Skyline

Spotted in NYC during a recent relocation back to the U.S., which ultimately revealed itself as a "visit".

Welcome

Two from the welcoming party at Pic du Midi de Bigorre.  They were surprisingly friendly, but very forward in looking through my trunk.

Tunnel

Taken during a walk through Berlin, Germany.

Currently, a period of flux exists, having moved from Germany back to the U.S. 

It is impossible to look through my photo collection without nostalgia, especially based on current circumstances.

I am not a nostalgic person.

Metamerism

From the observation deck of the Olympic Tower, Munich, Germany.  The two-story observation deck is at a height of 190m above the park, allowing spectacular views of the stadiums and their various, interconnected roofs, as well as 360 degree views of Munich.  It also overlooks the BMW Museum and BMW Welt just a short walking distance away.

Entrance costs are reasonable, tourist traffic in Fall is light, and one can spend virtually unlimited time on the observation deck.

Definition of Metamerism

Frames

Photo taken in Dresden, Germany, 2011, at Zwinger, at the entrance of the Rüstkammer.

The photo was a failed compositional and post-processing experiment that was shelved for over a year, until it was decided that the moment captured was more important than the technical aspects.

El Dia de la Boda

With the Guggenheim Museum in the background, Bilbao, Spain, Summer 2011.

From Mexican cinema, "El Dia De La Boda" (1968):

Sang

Photo of a stranger taken on October 7, 2012, in Times Square, NYC during an emotional visit to my home city.  

Dresden

Dresden, Germany, my home city of the last four and a half years. 

Pic du Midi

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Pic du Midi de Bigorre, France, in the Midi-Pyrénées, from an altitude of 2,877 m (9,439 ft).  Mountain bikes are permitted on two ascents per day.  Body armor is recommended.

For more information and conditions, please visit this link.

Kalmah

Finland's Kalmah, at the Meh Suff! metal festival in Hüttikon, Switzerland, September 7, 2012

Triptykon

Selections of my photos from the Triptykon performance at the Meh Suff! festival in Switzerland available here.

A Rose For The Dead

Other Lives

Every so often, I check out concerts that fall outside of my usual boundaries of heavy metal. 

This time, I decided to check out the band Other Lives, an Oklahoma group where the prerequisite for joining seems to be the ability to play no less than three instruments on stage simultaneously.

This prerequisite seemed to extend to the opening duo, Cate's Leila, to some extent.

Other Lives was quite ok, even though I typically don't go for this kind of music.  It was pretty interesting to see them really work it on stage with so many instruments, looking sometimes like a stressed out skeleton crew with a deadline only a short time away.

How to describe them?  "Southern Rock" does them a disservice, as the music is more dense than that, perhaps at times being a southern rock version of progressive metal with many atmospheric elements thrown in.  They describe themselves as "alternative" on Facebook, which also does them a disservice.

They surprised me, actually.  Not my style, but fairly enjoyable, nonetheless.  I had a distinct feeling that the hipster portion of the crowd that predominated couldn't care less about the band (evidenced by the extremely loud chatter audible even during the show and their circles within a nicely filled venue), which is somewhat unfortunate.

If they play nearby, check them out.  They might surprise you.  At the least, you likely won't hate them.

Photography is a mixed bag; so much is interesting during the show, but the stages are so packed with equipment, that getting everyone is impossible.

Opening duo (Cate's Leila, from Hamburg):

 

Other Lives:

 

Death's Crown

Crowned skull, often associated with
St. Francis Borgia.  The exact meaning of the crowned skull attribute has long been speculated upon, but still remains unconfirmed.

Cascade de Gavarnie

Gavarnie Falls, France.  The highest waterfall in Europe, with an overall 422 meter drop.  Hiked to it as part of a 2011 vacation that included Cauterets, Lourdes, Pic du Midi de Bigorre, and Pont d'Espagne, some of the so-called "Grand Sites" of the Pyrenees.  Photos from those trips to follow.

For more information, please visit the official tourism site here or view an official tourism bureau video here.

Worship

A Basque cemetery, atop a hill, near the French-Spain border, Ainhoa, France

Stroll

Bunte Republik Neustadt 2012, Dresden

The Bunte Republik Neustadt (or "Colorful Republic of Neustadt") is a yearly celebration that takes place in Dresden's Neustadt area.  It's somewhat Mardi Gras-like and celebrates many things, as well as delivering political messages that lean relatively left and often go against the right and extreme-right leanings of the rest of Dresden.  Regardless of the mostly mild political messages, the festival is a family affair, though alcohol is certainly in no shortage.

There are also some blurry pics posted of a metal band, whom I watched and was blown away by.  I never got their name, except that they have a female drummer named "Lara", I think.  They played at the Teileauto Parkplatz (Görlitzer str. 14 / Ecke Seifhennersdorfer str.), I believe. If anyone knows who they are, relay it to me via my twitter account or comments here.  I speak German, so don't be afraid if you can't write in English.  The band was phenomenal, had great charisma and control over the crowd, and I'd love to see them perform again.

Crowds are thick, but friendly.  At points, one must expect to simply be controlled by the currents densely packed people to get from one place to another.  People are very camera friendly and many came up to me volunteering for photos, somehow thinking I was a journalist, asking which paper they would appear in.

For photography the festival is total chaos, but a great skill-builder for an amateur, like myself.

It's quite a shame that Dresden doesn't represent itself with such openness most any other time of the year.

More here and here (in German).

Sunday afternoon:

The flag of the BRN: