Four days in Berlin with the Leica M10
My recent trip to Berlin proved to be a rejuvenating escape from a rather uninspiring winter.
I rarely take many photographs during the winter months as I prefer not to be outside in the cold and wet weather. Towards the end of January though, I was starting to feel that I had been neglecting my camera, so this trip away was exactly what I needed.
My recent trip to Berlin proved to be a rejuvenating escape from a rather uninspiring winter.
I rarely take many photographs during the winter months as I prefer not to be outside in the cold and wet weather. Towards the end of January though, I was starting to feel that I had been neglecting my camera, so this trip away was exactly what I needed. Spending a few days in new surroundings is the perfect antidote for getting out of a creative rut and the city's vibrant streets offered an abundance of opportunities for street photography.
I took the Leica M10 with a 50mm, a 28mm and a 15mm lens. The 15mm Voigtlander is tiny enough that I can afford to carry it around on the off chance I find a rare scene that benefits from the ultra-wide angle. I am still getting used to the 28mm field of view on a rangefinder but I am trying to use it more often, especially for interesting interior shots. As usual though, the brunt of my favourite photos from this trip were produced by my beloved 50mm Summicron.
The first day began at the iconic Hackesche Höfe area in Hackescher Markt. The walls are covered in graffiti and street art with small galleries dotted in-between. I wandered around the streets just before sundown to get a few interesting shots of the architecture and one friendly street saxophonist.
The next morning I visited the Berlinische Galerie, a bright and spacious art gallery featuring some outstanding paintings and photography displays. The exhibition by Rineke Dijkstra particularly impressed me with her portraits of young Bosnian girl Almerisa growing up in front of her lens.
Certain parts of Berlin I found more photogenic the more I passed through them. I loved the pastel colours of Alexanderplatz station and the television tower that could be seen from seemingly any street I went down.
Visiting the Jewish Museum was definitely the most poignant memory of my time in Berlin. The striking architecture and thoughtful exhibitions offered powerful imagery, the room full of cast iron faces especially moved me more than any other art display in recent memory. A very quiet and profound place, and somewhere I would recommend everyone visiting while in Berlin.
That evening I visited the Reichstag building, an architectural marvel that seamlessly blends historic significance with modern design. We took a lift upto the glass dome on the roof, and were treated with views of German parliament in session below us..
The next day, I ventured to the remnants of the Berlin Wall. The street art along the wall tells powerful narratives of both division and unity. I was impressed by how much of the wall was still intact and how many different art styles were represented.
I also visited the Brandenburg gate, where I wanted to get an original photograph of such a famous landmark. Noticing a street performer with a large rope and bucket of bubble mixture, I motioned him to throw some bubbles my way so I could attempt to line up the monument inside a bubble. Not easy with quickly changing wind, but I managed it eventually.
Finally, the Futurium Museum struck a different chord, with its focus on innovation and sustainability. The sleek designs and thought-provoking installations invited my imagination to wander. Photographing the interactions between visitors and the exhibits I was able to create a few interesting compositions, as well as a couple of great self-portrait opportunities.
Overall, I really enjoyed my short time in Berlin. This trip not only revitalized my creative spirit but also offered me new perspectives on city life and history. The blend of past and future, juxtaposed with the vibrancy of its streets, has left me inspired—a reminder that even in the quietest of winters, stories await just beyond the next corner.
New Photo Series: “La Bella Vita”
I have put together my latest photo series consisting of photos I took over a few years to various parts of Italy.
I have put together my latest photo series consisting of photos I took over a few years to various parts of Italy.
They consist of black & white and colour photographs that show off the beauty and elegance of the wonderful country and the people in it.
You can check it out below:
5 nights in New York City with the Leica M10
I love New York. Having been lucky enough to visit twice before, I never feel like I am there long enough and always miss it when I come back. When the oppertunity came to take a very short notice visit to the big apple at Christmas time, I began dreaming of what sort of photographs I may get this time around.
I love New York. Having been lucky enough to visit twice before, I never feel like I am there long enough and always miss it when I come back. When the opportunity came to take a very short-notice visit to the big apple at Christmas time, I began dreaming of what sort of photographs I may get this time around.
It had been seven years since my last trip in 2016. Back then, I had just started using my Sony camera system, was getting quite into portraits and just starting to dabble in this newfound genre of “street photography”. My photography style, interests and gear have changed a lot since then so I looked forward to what I may be able to capture in the few days and nights that I had to walk around the busy Brooklyn and Manhatten streets.
