Hallstatt for a Day

Beauty attracts - this is not only true for people, but also for towns and villages.
The Austrian village Hallstatt looks like a scene from a fairy tale. If a writer had invented Hallstatt as an idyllic setting for his story, I would have believed it. It has all the right elements to be described as picturesque: Hallstatt is surrounded by a beautiful lake, Lake Hallstatt, and impressive mountains. Its UNESCO-protected architecture and stunning surroundings have made it to "the most Instagrammable town in the world".
Hallstatt has gone viral, attracting thousands of visitors every day from all over the world. It is particularly popular in East and South-East Asia, where the combination of mountains and a lake is considered 'lucky' – at least this is what I have heard in an interview which was part of a documentation about this region. Their love for Hallstatt is so great that they have even built a replica of the village in Guangdong Province in China.

Although you can now find Hallstatt in China, the original village in Austria still suffers from overtourism. Visitors from afar tend to think of the village as an interactive museum and like to enter private places such as terraces, behaving disrespectfully towards residents just to get the perfect shot or simply to use their toilet. Drones are already strictly forbidden because of the disturbing noise they make, and the community workers have even started building barriers to make the most famous photo spots difficult to access.

Hallstatt's beauty is surely both a blessing and a curse. There is a saying that beautiful things always need to be shared (if you want it or not): The town has a population of around 780 and every year more than a million tourists come here for a short visit to see Hallstatt once in their lives. Even in the winter months the town is bustling, as Hallstatt was the inspiration for the fairytale kingdom of Arendelle in Disney's Frozen movie. It was only during the pandemic that the villagers were able to enjoy the peace and quiet of the village.

I had heard so much about Hallstatt that I wanted to experience it for myself, but I was unsure if it was the right choice. When we travelled through the Salzkammergut region last May, I knew it would be a great chance to finally see Hallstatt and we decided to go, following the rules, being quiet and respectful to the people who live there. Despite the expected thousands of tourists, we ended up exploring a deserted Hallstatt as we arrived by car early before the tourist buses arrived. I can confirm that Hallstatt is picturesque and you can get plenty of shots off the beaten track. I am glad I saw it and was able to experience it without pushing and shoving. The beauty lies in the rare, unique and exclusive moment.

Pictures taken with my Canon 5D Mark III and Leica Q2.

Tampere Fall Vibes

The cycle of nature. A rhythm that influences life. Each season with its own characteristics and traits. The impact of change visualised.

After a few hot summer days, the temperatures finally cool down before winter arrives and covers everything in a blanket of snow. Now is the time for nature to show everything it got to celebrate life one more time before it's time to let go, rest and bundle up energies to start afresh in spring.

Like the desire to get to know a loved person down to the smallest detail, there is something about the experience of seeing my favourite country in every season and shade - a personal love language of discovering how Tampere changes, how different it can look through the seasons, accepting the moods of the dark months too.

I struggle with the cold. I am used to having it cosy at home. It feels like a flashback. The radiators are cold again. Feeling a bit lost, or maybe just cold after a long travel day.

The good thing about the cold apartment is that I have to move more, go outside as often as possible and get rewarded by the beautiful season.

The bright colours of the leaves with their deep reds, fierce oranges and vibrant yellows as well as the radiant sun and the baby blue sky give me back the warmth I'm missing inside. Wrapped up in my thick woollen scarf, teddy jacket and warm mittens, I am in the middle of nature, walking through the fields of gold. The yellow carpet, the rustling sounds and the warm tones soothe my soul. The silver frost on the grass makes every single leaf glow and the squirrels are busy collecting nuts.

Tallipiha looks particularly beautiful at this time of the year. All the fairytale lights and lanterns glow in the dark. A young musician is playing Stevie Wonder's "I just called to say I love you" on a continuous loop to the people strolling by. The visible breath, the hot chocolate warming my hands and body, the dreamy atmosphere - treats of the colder month.

On one of the last days before travelling home, I can see fireworks from my window that are taking place in the Finlayson area. It's amazing to be able to see the whole city from above. The fireworks crackle and glow in beautiful colours. They go through the same metamorphosis as the leaves: after they shine in their beautiful colours, they vanish and fall to the ground.

It is time to leave. But there will soon be a time to come back.   

All pictures taken with my Leica Q2 in Tampere in October in following districts: Finlayson, Hatanpää, Pyynikki, Pispala, Ratina, Amuri & Keskusta

Check out my Tampere analogue photos in autumn:

Interested in visiting Tampere in autumn?

You are more of a summer person?

Berlin | Travel Guide for Autumn

"You gotta feel Berlin”. The 69 Eyes already knew 20 years ago that there is something about Berlin, a special feeling that you shouldn't miss and that you have to experience for yourself.
Last September, my sister and I visited Berlin for the first time. What I really like about this city is that there is so much to discover. Berlin is a city full of history that you can still experience in many places. There are a lot of events you can attend every day, which is a real pleasure and a welcome change for someone like me who lives in a small village with 190 inhabitants.

I filled an entire notebook with the exact destinations and information about sights, places, museums, galleries and restaurants as an inspiration for our visit. After spending two days preparing our holiday, trying to fit in as many activities as possible into our 5-day stay, I came up with a 'master plan' (or should I write “master guide”) to visit 18 places and still have enough time to enjoy the city and stroll around. We almost made it. ;-)

My Top 3 Berlin Highlights in Autumn

Spree River Cruise

A boat trip seems like a very touristy thing to do, but it was a surprisingly nice way to see the city from the Spree River. I was afraid of getting seasick (who knows), but being on a boat for more than one hour turned out to be a good decision. The boat went very smoothly and we even had live commentary to find out more about the buildings we passed, such as the Berlin Cathedral, the TV Tower, Weidendamm Bridge, the Reichstag or the Nicolai Quarter.

If you are a bit lazy like me, it is wonderful to just sit with a drink in your hand and slowly move around the city without any effort. Also the perspective is quite different from the pedestrian route.

September seemed like a good time for such a boat trip, as it wasn't so hot anymore, maybe a bit windy, which we were prepared for.

There are different durations of these trips (up to 3 hours). We enjoyed it so much and have seen a lot more of the city than if we hadn't gone on this cruise. We are thinking of doing more cruises in other cities that can be explored by a river.

Reederei Hadynski
Anna-Lousia-Karsch Straße 2
10178 Berlin

Hackesche Höfe

I have seen photographs of the Hackesche Höfe before and wanted to check this place out, as it looked amazing on the photos with its linear architecture. Berlin has many hidden courtyards and the Hackesche Höfe are probably one of the most popular ones, but you still need to know about them to find them.

There are eight courtyards that are somehow connected and are a bit like a labyrinth to discover. The main courtyard, with its magnificent Art Nouveau facades, is breathtakingly beautiful. The courtyards are home to shops, cafés, a cinema, restaurants as well as cultural institutions and are also a nice green oasis in the city.

We even went there twice because we liked it so much and it is also a haven for small businesses with wonderful handmade products. I bought two pairs of earrings, one for me and one for a friend, a bookmark, a pin that looked like an old typewriter tab and a notebook with photos in it. It's also a lovely place to get an ice-cream, walk around and soak up the atmosphere of this wonderfully charming place.

Hackesche Höfe
Rosenthaler Straße 40-41
10178 Berlin

Helmut Newton Foundation | Museum of Photography

As a photographer, the Museum of Photography definitely needs a place in my top 3 of our Berlin trip. If you've ever been interested in artistic photography, Helmut Newton is such a big name that you cannot miss. The museum is housed in a historic building that is particularly impressive from the inside and is such a source of inspiration.

