Berlin walking tour

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As the tour progressed through Berlin we passed by the old Luftwaffe headquarters now the ministry of finance, designed by that insane architect Albert Speer. A truly amazing building dominating a huge area of East Berlin it would take you a good 30 min to walk all around the perimeter. I read that during world war two Herman Goering the chief of the Luftwaffe wanted a building that could facilitate the landing and take-off of a plane on the roof. But the most amazing thing about the building is that 90 percent of Berlin was bombed at the closing stages of WW2 and the whole building was barley damaged. When our guide told the group that the new centre of Berlin was built in 10 years it is truly hard to believe. You look around and see Viennese styled buildings looking as if they were there for hundreds of years and then you notice that they are all H&M stores. I do not know what it is about the Germans but they do love their H&M. The image above was shot in central East Berlin in Gendarmenmarkt square with one of Berlins many opera theatre's in centre frame. What I love about this image is the reflections coming off the windows from the buildings behind the camera. The buildings acted as a huge fill light when the sun is at the right angle It looks like the whole square is under tree shade with dappled light coming through. And the couple to the left of frame a touch of Martin Parr but without the satire. To the right of the image you will see an outdoor seating area with shade. There is a great restaurant there called Refugium it is well worth a look if you are in the area.

Drew Dineen  Photographer Dublin Ireland Gendarmenmart Berlin Germany

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Hello and welcome to my very first blog posting.

The image above was taken back in August 2011 in Berlin. It was a hot day I think it hit 28 degrees Celsius that day. I know to the normal European that would be considered a typical August temperature. But when you are a red faced sweaty Irish man who is use to 20 degrees and 90 percent over cast sky you feel it. 

I was on a Berlin walking tour which was sold to me "as a great way of seeing the city sure it is only 2 hours long we will be back in the hotel sipping long islands at 4pm". You can tell by the way I am writing this that did not happen. So half way through the tour at the Brandenburg gate our German guide took pity and gave us a break in her words " I vant everyone back here at 2.15pm and when I say 2.15pm I mean 2.15pm I am German and I will leave you OK". And with that we dispersed like a battered platoon of F,C,A recruits. 

The 60th anniversary of the German federal police was taking place at the Brandenburg Gate. So I started doing a quick panorama and noticed through the lens that the crowd were looking skyward. I could not have planned this shot with anymore precision it was pretty much right place at the right time.

Drew Dineen  Photographer Dublin Ireland Sky Divers Berlin Brandenburg gate Police Germany