I even made a short shot-list of photos that I wanted to tick off before leaving, full of ideas like “Oculus interior” and “Radio City portrait/silhouette”. I am glad to say I only left a couple of these unchecked, (still didn’t get to the MoMa museum) and I am quite happy with some of the results.
For whatever reason, I was really feeling black-and-white during this trip so shot everything with that in mind. I took 15mm & 28mm Voigtlander lenses with me but ended up using my 50mm Summicron for 90% of the trip.
The highlight of the 5 days was undoubtedly the Strawberry Fields gathering that I took part in on December 8th, the anniversary of John Lennon’s death. Not many people can say they have sang along to their favourite album with 100 strangers in Central Park. It was a special night that I will never forget.
New York is always full of characters and I was glad to meet professional tightrope walker Ryan (who I shot crossing the steam covered road) and smartly dressed crooner Edward (who kindly stopped for me on the way to a gig). I also saw a man playing an ancient-looking Chinese string instrument and a dog with the most amazing but sad eyes I’ve ever seen.
On the way home, we got to stop in the TWA lounge at the JFK airport - a classy retro styled bar and seating area that is famous for welcoming the fab four at the height of Beatlemania in the 1960’s, and keeping the same elegant decor ever since. It’s a place I’d wanted to visit for some time and was, hands down, the most enjoyable time I’ve ever had waiting for a delayed flight, watching torrential rain splashing against the windows whilst listening to The Kinks.
I set off for New York in 2023 expecting it to be the final time I’d visit. As usual though, the days passed all too quickly and I wished I could stay for longer. With its world famous streets and the scale of the skyscrapers - being in New York City feels like walking through a movie full of interesting characters where anything could happen. Every New Yorker has a story to tell and they are just waiting for their chance to tell it.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of those people and streets. The city that never sleeps, never leaves me disappointed. I only hope I can find my way back again someday.
What I learned from hosting my first solo photography exhibition
One year ago, I was lucky enough to hold my own solo photography exhibition. It was something I wanted to do for years but didn’t expect to ever get the chance. The opportunity came about one evening at a newly opened art gallery …
One year ago, I was lucky enough to hold my own solo photography exhibition. It was something I wanted to do for years but didn’t expect to ever get the chance. The opportunity came about one evening at a newly opened art gallery, showing a few of my photographs to the proprietor. He liked them a lot, and proposed the idea of an exhibition, with live music accompaniment and the chance to sell my own prints. A date six weeks in the future was decided on and that was it - I was to have my own exhibition of my photographs. Now all I had to do was prepare for it!
I decided I would display the entire eighteen photographs from my first project “Alone at the Seaside”. This meant I would have to find somewhere to print them and frame them, as well as a way to display them all. I also had to think about how large I wanted these prints, on what kind of paper, what type of frame I wanted, how large and at what price I would be selling extra prints, how many book copies I should produce, what to write on business cards that I would leave for people to take with them on their way out and how I would design a flyer to advertise the event. I also decided this was a good time to design and launch a new website that I had been thinking about for months. Nothing like a bit of preassure to get things done.
After a few mishaps, I managed to find a professional local print house that was able print all of my pictures to a standard I was happy with. Finding suitable frames was a lot harder but I got very lucky and was able to get a great deal on a bespoke picture framing service in south London. Jonathan hand-made me some stunning black frames to showcase my pictures beautifully. I ordered a few book copies to sell and got a few extra prints made of the strongest photos for anybody that wanted one.
Things I learnt for next time:
Framing prints is the biggest headache imaginable - or it was for me. Print sizes are usually measured in inches while frames are in centimetres. Finding 18 well-made, identical, 20” x 16” black frames on a budget is not easy.
Advertising a photo exhibition is so niche that not many people will not care. Although I tried my best sticking my flyer up in many local notice boards and posted on many local online communities, I think my advertising only brought a few people. Most people that came were there due to word of mouth of browsers of The Gallery. I am happy with my efforts though and don’t think I could have tried many more advertisement methods in the timescale I had.
If there is not space to hang everything, make sure you have an alternative display method in mind. I ended up staying up late the night before polishing and tightening a dozen tatty music stands so my frames would look great and be secure.
You will sell fewer prints and books than you think, but it is always better to have too much stock than too little
Remember to take lots of pictures of the event while it is going on - time will go so fast that you will forget to do this. Make sure you also get some photos taken of yourself with your display as you will want to look back on this day in years to come.
Overall, I enjoyed hosting my first photography exhibition very much. It was a great day talking to people about my photography, hearing nice and constructive feedback and being able to show my work to friends and family, away from a small 6” screen. I would recommend it to anybody given the opportunity and hope I get to do it again someday.