I am not doing night photography very often – cause it’s not easy to accomplish. But Amsterdam inspires in the nighttime as in daylight. It is just an incredible city with great views on the channels and on the distinct architecture. Amsterdam is also a town that never sleeps, much like New York, and although the Dutch are very liberal regarding drugs and prostitution, it never feels dangerous or unsafe to walk around during the night.
One vast country, two very different metropoles. Last October, I had the chance to visit St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Russian capital is a sprawling metropolis, seemingly endless in size and grand scope (picture 2), with the medieval Kremlin (picture 7) being in the center, carrying the weight of the old Russian culture. Moscow is also very much a Russian city. Impressive still are the ancient Soviet monuments like the seven sisters (again, picture 7) and the subway system (picture 3). St. Petersburg is different. The city is much younger than Moscow and was erected by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great in 1703. It was conceived as a European city built on a former swamp (pictures 1, 8). Many channels divide the city, making it seem like a northern Venice or Amsterdam (picture 5). As the former capital of the Russian monarchy, it contains many beautiful palaces, such as the Eremitage (picture 4) and Katherine’s Palace (pictures 6, 9). The visit to St. Petersburg and Moscow makes an exciting mix and enables one to get different perspectives on a fascinating country with a multifaceted history and soul.
The island of São Miguel is part of the Azores archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. In contrast to other islands situated west of Europe, like Madeira or the Canary Islands, the Azores are not tropical but look much more like Ireland. Cows and green grass everywhere! I had a chance to visit this beautiful piece of land back in early April and already posted some pictures in June. But there are more of them on my drive; some of them show off the beauty of the island quite well – so I thought I would give all of us (well, all of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere) a break from grim winter and put these on the internet. I wish you all a good Sylvester party and a happy New Year! See you again in January.
For the last weeks and months Portugal was the central recurring theme of this project. With this final post, the series is coming to an end. In this one, I want to show you some impressions of the country by night. Most of the pictures were taken in Lisbon. Night photography is a unique challenge, it takes much more work and endurance if there is no natural light at your disposal. Patience, a steady hand, and a good tripod are a must.
The so-called Prater is a massive park in the 2nd district of Vienna, and just a relatively small part of it is actually an amusement area. As a kid, I loved going there; it was our miniature version of Disneyland without Micky. Interestingly, the Prater hasn’t changed much since back in the 90s (still many Spice Girls and lousy techno music is played at the attractions astoundingly), and kids continue to love it. My first roller coaster ride was on the “Wilde Maus” (picture 2), and I will never forget how my father and I went lost in a house of horror, using a lighter to find the way out. Or how we used to get there on the 1st of May with friends. A construction of steel spinning around its axis was always somewhere in the background, with small red wagons attached to the outer frame. The beating heart of the park is the so-called “Riesenrad.” One of the oldest Ferris wheels in Europe is still standing and is also one of the defining landmarks of Vienna (picture 5).
The second part of my photo series was shot in the Viennese Central Cemetery on Friday. This one contains pictures from the Jewish cemetery and other parts of it. If you want to know more about this Nekropolis (and a city by itself it certainly is), you are invited to read the foreword to part I.
Michael Hoffman Photography 