Tag Archives: World War 2

Ghosts of Köln

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Years ago I learned the basics of blur motion photography. Placing the camera on a tripod and using a slow shutter speed allows you to create blurred motion on a still background. If you pan with the movement you will create another type of blur effect like this one entitled Running Deer. I have often thought of this process as creating ghosts.

While relaxing in Köln on the waterfront I decided to try to make some “ghosts” using a monopod. A lot of my attempts didn’t work. A monopod is not as good as a tripod but I still managed to capture a couple of ghosts.

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Ghosts of Köln

Ghosts of Köln

Ghosts of Köln

Köln Fall Foliage

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This autumn we will be returning to Europe. Our last visit was during the autumn of 2016. This time we will be in Spain and Italy and I am sure we will not see any colorful fall foliage there. I remembered being disappointed in seeing little dramatic foliage during our last trip through Germany and Austria.

Looking through the files I think I was mistaken. These were taken in Köln (Cologne) Germany during that trip.

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Fall Foliage Köln Germany

Fall Foliage Köln Germany

Kölner Dom

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The Cathedral in Cologne Germany is official known as Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus but in Germany is simply called Kölner Dom. It is one of the few buildings that was not destroyed by the Royal Air Force in World War Two. It was however damaged as the rest of Cologne was leveled. Today the cathedral is battling another enemy and quite honestly depressing to look at from the outside.

The stone has been severely damaged by acid rain.I thought this survivor needed a better look, So with a little creative editing I made it into the golden survivor of the great war, a more fitting look for Saint Peter.

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Kölner Dom

Kolner Rathaus (Cologne Town Hall)

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For a city that was almost bombed out of existence, Cologne (Koln) has a historic sense of humor. The old city hall has been restored including the statue at its base of a man mooning the tax collector. The late Gothic style tower has an impressive 130 stone statues and the famous “Platzjabbeck”. This is a an ugly human male face that sticks its tongue out when the tower clock strikes the hour.

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Kolner Rathaus (Cologne Town Hall)

A Moment in Time

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My wife has always said that life happens in the small spaces. Some of our best memories are not the wedding celebrations or parties but rather a moment of being, a moment of zen. I remember a moment when I took a picture of my wife on a beach in Sarasota 45 years ago as if it was yesterday even though the picture and negatives are long gone. I look for those moments when I take photographs.

This discussion in front of a cafe in Köln Germany caught my eye. I can’t help but wonder if this is a moment they will remember 45 years from now or if it was an insignificant meeting.

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A Moment in Time

Köln Waterfront Church

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Köln (Cologne) is the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Köln survived the largest bombardment of any city in Europe by the Royal Air Force In World War Two. It was nearly destroyed in the process but has been thoughtfully reconstructed. This waterfront church is a example of the reconstructed city.

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Köln Waterfront Church

Cathedral Garden Köln

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We toured Köln with Claudia, a truly awful guide. Most of the guides we had on our Viking River Tour were exceptional but not Claudia. She was so awful we eventually turned off our headsets and strolled behind her. We got tired of hearing her psycho babble about World War 2 and how awful the Americans were. Köln was the most bombed city in Germany and the destruction was truly awful but we wanted to learn about the culture of the city, not a faux history lesson on the war. Once she pointed to a picture of Eisenhower and refereed to him as General MacArthur, her knowledge was not only prejudicial but inaccurate.

However she did point out one thing we might not have noticed on our own. This is the beautiful terrace garden and sculpture along the back of the Cologne Cathedral. Pretty on a gray rainy day but probably wonderful in the Spring and Summer.

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Cathedral Garden Köln

Cathedral Garden Köln

Rhine River at Köln

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Köln (Cologne) is located in the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The river is very wide here compared to further downstream and flows at a steady current. Köln survived the largest bombardment of any city in Europe by the Royal Air Force In World War Two. It was nearly destroyed in the process but has been thoughtfully reconstructed. Köln was not far from Maastricht in Belgium and considered by the Allied forces to be the gateway to Germany strategically.

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Köln Waterfront

Köln Out of the Ashes

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I was excited to visit Köln (Cologne). I had heard it was one of the best cities in Germany but I was more impressed withe Heidelberg, München and the smaller towns we visited. Maybe it was the guide that we had. She was the worst guide of our excursion. Maybe it was because the city was bombed to almost oblivion so it didn’t have the architectural diversity of other cities. Maybe it was the cold and dreary day that we were there.

The cathedral,Kölner Dom was magnificent however and was not bombed during the war. It goes back to the year 1270 and is one of the oldest cathedrals in the world and the most visited historic building in all of Germany. The walkway along the Rhine River is also quite a lovely place for a walk or bike ride. This picture was taken from the river walk.

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Köln Cathedral

Köln Cathedral

Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation

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Tucked behind the Cathedral of Notre Dame is a little visited memorial, Most people stumble upon it looking for a walk down to the river. The Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation is a memorial to the 200,000 people who were deported from Vichy France to the Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

It was designed by French architect and town planner Georges-Henri Pingusson and dedicated by Charles de Gaulle on April 12, 1962. The memorial is shaped like a ship’s prow and the “crypt” is accessible by two staircases. Inside is the tomb of an unknown deportee who was killed at the camp in Neustadt. Along both walls of the narrow chamber are 200,000 glass crystals with light shining through, meant to symbolize each of the deportees who died in the concentration camps. Worthy of a visit next time in Paris.

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Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation

Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation