I don't think I ever took a photo of one of my favourite things (the sea) and thought about making it black and white. But here we are :)
Maybe it was the fact that I took this photo while waiting for a show (and therefore work to begin) and just ran out to the shore for the time we had to spend. Maybe it was the fact that I listened to the song Seven Nation Army (Glitch Mob Remix) // slowed + reverb on YouTube (check it out, it has more than 9 million views! :D ), and I just channelled those feelings into the editing process. I did edit a nice faded and colored photo from the same day, at a different location earlier, but it just didnāt feel right. So that's when I started to work on this one.
It might also be influenced by the fact that I'm trying to get into shooting film (after all those childhood years, where I loved to waste the shots on the family camera). I bought an old Smena-8 Soviet camera for the price of a nice loaf of bread, shot the first roll of film, ...and failed utterly.
So, I tried to achieve that faded look with this photo taken with my mediocre-as-it-gets phone. At first, I wanted to make it as contrasty (is that a word?) as possible with dark blacks, which is kinda my preferred style, but I also wanted to challenge myself with a mixed style of both worlds.
The photo is far from a masterpiece, but I just like the story behind it and It was time for an update on my digital-footprint. Also, I like it because I took just 2 photos on this location and somehow it happened (like a lot of times in my life) that it just works, while I was not planning the shot at all. The sun is in an interesting location and the boat just makes me feel like it's going to chase the sun to the horizon where it will find new adventures and stories to tell upon returning (maybe I just imagined myself as the boat :D). I also like it because the sun in the edited photo is really similar to one image I made for the album cover for the Social Problem EP - Unknown Horizon, which was my pick for the cover photo, but that enthusiasm was not shared by the majority, haha.
Anyway, here's to exploring more Unknown Horizons!
(The entire photo is under "The elements")
Spiral out, keep going.
___
One of the perks of being on set now and then - you can get epic banger photos!
I was helping with the set preparation and shooting some behind the scenes photos.
But none come close to these that Sami Rahim took. Check out his other fascinating work!! š„š„
Also, this project is a big one again and will probably get at least a few people excited when it's done. š
After months I finally found the time to make this post, regarding one of my favourite journeys with the AVA team from Berlin.
As the chilly weather was still grasping Berlin in spring, we went to a place I've heard about so many times before on TV. This mythical land where the party never ends and tons of young Germans flock to. Yes, we went to - MALLORCA! So yeah, my first time in Spain was on an island that was practically German. It is still a Spanish island and the locals are not really happy about all the tourists' manners (note), but at least they leave their hard-earned money here. Anyway, we went there to shoot a music video.
After Checking our bags at the airport and forcing a smile at the security handling all the not-at-all-bomb-looking-camera gear presented as our carry-on bags, (and some luck) we made it on the small plane - Off to paradise!
A short flight over land and sea later - The island had the familiar Mediterranean feeling, with beautiful beaches, trees and... golf fields? And mountains?! I did NOT expect that. The other surprise came, when I was told, we are going to drive around and see all those places!
(Soooo many palm trees! *___*) Our sleeping place also looked like a villa with the surrounding greenery and a pool in the middle of the countryside.
The next day one part of the team was flying a small drone from our house, and two of use drove the VW around that would be in the video. After 30 min of driving around, our path suddenly got blocked by a screeching truck that parked across the road. Out walked a guy who told us not to fly a drone over his house ever again or heāll be back with a gun. Heās had enough of obnoxious tourists! (Thank you tourists). We werenāt even flying the drone, but I guess our fancy old-school VW camper didnāt blend in well with the surrounding local farmsā¦
As we were driving from one beautiful beach to another, I had to remind myself that this was indeed a working week ā ālife is good.ā
After filming on beaches and the mountain top, we went to shoot the sunset on the other side of the island.
This was one of many moments with the crew where I realized that if you want to do something, you just do it.
Hard, Harder, Rammstein
On Sunday I saw one of my favorite bands live for the first time. They were one of those that got me into heavier music and shaped my being. To be able to witness them perform on their home turf was never even a thought in my mind, let alone seeing them in the epic Olympia Stadium (probably most famous for the 1939 Summer Olympics, aka Nazi Olympics).
The day before, additional tickets were released for the show that was postponed from 2019 till now.
Somehow, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
With around 70k people at the event, it was a festival experience that I longed for the past few years. Only this time the food trucks, merch stands, beer guys and pretzel girls, were for only one band.
After fiddling around the colossal stadium, I finally made it to the entrance.
In front of me spawned, a new world straight from a SCI-FI novel. The giant stadium with its countless seats and balconies surrounded a black citadel made of steel beams, cylinders, speakers and lights. This monstrous object was the main stage for today.
Looming in the distance it pulsed with this dark but welcoming energy. As I descended the stairs to be at the same level as the object, I felt like I was meeting a giant monster/heavenly thing that was made to destroy.
A few hours later the show began with a giant explosion (of course). The citadel came alive with lights, smoke and fire that came blazing out of the massive steel towers. And because thatās not enough even the band members had some kind of flame-throwing devices at parts of the show, with which they sprayed fire to the stage, each other or over the crowd.
I left the site with an outmost respect for the crew that manages to pull this show off, for the band to keep on rocking after all these years, for the long-not-felt ringing in my ears, and with an inspiration to set my goals high and to realize those seemingly larger than life plans, and create things that blow peopleās minds ā Feuer Frei!
#rammstein #olympiastadion #2022 #live #flames
Guiding Lights
They call it the Gateway to the World.
With 1.8 million people it is the biggest port city in Germany. Said to be one of Europe's most important cultural and commercial centers, I couldn't wait to explore it for the 72 hours I was there.
With the insane amounts of fish dish offering places (who'd've thought? (I love it btw)), ships, places to relax, stores, and free expressing people, one of the most striking things was the architecture of the city. The narrow and sleek centuries old style is complemented by the newer buildings like the Elbphilharmonie resembling the wavy sea.
With much of places taking inspiration from the deadly mistress, I found myself not-rarely walking the places by the river (which could be mistaken for the sea at any moment for the shear size of it) and enjoying the light breeze in the sun with seagulls. On one occasion the mood shifted and you could feel it in the air. The tide! Don't know why, but it was one of those things that you just don't expect while relaxing a good 10 meters above sea level on a cozy rock (yes, they do exist).
My mission was also to experience the renowned culture, and by the sheer amount of alternatively dressed people I knew I would find my people. Not long while walking past clubs, I found out there was a HC punk fest that day!
A couple of hours and one of the best pizzas I ever ate later, I was already accepted in a group of misfits waiting outside the club. Inside, bands had their sound check and here it was clear - Punk's NOT dead. The show was killer and the people were so open it was like an old family. That's the power of music in it's rawest form - bringing people together.
The next day I went to see some more sights and the 10-story high marine museum which ported me back in history with all the journals, items, paintings and stories from pirates, traders, wars and explorers. It was amazing. (if you didn't know yet, I love water, the sea and generally everything about it (especially floating in it and becoming one with the planet...)
All in all it is a great city, and I haven't even written half of it!
So if you are ever near, go check it out.
Moin!
Intertwined voices
It is kind of surreal standing at a place where so many historic events of world-wide proportions took place.
Although the east side is mostly covered with modern paintings, you can still admire some of the old preserved ones around the city.
Even when you walk around a modern area, out of nowhere a block of the wall will throw you back into the past.
These monuments scattered all around the city create a parallel world tied to the past. On every corner there is something to discover and I can't wait to be there.
#thewall #berlin
Just moments in time.
(Or pictures of God / Mother Nature / The Universe / The Matrix / A perceivable Illusion made up of atoms. Up to you.)
It was a rainy day (it has been raining for weeks now, but ok š).
