olli in munich photoblog

Font

2010-03-11T10:00:00.000+01:00

On a recent trip to Bamberg we visited the Cathedral. This font was standing inside the entrance door and just as we entered it was perfectly illuminated by a bean of light shining through one of the high windows. A few minutes later it was gone.

Worship

2010-03-09T10:00:00.000+01:00

This is an interior shot of the Theatinerkirche in Odeonsplatz. Initially I was waiting for the two women to move so that I would have an unobstructed shot down the aisle. Then I saw that their pose and the contrast between the darkness of their clothing and the brightness of the church would make a better picture.

Temple

2010-03-08T08:00:00.001+01:00

The roof of the Buhddist temple in Westpark with a covering of snow.

Arch

2010-03-07T08:00:00.001+01:00

This decorative metal archway marks the boundary between the two parts of Westpark.

Uphill

2010-03-06T08:00:00.003+01:00

These kids were heading home after a day out sledding in the park. Needless to say it was the parents who were doing the hard work.

Meeting

2010-03-05T08:00:00.001+01:00

In Westpark some of the more tender plants are wrapped against the cold of winter. I came across this group and thought it looked like a gathering of strange creatures.

Whatever You're Doing, Stop It!

2010-03-04T08:00:00.005+01:00

These signs appear around every frozen stretch of water in the winter. Counter to the stereotype of Germans that many of us have, most people ignore these signs and go out on the ice anyway.

Chess

2010-03-03T22:00:00.001+01:00

A group of men wrapped up against the winter cold play open air chess.

Paulaner

2010-03-01T22:00:00.001+01:00

Paulaner is one of the 'big six' Munich breweries and bars and restaurants across the city display this familiar symbol. We are just now coming into Starkbierziet - strong beer season - which is centred around the Paulaner bierkeller at Nockherberg.

AD 1902

2010-02-28T12:00:00.002+01:00

I came across this old building on a side street while out walking one day. I don't know if this was the original colour but I thought it was very pleasing in the sunlight with the shadow of the tree.

Balconies

2010-02-26T10:00:00.002+01:00

This is one of the more sriking recent apartment buildings in Munich. Apart from the bright yellowy orange colour the pattern of balconies gives it a more interesting appearance than the usual more regimented construction.

Blinds

2010-02-25T22:00:00.001+01:00

The sun was shining on this yellow building. I liked the colour and the pattern of the window frames and the blinds.

Stairs

2010-02-23T19:00:00.001+01:00

Sunday is discount day at many of Munich's museums. Last Sunday we visited the Alte Pinakothek. This is one of two matching stairways leading from the entrance hall to the upper galleries.

Sweet Brown Snail

2010-02-21T23:00:00.002+01:00

This sculpture of a giant snail resides in the grounds of the transport branch of the Deutsches Museum. The sculpture is by an American artist, Jason Rhoades, and is officially called Sweet Brown Snail.

St Paul's

2010-02-19T16:53:00.005+01:00

A view of St Paul's Church across the empty Theresienwiese, the site of Oktoberfest.

Traffic Light

2010-02-17T23:00:00.002+01:00

The sun reappeared today after a succession of gloomy days. This traffic light stands out against the bright blue sky. I noticed it when I was standing waiting to cross the street. Since I haven't been out with my SLR for a while I'm using an image taken with my other camera today.

Playground

2010-02-15T18:00:00.000+01:00

A deserted playground under snow in Petuelpark.

Snow Dragon

2010-02-13T15:00:00.001+01:00

In a children's playground in Petuel Park.

Winter Returns

2010-02-11T22:00:00.000+01:00

The weather warmed sufficiently last week to melt away the snow. In the last few days temperatures dropped again and the snow returned. This was the scene in Petuel Park this afternoon.

Maypole

2010-02-10T23:00:00.000+01:00

Maypoles in the blue and white of Bavaria decorated with traditional scenes and images are common throughout the region. This one is in Trudering.

Fallen Sons

2010-02-09T23:00:00.001+01:00

Every town and village in Germany has a war memorial inscribed with the names of each community's dead. All four sides of this memorial in Trudering are set with names. This view has the names of 38 men from the First World War, including what seem to be three sets of brothers. Irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the conflict it's impossible not to be moved by the personal and human suffering represented here.

Manchesterplatz

2010-02-08T22:00:00.001+01:00

In 1958 a plane carrying the Manchester United football team, other staff from the club and journalists crashed during take off at the old Munich airport at Riem. Twenty three people died in the crash including eight members of the team.

This memorial was dedicated in 2004 and the small square in which it stands was renamed Machesterplatz in 2008. The original memorial still stands only a few yards away in the same street.

Candidplatz

2010-02-07T20:00:00.000+01:00

A return trip to one of my favourite U-Bahn stations at Candiplatz on U1.

