It was not easy, to squeeze my camera lense through a small hole in the blinds which the organisers of the spectacle put up to prevent peeping people to take decent photographs from the fireworks.
What the heck, the official photographers had much better positions with professional support. Why me trying to ‘compete’ in disfavouring circumstances?
The courtshipping (?) peacock was a nice surprise during a morning walk across a botanical garden. I wasn’t aware that my D700 is female (should have guessed before). Bitter for him that she turned him down and walked away with me.
First May reminds me of the nuclear disaster which happened 24 years ago. Almost a quarter of a century and it feels like yesterday. Yes, I know, it didn’t happen first May. But that year, first May was the first warm and beautiful day of the year and, together with friends, we went out into the nature, played on the ground, enjoyed the smells of spring until a sudden but warm rain shower surprised us in the afternoon. It was a wonderful day – in the evening we got the news about the disaster! In Germany, the area of Regensburg was particularly affected. Playgrounds were closed because of the high contamination. Many other things happened. And we got the rain shower – fully contaminated – onto us.
May smells of lilac. Particularly, if the lilac tree is placed in front of the bed room. From the bed room window, it is placed between the bed room and the brand new solar heating.
First May: the solar heating is completed and in operation. My personal battle against the nuclear industry which earned lots of money for heating the water in the past. I gave it to the copper industry instead. At least, they didn’t put nuclear particles onto my skin. I’m looking forward to my first ‘solar shower’ in this house.
Finally, spring has come. Finally, we moved to the new (old) house. Finally, I hope to spend more time on visuals again. Yellow is my favorite colour and the contrast with the clear blue sky is gorgeous.
The end of Colognes Carnival is marked by the liquidation of the Nubbel, the symbol of all sins and misconducts which the partying people committed during Carnival. The scarecrow is accompanied by a ‘priest’ and a ‘hangman’ who lead the tribunal.
The colorful ‘sins’
Swimming in summer and ice skating in winter: as far as temperatures allow, the small quarry pond of about 20 hectares offer many leisure activities. On a Sunday early morning the lake is almost yours, except few joggers.
Finally, winter has arrived in Cologne!
Dawn seems to be the best time to capture the beautifully illuminated houses of Cologne. This type of traditional building belongs to the ‘bergische’ region, a low mountain range starting at the Eastern part of Cologne.
Encroaching ‘development’ not only threatens fauna and flora of Thielenbruch, also islands of autonomous living are at gun point. The authorities would like to extend car parking space by removing ‘untidy’ settlements.