There is a lot to discover, from his black and white photographs, magazine covers, his photographic equipment, the 'living room', even his clothes and personal letters. When we visited the Museum of Photography there was a great sideshow about Alice Springs and her photographs (Alice Springs was the pseudonym of his wife June Brown, later June Newton). I particularly liked the creative pictures of them as a couple and those that gave a "behind the scenes" look at their work.

Also worth mentioning is the museum shop with lots of photography books and photography inspired products - the museum is a dream place for creatives (and those who like aesthetically nude pictures of young women ;-)

Museum für Fotografie
Jebensstraße 2
10623 Berlin

All in all, there were a lot of events that made the holiday really special: From the smallest disco in a phone booth to the great shopping experience at KADEWE (Kaufhaus des Westens) and the concept shopping mall BIKINI Berlin, not to mention the David Hasselhoff Museum (for a Baywatch fan like me) or the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall. Yes, you really have to feel Berlin to find out how versatile and vibrant this city is.

Berlin Travel Tips

How to get to Berlin?

We took the Eurowings non-stop flight from Graz to Berlin - it only takes 1 hour and 10 minutes, which is amazing and even shorter than driving from Klagenfurt to Graz. From Brandenburg Airport we took the regional train (RE 8) to Alexanderplatz, which takes about 35 minutes.

How to get around in Berlin? 

As we were staying for 5 days, we decided to buy the Berlin Welcome Card to get around by train, underground and bus. We used the one with the "ABC" region and got a city guide as well as a map, which turned out to be very useful. You have to validate your ticket once before you can use public transport and then you don't have to worry about getting the right tickets for the right zones anymore. The Berlin Welcome Card also gives you discounts at various partners such as museums, Berlin walks or tours, restaurants and shops.
We bought the Berlin Welcome Card at the airport, Terminal 1, Floor 0 - you can also order it online in advance.

All pictures taken with my Leica Q2.

Check out my other blog post about Berlin too:

My analogue story

2023 was the year I rediscovered analogue photography. I wasn't really looking for a new hobby or a new way to spend my money, but it fascinated me so much that I clearly wanted to invest more (time).
I have to admit that I know little about analogue photography and there is still a lot to learn and discover which is quite refreshing.

Just to be clear, I am not at the point where I want to give up digital photography completely and go all analogue. It's more like an addition to my work - for really special occasions like travel, anniversaries, events or great photo ideas.

I remember when I was a little kid, maybe nine or ten years old, we went on a school excursion to a dripstone cave. My parents lent me their Minolta Riva Mini and they told me in a very unmistakable way that I should be very careful about selecting motifs because the film was so expensive. I came home having taken only two pictures from the whole trip.

One thing hasn't changed: Analogue photography is still expensive.

If you are lucky, you might find your parents' or grandparents' analogue camera in a drawer or in a box somewhere in the basement like I did. My relatives collected all their cameras for me. However, you need to be aware that in addition to the equipment, there are ongoing costs for batteries, film and film processing.

If you like the brand Leica as much as I do, you have to invest a little more: The (Leica) analogue cameras are increasing in price due to a current hype. A few years earlier, the cameras would have been way more affordable. The same goes for film.

Analogue compact cameras I bought in 2023 & 2024

You never know how much you like something until you try it out. It was a logical step for me to start with a point-and-shoot camera, although a Leica M6 is quite daring, but also a too big investment to start with.

I think it's the same with getting your driving licence - your first car probably won't be a Porsche because you're inexperienced and your driving skills need more improving. You might not be investing a lot of money (in case you actually own that much), whether knowing if you are mastering the skill or the car. My approach in analogue photography was the same – it was more like dipping my big toe in the water before starting to run and taking the jump. Although I need to admit that the second one sounds more tempting. ;-)

So, in a metaphorical way I am probably driving a bicycle instead of the Porsche right now, but that’s ok. It’s all about the feeling and experience which you probably get with any tool or car.
At the moment I am having a lot of fun trying out different films on my point-and-shoot cameras, mixing and matching them to learn and discover how a film changes the look of the photographs. Nevertheless I wanted to start with a good base and decided on the following cameras to make sure to get decent results.

Leica C1

After a bit of research, I decided to go with the Leica C1 from 2000, a classic point-and-shoot camera with a 38-105 mm (f/4-10.5) Vario-Elmar zoom lens.

The Leica Mini (Leica elmar 35 mm f/3.5 lens) would have been too similar to the aforementioned Minolta Riva Mini, which I already call my own.

The Leica C1 looks particularly good in black - at least to me - and it has a beautiful Leica logo on the top of the camera. That's the thing about Leica - the cameras are so much more than just a tool - they also look and feel good and are fun to hold and use.

Despite the C2 (35-70mm) and C3 (28-80mm), the Leica C1 has an impressive variable zoom lens. I usually like to use prime lenses (mainly 35mm or 50mm), but the C1 proved to be a great addition, allowing me to easily take pictures in perspectives I had not been able to do before. Even in places I have visited many times, I got a whole new set of pictures thanks to this lens. What I like about the C1 is that it is a lightweight pocket camera that you can easily carry around. You can also print the date on the pictures if you like - this feature can easily be turned off - fun fact: the automatic calendar (only) runs until 2030.

I have read a few articles online and people seem to be happy with the Leica C1, perhaps a little disappointed by the current price, the slowness of the camera, the red-eye problem and the rather poor low-light performance.

So far I have only used the camera outdoors, so I can't say too much about low-light situations (although it was quite dark outside too), and the red-eye problem also occurred to me when the subject was far away. I really like the crisp and sharp look of the photographs - something that was mentioned quite a lot in the reviews too. Overall, I am happy with my Leica C1 as it suits my needs.

Leica Minilux

The Leica Minilux was my second choice. My intentions in buying a second analogue camera were to use two different films at the same time (e.g. a black and white and a colour, or just two with different ISOs) and a better lens in terms of aperture: The Minilux comes with a Summarit 2.4 40mm lens.

Similar to the analogue Leica C-series, there are also different versions of this camera: besides the limited editions like the one with reptile leather or a black chrome-titanium one, you can get the Minilux zoom (35-70mm f3.5-6.5) or the Leica CM built in 2004-2006 (also with a 2.4 40mm lens) which is a successor of the Minilux, but also more expensive.

The Leica Minilux is a bit heavier and louder than the Leica C1, but it has more features: As already mentioned, it comes with a wonderful lens and the ability to select the aperture and focus manually by setting the distance to the subject. It's like being halfway to a Leica M - I can already adjust some settings myself and influence the look of the photos more.

It took me a while to make the final decision to buy one, as I had read many horror stories about the "E02" error that can occasionally occur and has happened to many: it makes the camera stop working - the camera becomes worthless, as it is quite difficult to find a company that will still repair it (if you do find one - maybe with a lot of waiting, the price of the repair starts at around 400 euros in 2024). One thing I still want to mention is that the viewfinder of the camera is mini – I couldn’t believe it first when I read about it, but believe me – it’s mini and maybe the name Minilux comes from the small viewfinder, who knows!

The Leica Minilux is the latest addition to my photo equipment. I only have it for a week now and I hope it will work for a long time. I am sure there will be some blog posts with pictures and a fun one about the story behind my Minilux soon.

The Finland guide for Berlin

Have you ever visited Finland - in Berlin?

Whether you are afraid of flying, have no budget for a new trip or are looking for a special date idea for your culturally interested or Finland loving partner, country-hopping within a city can be an exciting activity. Of course, nothing beats the real experience of visiting the country, but discovering Finnish influences can also help alleviate wanderlust and it's a nice, fun and creative way to explore new, perhaps unknown parts of a city.

