….Can we learn from WW2 for the War in Ukraine? "The Shadow of War" Multimedia Project .. Können wir vom Zweiten Weltkrieg für den Krieg in der Ukraine lernen? Projekt "Der Schatten des Krieges” ….
We have not learned from the past, and the people who made the experience are no longer here to warn us about the outcomes. So far, an estimated 124,500 to 131,000 people have died in the Ukrainian war; some talk about 500,000. Husbands, wives, children, and animals are killed. Buildings and houses blown up and landscapes devastated. Dreams broken, limbs lost, and many tears shed. That is why I decided to put the full-length interviews of "The Shadow of War" multimedia project in English and in German online. Can learn from those stories how to deal with the current situation in Ukraine? I believe we absolutely can. They show the brutality, the inhumanity, the destruction, and the physical, mental, and emotional scars that war inflicts.
Two images nominated at the International Color Awards
I have not taken part in many photo competitions but last year I decided to change that. I submitted two images to the International Color Awards, an internationally renown color photography competition that just happened for the 16th time.
The jury, which changes every year, was comprised of some of the most influential names in the industry:
The National Gallery of Art - Washington DC, The J. Paul Getty Museum - Los Angeles, The Art Channel - London, Groninger Museum - Netherlands, Koller Auctions - Zurich, Preus Museum – Norway, Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery - New York, Publicis Groupe - Warsaw, Chung 24 Gallery - San Francisco, Kolle Rebbe - Hamburg, Photo-Eye Gallery - Santa Fe, High Museum of Art – Atlanta, Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Auctions
Youth House Dessau
Dessau was considered to be the toughest of all the Youth Houses. Inmates had to sleep in small rooms with up to 36 people in tripple bunk beds. The bathroom situation was grim. In the cells a bucket was used as a toilet at night that was emptied in the morning. Three toilets were available for more than 100 prisoners and looked and smelled accordingly. Toilet paper did not exist and for scraps of newspapers which were used instead, one had to fight for. There was very little to eat and almost no fruits or vegetables were part of the diet what was especially tough for juveniles.
Hana (Maui/Hawaii)
We spent two more days on the eastern shore of Maui in Hana. It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. But these videos are not really about that. I want to focus on the inner connection, to connect to our inner child to find out what we really want in life and I'm a firm believer that following this voice will make one happy. :-)
On the Road to Hana (Maui/Hawaii)
The Road to Hana is a famous 64 mile long stretch of Hawaii Routes 36 from Kahului to the town of Hana in the Eastern part of Maui. I was invited by my friends Gaby and Jeremy, who have a house in Hana. I went with my friend Carolina who also lives on the island. It takes about two hours to get there and along the road you find many waterfalls and viewpoints. It is a gorgeous drive on a narrow and windy road. In Hana has beautiful beaches and is the place that comes heaven on earth most likely the closest.
My First Photo NFT Collection!
It was a long time in the making. My fist NFT Collection is online now, minted on my own token. It took a while to figure it all out. Many thanx to my friends Jim and Charles, I could not have done it without you guys. If you have any questions about minting NFT’s let me know. I will do a separate post about the process, especially about using your own NFT contract.
K&F Concept Tripod Review:
Today it is essential to have a light tripod when you are traveling. I used an aluminum tripod from K&F Concept for my trip to El Hierro. For my latest trip I'm using a carbon fibre version and share in this review my experience.
Ready for Change!
To change has always been difficult for me since I feel I was only willing to change when I'm with my back against the wall. Today I've been on the island of El Hierro for four months. At the beginning all was new and exciting but after this time I see how much I start to get used to my new environment and how much I start to repeat old patterns again. I feel a bit lost right now, not really knowing what the next step should be. At the same time I want to move forward, I'm ready to change. I was really inspired by Sorelle Amore who is talking in her video about having lost her identity. I feel the same. My old identity has left me but the new one hasn't formed yet. She is talking in her video, I link it below, about looking at different parts of your life, to rate how good you are doing with that part of your life and then being what you can improve. But I wanted more. I wanted a physical commitment to be able to se that I've changed, that I from now do things different.
How to Find out Who You Really Are
Conflict always starts in us by being somebody the outside that doesn't reflect who you are on the inside. Peace is to bring the inside to the outside, to be in the outer world who you are in the inner world. To me the connection to the inner child is the best and fastest way to archive that. As children we were innocent and had no ego that distorted who we were. Let's see what I can find out about myself in todays installment of the VLOG.
The Magic of Photography
To me photography is still a very powerful tool of self expression. It also has the unique a bitty to freeze the moment in time. To me to get better in photography is not about the gear but to find a stranger inner connection to yourself.
Thomas at "Handbestand"
Thomas is the owner of a a cafe close to my apartment in Berlin called "Handbestand". Here he combines his love for antique books with very good coffee. The other day I asked him if I could take a portrait of him and was very happy that he agreed. See a short video of Handbestand here, check out their Facebook page here. It is a great place for having coffee, checking out old books, political discussion and epic chess battles that I unfortunately lose 99% of the time. But there is hope on the horizon! Thomas is my new chess coach.
Ich bin ein Berliner!
Two years after leaving New York I've finally arrived! Now I'm officially a Berlin photographer. Many thanks to Jens Hohmann for featuring me on his photography blog www.ontai.de.
Michael Rosker
My latest Project also involved web design. I was entrusted with designing my spiritual mentor Michael Rosker's website. It opens with the above photograph of Michael. To me this is one of the best portraits I'v ever shot. I'm not sure if what I like the most about this image is the intensity in his eyes, his smile, his overall good looks or all of the above!
Frederic
A few weeks I started a new portrait project. I put up an ad on Craigslist and just waited to see what would happen. Fred was one of the first people who contacted me. He is from France and has been living in Berlin for a year or so. He is a very nice guy. We spend the afternoon and talked more then we were taking pictures and parted as friends.
Freedom
Last weekend I went on a sailing trip to the Baltic Sea for three days. Many thanks to Julia and Jan to make this trip possible!. We sailed from Kühlungsborn to the Island Poel, from Poel to Fehmarn Island and back to Kühlungsborn. It has been more than 20 Jears since I spent six months on a tall ship but being out at sea the feelings of freedom and peace were back after an hour of leaving shore. To look at the horizon and see nothing but water and sky puts many things in perspective and always helps me to take life less seriously.
Seventy Years Ago
Today, seventy years ago, on the 8th of May 1945 WW2 ended in Europe while it continued in Asia and the Pacific until 2nd of September of 1945. It lasted 6 years and 1 day in total, was the most widespread war in history, involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries and resulted in estimated 50 to 85 million fatalities. Five years ago I worked on a multimedia project I ended up calling “SHADOW OF WAR” when I realized how much this war still overshadows even my life.
Lichtgrenze
Who didn’t experience it can’t imagine what it meant to have Germany’s biggest city and former capital separated by a 66 mile long, 12 ft high wall for 28 years. The Wall essentially made West Berlin an island, tore families and friends apart, cut off streets and subway lines and imprisoned people who lived in the East. The Wall was erected to prevent a “brain drain” in the East. Young, well educated people tended to emigrate to West Germany in the 1950’s, while the boarders were still open, because of the better living conditions in the West.
Timeless by Alicia Olatuja
I've known my friend Alicia for a couple of years by now. I met her working with her equally talented husband Michael Olatuja. Alicia had a big break in 2013 when she sang at Obama's inauguration and consequently was all over the news and was mentioned on The View. Listening to her performance gave me goosebumps. She has one of the best voices I've ever heard and apparently President Obama, Vice President Biden and Bill Clinton were impressed as well, since you see them all turn their heads when she starts singing.