Jaunty in Hohenfels

Greetings and welcome to Hohenfels Volks, THE place for our place! Several days of beautiful weather have made life comfortable here in Hohenfels and our surrounding areas. Bayreuth last weekend was especially beautiful, as the clouds and lighting made for some magnificent wooded shots. Yesterday’s clear skies made the Nuremberg flea market, scattered throughout the old parts of town, a place full of photographic treasures.

Today’s post is short and simple. We’re going to talk about day jaunts to local areas. We’re not going to expound too much on places, it’s more about finding and making photos we like. Expressive images make the creative process a reward in itself, and being prepared can make a big difference.

I’m planning a mid-Autumn trip to Bayreuth to make some photos. The intent is to make some beautiful photographs of the autumn state at a couple places there. The first one is the Hermitage. I fell in love with this place on my first visit. The lighting, textures, and wooded areas make for something magical. The second one is at the New Residenz, which is similar, but has a completely different feel. I also hope to make a portrait or 2, and shoot some slide film.

The reason I mention that, is our main reason for the topic today. When we make our jaunts and trips, it’s always a good idea to know what to expect. By making a trip or 2 in advance, and maybe some shots of our ideas, we can be prepared for the situations we’re likely to encounter. For instance, at the Hermitage a reflector is a good idea. On a sunny day, it can be used to fill in the shaded areas with light streaming through the trees. Because of the large volume of trees, autumn will increase the warmth of the light, and a clear day will help keep it from going to warm. In Regensburg, I might rely on a golden reflector or gelled flash, as the light in the park by the bahnhof feels quite different. In either place, flash and gels are vital to getting a portrait to be more in line with our vision and intent.

Around our area, going place to place is simply a matter of taking the train. A train to Bamberg doesn’t take too long, and can lead to some quiet contemplation of what our intentions may be. We can also relax on the way back and reflect on our efforts. Trains also provide an easy way to scout a location. They run close to our own schedules in most cases, and we can leave when we see fit, or stay as long as we want. Avoiding the traffic allows for more insightful planning and reflection.


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Rebirth in Bayreuth. Green against orange. Leaves intensified by shooting with a yellow filter. Yes, black and white filters can be used on digital cameras. By bringing out the green slightly, the leaves are made to stand out. Just a small fraction of the beauty in Bayreuth. The leaves growing from amidst the decay of an older tree brought a sense of rebirth, and second chances, the shallow DOF allows a more meaningful contemplation. I plan to re-do this shot when the leaves are changing for a different mood.

On another note, I’m hoping we can get some volks to contribute a small article about a place they like to shoot, and maybe some pics. It’ll help flesh out our “Your Works” and “Our Places” pages, and help others out with their day trips.

I hope all of you will get out and plan a day trip to make some shots. I also hope you’ll share it with us on our Hohenfels Volks Faceboook page. We’d love to see your work.

Is there anything you’d like to see here? Do you have a question? Share your thoughts here or at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page. Of course, commenting on both Facebook and here is always appreciated, too! Don't forget, we're on Google+, too!

Around Hohenfels: A Bite of Munich

Welcome back to Hohenfels Volks, THE place for our place! Time for another trip!

Get your camera and train tickets, we’re heading out to see part of Munich.

Munich, like a formal meal, is large, and should be taken in single bites, rather than gulped down in a hurry. Therefore, we’re going to cover it that way, with today’s trip being to the Residenz. We’ll have a little time to hit the Hofbrauhaus, and wander through the gardens, but we’re going to get some exposure in the palace itself more than anything else.


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An Angel of the Tribulation, from the Antiquarium in Munich

From the Bahnhof, take the u-bahn to Odeonsplatz. From there, it’s a short walk through to the Residenz. Once you’re there, there are some nice cafés and places to grab a quick brunch and relax before beginning a tour through the palace.

Inside, you’ll be transported to another time. Wandering through this magnificent palace gives you a taste of how life was lived and how the royalty of the era enjoyed the excesses that were their privilege.

In the late 1300’s, the first palace or structure was built here. Later a new fortress was built here for the Wittlesbach dukes. As time progressed through several centuries, the site and building grew outward and incorporated tastes and styles of the time, including the Gothic base, and Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo art and architecture.

The Antiquarium was built in 1571. It was basically a home for the antique collection and is the largest Renaissance hall north of the Alps. The court chapel and imperial hall, as well as several others, are common examples of the early 17th century. The baroque papal rooms and the ancestral gallery serve as good examples of the Rococo style.


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The Antiquarium in Munich Residenz. You can even sit here and read.