St-Quirin-Platz

2010-02-06T22:00:00.003+01:00

The exterior of St Quirin Platz station by night to go with the earlier shot of the station interior.

Böhmerwaldplatz II

2010-02-05T22:00:00.001+01:00

Another shot of the platform level of the Böhmerwaldplatz U-Bahn station on the U4 line.

Böhmerwaldplatz

2010-02-04T22:00:00.001+01:00

My trademark platform shot at Böhmerwaldplatz on u4. Apologies if this is not straight - the curving platform is a challenge and I've been staring at it so long trying to get it straight that I can't tell anymore.

Trust

2010-02-03T10:00:00.000+01:00

This is the only kind of 'barrier' at the entrance to the platform level on the U-Bahn. Tickets are punched in the blue boxes but you can just walk through and take the train. If you are caught there is a 40 Euro fine, but there aren't that many checks. The whole system depends on honesty and seems to work well. This picture was taken at the Böhmerwaldplatz station on U4.

Frauenkirche

2010-02-02T21:00:00.000+01:00

The South tower of the Frauenkirche by night looking along Sporerstrasse.

Lion

2010-02-01T22:00:00.001+01:00

One of the lions on the steps of the Feldherrnhalle in Odeonplatz with the Theatinerkirche in the background.

Galeria Kaufhof

2010-01-31T22:00:00.001+01:00

The Neuhauserstrasse branch of one of Germany's best know department store chains after closing time.

Kaufingertor

2010-01-30T11:00:00.001+01:00

Kaufingertor is a glass covered shopping arcade off Kaufingerstrasse in central Munich. Above the entrance is a sculpture, Man With Outspread Arms, by Stephan Balkenhol.

Outside Looking In

2010-01-29T22:00:00.001+01:00

On a cold winter night with temperatures below freezing the Hofbrauhaus looks warm and inviting.

Working Late

2010-01-28T22:00:00.001+01:00

Everyone else had gone home by this time but one man was still working away in this little office.

Sicher ist Sicher

2010-01-27T22:00:00.001+01:00

The Münchner Kammerspiele is one of the city's main theatres presenting both classic and avant garde theatre. Sicher ist Sicher - better safe than sorry - is the theme for the 2009/2010 season.

Heading Home

2010-01-26T22:00:00.000+01:00

After the thaw we have returned to freezing temperature and more snow. This was one of a few pictures I took during a walk around the city last night before my fingers froze up. Must get some photographers' gloves.

Badenburg

2010-01-25T07:00:00.001+01:00

The Badenburg is one of a number of smaller palaces in the grounds of the Nymphenburg Palace. The Badenburg was designed by court architect Joseph Effner and built between 1718 and 1722.

Nymphenburg

2010-01-24T14:00:00.002+01:00

The rear facade of the Nymphenburg Palace lit up by the winter sun.

Icicle

2010-01-23T22:00:00.000+01:00

An icicle hangs from a decorative lamp at the Nymphenburg Palace.

Sunset

2010-01-22T21:00:00.001+01:00

The late afternoon sun glows through the bare trees in the grounds of the Nymphenburg Palace.

Over the Bridge

2010-01-21T16:00:00.000+01:00

A couple stop to feed the ducks in the lake. At least they still have some clear water to swim in. It's hard to see at this size, but the woman on the left is looking on sternly. I don't know whether she thinks the ducks should be left to fend for themselves or whether the couple on the bridge said something she didn't approve of.

Danger

2010-01-20T23:00:00.001+01:00

On the far side of Schloss Nymphenburg the long lake is partially frozen over. Warning signs are posted around but every year people still fall through the ice - if not here on some of the may lakes and waterways across Bavaria.

Princess

2010-01-19T18:00:00.001+01:00

Prepared

2010-01-18T22:00:00.001+01:00

At each rink there is a collection of bags and backpacks with provisions for the day - drinks, snacks, gloves and scarves.

Style

2010-01-17T12:00:00.000+01:00

Another player I took a few shots of as he made his delivery. This one caught him in this fantastic pose.

Eisstock

2010-01-16T18:00:00.000+01:00

Nothing else to add really.

The Player

2010-01-15T22:00:00.000+01:00

I took a series of this elderly gentleman as he lined his shot up and sent it down the rink. This was the best of them.

Watching

2010-01-14T15:10:00.003+01:00

Thanks to an anonymous comment left a couple of days ago I now know that this is sport is called Eisstockschießen. You can read all about it - in German - at eisstock online.

Here, a group of players study the lie of ice stocks as they wait for the next one to arrive.

Measure

2010-01-13T10:00:00.000+01:00

Two players get out the measuring rule to decide who gets the point.

