Austrian Alps Pt. II
The (overdue) second part of my picture series shot in the Alps back in August. Three more shots and a panorama.
Austrian Alps Pt. I
Traveling through Austria consists of large parts of wandering through valleys and lakes framed by endless mountains. And occasionally also of climbing one. That’s precisely what we did two weeks ago when we went up Mt. Schoberstein (something over 1,000 Meters). It is not the tallest one by far, but one with a marvelous view of the lakes of the Salzkammergut (in particular, Lake Attersee and Lake Mondsee). Afterward, I continued my journey to another famous lake, the Traunsee, where I took a boat ride across the lake, passing by the equally renowned Mt. Traunstein.
I have the pictures shot these days and want to present you in two posts. No particular order. Hope to spark some enthusiasm for the Alps! 🙂
Road Trip trough Southern Styria
On a rainy day like today, when water droplets are smashing against the window, I like to sort pictures and take a look back. I was very fortunate to come around a lot this summer due to my work in travel management. The first vacation I enjoyed was a week ago in my home country. Southern Styria is a beautiful piece of land in the far south of Austria, close to the Slovene border. It is well known for agriculture and wine production especially. The smooth green hills are perfectly fitted for vineyards, and the wines are mild and sweet. Due to the beautiful landscape and the excellent cuisine, Southern Styria has become a significant tourist destination in recent years. Today, you see the growing wealth in a region that was one of the poorest in Austria a few decades ago. I very much recommend a visit.
Graz: Light and Distance
These shots are from my visit to the Styrian capital of Graz last week. I played around with light and perspective in analog as well in digital “postproduction”. The first shot showcases the so-called love chains on the main bridge above the river Mur. On the right side, you see the green city hill “Schlossberg”. The second picture shows the city hall in B&W.
These were taken in the “Rüstkammer”, the largest depot of medieval armory worldwide. As I had not planned the visit, I was not sure what to expect. But the museums turned out to be pretty exciting and great as a subject for photography.
Hill of Crosses, Lithuania
The Hill of Crosses is a sacred place in Northern Lithuania close to Silauliai. It consists of two small artificial hills (maybe 5 to 6 meters high) amid vast farming land. The origins of the crosses are primarily unknown, though many legends speak of soldiers finding their last rest in the ground beneath. In the 19th century, the place became regarded as mystical and holy. First, crosses were erected in honor of fallen soldiers and in remembrance of deceased family members, and later also to celebrate happy occasions like weddings and baptisms. The Soviets saw the hill as a place of fanatic cultism and closed it down. Despite the repressions, they could not stop the tradition, and after 1990, the Hill of Crosses grew even more, becoming a national symbol of religion and endurance. Today, crosses can be seen from around the world, not only catholic crosses but also orthodox and evangelical ones. Whether religious or not, the place doesn’t leave the visitor cold.
Modern Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn is known for its medieval old town, a UNESCO world culture heritage site worth visiting. In this gallery, though, I would like to give you a glimpse of the modern Tallinn inspired by Scandinavia’s clear and sober architecture. I will begin with shots taken in the Rottermann District, a new part of Tallinn east of the Old Town close to the port.
These two shots, showcasing a miniature city model, were taken in the Architecture Museum of Tallinn.
Michael Hoffman Photography 