After the tour of the palace itself, there is the treasury. For anyone who loves artistic presentations and historical displays, this is the place! They have the crown of the Empress Cunigunde, as well as a reliquary of the cross, which belonged to Emperor Henry II. They also have a gold crown from 1370 that is the oldest surviving crown of England and the famous ruby decorated statue of St George slaying the dragon.


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The crown of the English Queen, from around 1370. It appears to be the dowry from the King of England on the marriage of his daughter.

The Hofgarten outside is incredible, especially in early summer. The gazebos and structures combine with walkways and flowers to make for a memorable sight. Bring a blanket and have a picnic. It’s a great way to spend the afternoon! Don’t forget to tip the buskers serenading you with their accordions and violins.

A couple of blocks away is the Hofbrauhaus, where you can get dinner and a nice beer before you catch the train home. Back to Odeonsplatz, then the bahnhof and we’re again on our way. Safely back home, we can view the magnificent shots we took and share them with those who weren’t fortunate enough to join our journey!

Throughout the tours are great opportunities for your camera to bring home memories, but don’t use your flash in the treasury or palace, it’s not allowed and you will be kicked out! Make sure to shoot manual, as you’re likely to get more winners that way.

Remember to get your vote in and to get started on your pics for this week’s theme, blurring the lines. A tip for this theme, when you’re creating your image, use blur to emphasize the way we as a society blur the lines in our day-to-day lives. It can create a real enhancement to your scene if used right!

Don’t forget to post any of your images you’d like to see here at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page and to get your vote in for next week’s theme. Of course, commenting on both Facebook and here is always appreciated, too!

Prevalent Art Styles in Our Area

Greetings, Hohenfels, welcome to Hohenfels Volks, THE place for our place. This lovely Thursday came in cold, remained cold, and leaves us shivering in it’s tightening embrace! Things are warming up spiritually, though, with the approach of the holidays, so look forward to the warmth and glow of family, friends, and cheer!

Today I thought we’d touch on some of the different art and architectural styles you’ll encounter during your journeys through our place. We’re only going to touch on a couple of styles and the basic characteristics. The reason we will discuss these is that as you explore cathedrals, palaces, churches, graveyards, and other parts of the area, you will encounter these quite a bit. It helps to know what you’re looking at when folks ask about your photos, so let’s run through a little. I’m not an art authority, so please let me know if I make any mistakes, so I can correct them.

Let’s start with Romanesque, which seems to have started around 1000 AD and ended about the 13th century. There was quite a bit of Byzantine influence, especially in the churches. The tops of columns were often carved with whole scenes. Statues of the Madonna were quite popular during this period. Most of the bright colors used in the art have faded, with the stained glass being the most colorful examples. To see this style, check out the Schottenkirche, St James’s in Regensburg.

Moving on, we run across the Gothic style or period. Gothic art was a medieval style reflecting the themes of the day. A large amount of Gothic art was religious in its nature. The architecture of the time relied heavily upon pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and the flying buttress. These allowed more emphasis of lines and light, and space in the structure. The labor and time to create these majestic Doms was immense! A trend in Gothic art was the integration of sculpture, stained glass, and architecture. Bamberg cathedral has the only life sized horse and rider statue in Europe since about 500AD, look for the "green man" below the horse's hoof. The Gothic period ran from about 1200 until about 1600. A great example of Gothic architecture is the Dom St Peter in Regensburg or the cathedral in Bamberg.

Next up, we find Baroque styles coming into importance. The baroque period ran from about 1600 until 1800. The general characteristics of baroque art were movement and energy. Strong contrasts of light and shadow, chiaroscuro, were very common in the arts of this time. Themes included scenes of ecstasies, martyrs, and other religious events. Artists tried to portray the emotions and feelings in the soul on their subjects. This time gave rise to the Dutch masters and others who worked with light in new ways, and continue to inspire us to this day! In Hohenfels, we have St Ulrich Church, a Baroque church built between 1716 and 1720. The Asam brothers did the frescoes inside.

Rococo Art is often called later Baroque. The Rococo style led to art that was more decorative and served no other real purpose than decoration. Bold colors were favored. Themes involved hobbies of the rich and the nobles, sensual activities, love, frivolity, and romantic intrigue. It was very ornate and playful, with elaborate details and craftsmanship. For some great examples of Rococo style, check out the Residenz in Munich, as well as the Residenz in Wurzburg.

Learning more about these styles can help us in more ways that one. Knowing them allows us to explain what we shot, but it also allows us to learn new ways to work our camera and art. Remember to share your pics and post your questions at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page, and or by commenting here!