin. We passed through museum island where we found, you guessed it, an area of history museums and historical buildings. The tour was great, but four hours dragged on into five and moments melted into eternity on our hottest day in Berlin yet. It didn't help that the tour guide held his tanning priorities over our sanity.
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