This past week I traveled with a friend to the city of Berlin. I experimented with a new kind of photography called HDR (High-Dynamic Range). Many of the photos you will see will be HDR and create a hyper-realistic experience. This photo here was taken the first day in Berlin of the Reichstag. The Reichstag was originally constructed in 1894 to house the Parliament of the German Empire. The building underwent significant reconstruction in the 90's after the building was severely damaged during the Cold War and the years that followed.
This is another HDR picture of the Reichstag.
Just a few blocks away from Reichtag lies the Brandenburg Gate. Brandenburg Gate was originally built in the 1730's as a main entrance to the old fortified city. However after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, the gate symbolized freedom and the desire for unity between east and west Berlin. This was also the site of significant speeches given by American presidents. John F. Kennedy's speech in 1963 and Ronald Reagan's speech in 1987 were both held at this location on the West Germany side.
Berlin is notorious for utilizing old, abandoned warehouses for art galleries, and techno clubs. This was a warehouse called Kunsthaus Tacheles that I stumbled upon near Hackescher Market, north of the city center. During World War II this building served as a Nazi prison. After the Berlin Wall had fallen down the building was taken over by artists. The artists collective is continuously threatened by eviction. The building currently contains artists studios, workshops, a nightclub, and cinema.
This a picture taken within one of the art galleries in the Kunsthaus Tacheles.
Another picture here of the Kunsthaus Techeles from the backside.
After leaving the Kunsthaus Tacheles we walked to Museum Island, located within the city center. This is an HDR photograph of the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) located on Museum Island. After undergoing several transformations from 1500-1800, the structure you see here was built in 1893. The Cathedral was renovated several times throughout the next century due to damage caused during WWII.
This is an HDR photograph of the Altes Museum located adjacent to the Berliner Dom on Museum Island. The Altes Museum was constructed in 1830 and designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Another HDR photo of the Berliner Dom on Museum Island.
Here is a picture of the Berliner Dom, Humboldt-Box, and the Fernsehturm (Television Tower) all lined up next to each other.
After sightseeing all day we spent the evening relaxing on the terrace in Hackescher Market.
We started Day 2 by going to the East Side Gallery where the last significant remains of the Berlin Wall exist.
The Cold War graffiti no longer exists; instead, the curret murals hail from an international group of artists who gathered in 1989 to celebrate the wall's fall.
Another mural painted along the wall at the East Side Gallery.
This is perhaps the most famous mural painted along the wall. It depicts Leonid Brezhnev, the General Secretary of the Soviet Union, and Erich Honecker, the East German leader.
One last picture here of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery. The remaining portion of the wall extends 1.3km, making the East Side Gallery the world's largest open air art gallery.
This is a picture of Checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie is the name given by the Western Allies to the best known crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. During the Berlin Crisis of 1961 this was the sight of a Soviet and American 20 tank standoff that lasted for 6 days.
Here is an exact replica of the sign at Checkpoint Charlie along the former East-West Berlin Border.
This is a picture on Day 3 of a posing East German Soldier beneath Brandenburg Gate.
Caught this photo of a boy running across the top of a concrete park not far from Brandenburg Gate.
Here is a picture of myself in the within the concrete park. This park was a huge maze and you could easily lose somebody if you walked off in different directions.
A picture of my friend testing his luck jumping across the high concrete slabs.
After walking through the massive park across from Brandenburg Gate we stumbled upon the official residence of the German President called Bellevue Palace.
Day 4 we took a 30 min metro trip to the west side of Berlin and visited Charlottenburg Palace. It is the largest Palace in Berlin and the only Royal Residency in the city.
A picture of myself in front of Charlottenburg Palace. The Palace was built at the end of the 17th century. During World War II, the Palace was severely damaged but has since been reconstructed.
Here is an HDR photograph of Charlottenburg Palace and the expansive garden that extends out the back.
One last HDR photo of Charlottenburg Palace.
