I am not a photographer. I am slowly, ever so slowly starting to get a grip on perspective and lighting in a process of learning by doing as I am taking photos for the blog more and more; and I have recently understood that photo editing is something I cannot stay away from forever. But I am still self-conscious when it comes to my pictures.
All the bigger was my surprise that Julika of Sateless Suitcase (an enchanting blog everyone should follow!!) tagged me in theCapture the Colour Photo Contest. While I am most definitely not going to win anything (it must be a huge contest with God knows how many participants), I enjoyed the process of choosing five pictures for their specific colour – a new way of looking at photos and training my eye to see photography as artistry. I chose to show you pictures according to a theme, like I have seen others do it on their respective posts (Julika chose one city for each colour), and am showing you five street art pictures I took this year.
Red
This is a former squat in Tübingen, Germany that is still a self-governed youth center. When I went to school in this cute little Southern German town, I would pass by here on my bike almost every day. I took the picture last March when I went to visit my alma mater. Most of the writing on the facade are slogans of the political left. Tübingen was an important place in the 1968 student movement, and I feel like this place is somewhat continuing that tradition.
Green
This is actually a connection box for street lighting. They are usually just left grey and boring in Germany, but this one in Lübbenau, in the Spreewald region South of Berlin, has been turned into a little canvas for a cute little piece of art. And didn’t I have to love it all the more as it was depicting – a bridge!
White
Gdańsk Zaspa was my street art discovery of the year, and I have dedicated a whole article to it here. It is an area in my beloved Polish city Gdańsk where the socialist concrete buildings have been turned into overdimensional works of art. I love this one because it is so plain and yet so detailed with its sea of drowning houses.
Blue
I took this picture at the demonstration against the partial tear-down of Berlin’s Eastside Gallery. This is the street art you can see on the original Berlin wall – and the hole that was recently made in it in order for an investor’s plans for building large apartment and office complexes in the area. The Eastside Gallery is the longest connected piece of the Berlin wall that is still in place and an amazing document of history as well as an artwork of epic proportions. I hope it will keep being protected by the people and government of Berlin.
Yellow
On my last day in Chicago, my friend Jesse took me to the predominantly Mexican-American neighbourhood of Pilsen for some excellent, excellent Mexican food and a blast of Latino culture. Getting off at the L stop at 18th Street (use the pink line!) alone was amazing – the station is covered in beautiful art that shows the cultural heritage of the inhabitants of this part of the city. I could have stayed and looked at the details forever.
This is my street art focussed colour contest contribution. Now I would like to tag Aggy of DreamExploreWander, Ulli of ansichtswechsel, Aryn of Driftwood & Daydreams, Aiko of Behind My Messy Desk and Mandy of Emm in London and invite all you great blogging girls to do the same and show us the colour in your life!
September 5, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Thanks for tagging me, I LOVE that white one. So amazing! I love street arts too 🙂
September 12, 2013 at 3:33 pm
You’re welcome and Thank you, love 🙂 cannot wait for your post!!
September 5, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Dedicating your Capture the Color Contest entry to street art is such a brilliant idea! Great photos — perfectly colorful! And thanks so much for the sweet compliment!
September 12, 2013 at 3:34 pm
Hehe, I had hoped you’d like it since I know you love street art as much as I do. Thanks again for tagging me!!
September 5, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Awesome interpretation of the theme Mariella! I have just the post in mind and now I just need to take the photos!
September 12, 2013 at 3:34 pm
I cannot wait to read it, Mandy. How is Italy treating you? I hope you find colourful inspiration!
September 8, 2013 at 1:48 am
What a great post and what a cool idea to focus on street art! Very original take on the subject.
September 12, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Thank you, Anja! Glad you found my blog. I quite liked your post on the topic as well 🙂
September 8, 2013 at 4:52 pm
I LOVE THIS!!! I was thinking about doing mine based on street art, haha, but didn’t have photos that really fit the color themes well. This is so beautiful!
September 12, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Thank you so much Erin!! Your photos are amazing though, the colours are so intense… Thanks to you also for tagging me!!
September 16, 2013 at 11:22 am
Love the white, great entries… Some serious photos in this contest this year!! Good Luck 🙂
September 22, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Thank you Mo 🙂 you’re are amazing too!!
September 16, 2013 at 1:17 pm
I LOVE this theme and the photos you have chosen suit it perfectly! I can’t decide if I like the green or yellow the best.
September 22, 2013 at 8:12 pm
THank you Kellie 🙂 it seemed like an easy enough theme to find enough pictures for. I have to admit the yellow is my favourite 🙂