Players

2010-01-12T22:00:00.001+01:00

The sub-zero temperatures of the last week have frozen the lakes and rivers in Munich even though we have been spared the worst of the snow storms affecting the rest of the country. Every waterway is now a winter sports playground.

In this image the canal that leads to Schloss Nymphenburg (visible here in the background) has been taken over by players of a kind of curling, though I'm not sure what it is called in Germany. The canal is divided into a series of rinks and hundreds of people take to the ice to play.

Huddle

2010-01-11T14:00:00.001+01:00

A collection of abandoned shopping trolleys behind a hedge in a back street appear to be huddling together against the cold.

Suspended

2010-01-10T09:00:00.000+01:00

The new Line 23 crosses the Mittlerer Ring on its way to the Frankfurter ring. Normally the trams have their own traffic lights at existing junctions, but in this case the line doesn't follow a road so the planners ran it over this newly built suspension bridge.

Roof

2010-01-09T16:00:00.000+01:00

This is part of the roof structure of a tunnel over one of the Munich ringroads seen from the newly built suspension bridge that carries the tram line over the road.

Skateboard

2010-01-08T18:00:00.001+01:00

The area served by Line 23 is a newly developed part of the town. As well as new commercial and residential buildings there are some playgrounds and other facilities for the kids, but in the cold and snow they don't look very inviting.

Signal

2010-01-07T17:00:00.000+01:00

One of the traffic lights for the tram at the Schwabing North end of the new Line 23.

Domagkstrasse

2010-01-06T23:00:00.001+01:00

Not all the stops on the new Line 23 have the same style as Munchner Freiheit. The line serves an area of Munich with lots of new residential and commercial developments and this is much more typical of the stops along the way.

Curves

2010-01-05T22:00:00.000+01:00

The cold weather that's been hitting central Europe has made me a bit reluctant to get out take pictures but today I headed out to travel on the new Tram Line 23. Here's is another, more abstract, shot of the Munchner Freiheit terminus.

Josef Stanglmaier

2010-01-04T22:00:00.001+01:00

Another grave marker is touched by the evening sun. This is the grave of Josef Stanglmaier, killed in 1918.

Ein Unbekkanter Soldat

2010-01-03T10:00:00.000+01:00

A gravemarker for an unknown German soldier who died in May 1945 in the Kriegsgräberstätte.

Lines

2010-01-02T10:00:00.000+01:00

Rows of indentical gravemarkers stretching into the distance in the Kriegsgräberstätte.

Kriegsgräberstätte

2010-01-01T14:00:00.000+01:00

The Kriegsgräberstätte - a cemetery for the victims of war - lies in a forest on the edge of Munich.

River

2009-12-31T11:00:00.000+01:00

This small waterfall is part of the manmade system of rivers and streams that runs through the English Garden.

Parklife

2009-12-30T11:00:00.004+01:00

The small hill topped by the Monopteros is a favourite spot for sledders in the English Garden.

Tree

2009-12-29T11:00:00.001+01:00

Snow lies on the branches of one of the willow trees in the English Garden.

Snowman

2009-12-28T10:00:00.000+01:00

One of this year's more creative efforts.

Framed

2009-12-27T10:00:00.001+01:00

The branches of this grand ld tree - a willow of some sort - created a nice frame for people walking along the path on the other side of the stream. I waited for a few moments and this couple passed by with their dogs.

Red Jacket

2009-12-26T10:00:00.000+01:00

Another snow scene from the English Garden. I liked the vibrancy of his red jacket against the muted colours in the rest of the scene.

Glow

2009-12-25T10:00:00.001+01:00

One of the group of young beech trees that has featured before, here seen with the late afternoon sun glowing in the background. I tweaked the tree a bit to bring out the colours.

Geese, Trees, Snow

2009-12-24T10:00:00.001+01:00

just another English Garden landscape.

Going to Get You

2009-12-23T16:00:00.001+01:00

I left my dog ar home yesterday and took a walk among the geese in the English Garden. This group started moving towards me - curious or threatening?

Gluhwein

2009-12-22T20:00:00.000+01:00

A Gluhwein stand in the form of Munich Cathedral, part of the Christmas Market.

Tram 23 2

2009-12-21T13:34:00.003+01:00

Another view of the new Tram 23 terminus at Munchner Freiheit.

Tram 23

2009-12-20T16:00:00.000+01:00

Munich's new tram line 23 finally opened on 12 December running from Münchner Freiheit to Schwabing Nord. This is the new terminus at Münchner Freiheit.

Tulip

2009-12-19T18:00:00.000+01:00

A single red tulip adorns a snow covered grave in the Old south Cemetery.

Cemetery

2009-12-18T15:00:00.001+01:00

A view of the Old South Cemetery in the late afternoon sun.

Life

2009-12-17T21:00:00.002+01:00

Two headstones in the Old South Cemetery have to give way to the tree.

Snowman

2009-12-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

One of the more creative snowmen built in the English Garden.

Blue and White 2

2009-12-15T21:00:00.000+01:00

Another image transformed by the change from a grey sky to a blue sky - this time the view over the city from the English Garden.

Blue and White

2009-12-14T17:00:00.001+01:00

We finally have some snow here in Munich, but only a little and the sky remains grey. So here is another image of the beech trees in the English Garden taken a couple of days after the last set when the sun was shining.

Chinese Tower

2009-12-13T19:00:00.000+01:00

The Chinese Tower beer garden with the children's roundabout that is part of the Christmas Market.

Couple

2009-12-12T13:00:00.001+01:00

A couple walk towards the Christmas Market at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden.

Trees

2009-12-11T13:00:00.001+01:00

Another stand of trees in the English Garden marked by the snow.

Umbrella

2009-12-10T13:00:00.001+01:00

This girl's bright umbrella stood out against the whiteness of the snow and the grey of the skies.

Winter in Munich

2009-12-09T13:00:00.000+01:00

A winter view of the Munich skyline from the English Garden spoiled only by the scaffolding on the Frauenkirche.

Bicycle

2009-12-08T23:00:00.000+01:00

A cyclist risks the icy paths in the English Garden.

Beech

2009-12-07T14:00:00.000+01:00

A small group of beech trees stand alone in the English Garden.

Dog Walking 2

2009-12-05T10:00:00.000+01:00

More winter do walkers in the English Garden from last year, this time with a little more conventional processing than yesterday's shot.

Dog Walking

2009-12-04T16:00:00.001+01:00

Though the skies are still grey and the rain is falling, it is also getting colder and we are anticipating the arrival of snow. Until it comes here is an image from last winter - dog walkers on a cold snowy morning in the English Garden.

Kripperlmarkt

2009-12-03T17:00:00.001+01:00

Behind the main Christmas market in Marienplatz is the Kripperlmarkt in Rinderplatz. This is where you come to buy your crib scene and all the many accessories that go with it. Some of these cribs are hand carved and cost many hundreds of Euros. This is a selection of figures on sale at one of the stalls.

Silver and Gold

2009-12-02T15:00:00.000+01:00

This was taken in the main Christmas Market in Marienplatz at one of the many stalls selling Christmas decorations.

Hoops

2009-12-01T15:00:00.001+01:00

Today should have been the first of the Christmas Market posts. Unfortunately the crisp dry weather of the last couple of weeks has given way to cold rainy weather and grey skies - not good for me or my camera. If it doesn't pick up soon I will have to revert to last year's pictures. In the meantime here is one of those mundane images that turned out to be quite peasing (to me anyway). This is a small bicycle park deep in autumn leaves at the Highlight Tower complex that has featured in the previous days.

Highlight Towers 3

2009-11-30T13:00:00.001+01:00

A third, and final, view of the towers this time focusing on the two aerial bridges that connect the two towers.

Highlight Towers 2

2009-11-29T08:00:00.004+01:00

Another angle on the Highlight Towers, given a bit of a twist by me.

Highlight Towers 1

2009-11-28T09:00:00.001+01:00

The Highlight Towers are the centrepiece of a development on the edge of Munich. Since Munich has few tal buildings these are highly visible structures.

Münchner Freiheit

2009-11-27T11:00:00.002+01:00

Münchner Freiheit is one of the older station on the U-Bahn and has recently been undergoing a comprehensive renovation. The old grey concrete has given way to vivid blues and yellows and lots of reflective surfaces.

New Toy

2009-11-26T20:00:00.001+01:00

No I haven't bought a Vespa but I have bought a new camera - that's it, and me, in the mirror. Everything on this blog (except this image) has been taken with my DSLR. So I've now started another photoblog to publish pictures taken with the new camera. Olli's blog has been on the go for a couple of weeks now and you are welcome to have a look.

Any Minute Now

2009-11-25T09:00:00.000+01:00

Taken from platform level at the Westfriedhof stop.

Empty

2009-11-24T16:00:00.000+01:00

At the Westfriedhof station - not a soul in sight.

Night Shift

2009-11-23T16:00:00.000+01:00

We were on the platform at Georg-Brauchle-Ring while this guy was working his way up and down with his floor cleaner.

Oberwiesenfeld 3

2009-11-22T09:00:00.000+01:00

One of the information boards at the station - the trains run on time.

Oberwiesenfeld 2

2009-11-21T09:00:00.000+01:00

Something of a cliche but I liked the colour contrast between the train (one of the newer models) and the black and white walls.