Whether you are planning a holiday in Finland or a daycation in Berlin, both require preparation. For the latter, I would recommend checking out the website of the Finnish Embassy in Germany as well as their Instagram page "finbotschaftde". In particular, the events section of the website, as well as checking out the Instagram accounts that finbotschaftde follows, were great sources for finding Finnish-inspired places in Berlin. My sister and I found so many activities, shops and events to visit or attend during our trip to Berlin last September that it was impossible to do them all.

Felleshus

A good starting point for our trip were the Nordic embassies in Berlin, housed in the beautiful Felleshus, designed by the Austrian-Finnish architects Berger+Parkkinen. The Felleshus is a cultural centre and event venue for the five Nordic embassies of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

It is open to the public and hosts exhibitions, readings, concerts, lectures and conferences. You can learn more about the Nordic countries and get inspiration for upcoming Nordic events - we spotted an invitation to a Moomin party at Pankebuch (a place where you can usually buy Nordic and Baltic literature such as novels, thrillers, classics, travel and children's books in Berlin) or movie tips. If you get hungry, you can get a Nordic-inspired lunch in the canteen or a coffee at the coffee bar.

We visited the exhibition "Der harte Norden" about Nordic metal music, which was presented through art, backdrops, fanzines, stage props, clothes, interviews and music. It was really interesting to see and read about the exhibits and the history of the stage props mostly created by the artists themselves. We also got an essential listening list for each country on Spotify with Finnish songs from Children of Bodom, Stratovarius, Sentenced and Nightwish.

At the “Kaffebar” we had coffee, hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls. They offered a few nice desserts such as Nordic biscotti, chocolate balls or kokostopp. It was also possible to buy small Nordic-inspired (design) items such as tea towels or food such as liquorice, coffee and sweets.

Felleshus
Rauchstrasse 1, 108787 Berlin 
Kaffebar / Blue Nordic Coffee Bar Instagram
Der Harte Norden Instagram
Pankebuch Instagram

Kioski Berlin

Kioski is a lovely mini restaurant in the middle of a creative courtyard in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The beautiful, bright yellow kiosk was designed by Slovenian architect Saša J. Mächtig. To be honest, I would love to own one too and use it as a pop-up restaurant in our garden or as an office somewhere in the woods - it just looks amazing and has the perfect size.

The name "kioski" comes from Finland, as does the owner's mother of Ann-Marie von Löw. Inspired by her mother's cookbook, she serves Karelian pasties, cinnamon buns, pulla and other Finnish treats. Unfortunately, the owner was on holiday when we visited, so there was no opportunity to order any of the Finnish treats, as she makes them all by herself. It was nevertheless a nice visit, but we hope to have better luck next time.

kioski im Hof des Mykita Haus
Ritterstrasse 9, 10969 Berlin
Kioski Instagram

Alvar Aalto House

If you're near the Hansa district, don't miss to visit the Alvar Aalto House. Alvar Aalto, one of the biggest names in modern architecture and design, probably best known in Austria and Germany for his Savoy Vase, also spent time in Germany and took part in an international architecture exhibition in 1955, where he designed this house. It was built in 1957.

At the time, the architectural design of the building was truly innovative. It connects two houses with an open and covered ground floor with white columns. The ceiling also has the undulating structures we know from his famous vase. The house can only be seen from the outside as it is a residential complex, but you can read more about it online.

Hansa Viertel
Klopstockstraße 65
10179 Berlin
Aalvar Alto in Germany

Hartog

If you're looking for a Finnish design shopping experience, Hartog it is the place to be in Berlin. Since 1936, this charming little shop has been stocking Nordic treasures from Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland, as well as Germany. Finland lovers will find beautiful pieces by Marimekko, Iittala, Lovi, Globe Hope and many other known brands. The colourful design items simply spark joy and it is a lovely experience to have a look at the products in the shop. I couldn't resist buying another pair of Moomin socks with Sniff on them.

If you cannot visit the store, Hartog also has a nice online shop and a great blog with really interesting information about Finnish design novelties, recipes and decorations.

Hartog
Knesebeckstraße 68
10623 Berlin
Hartog Instagram

Studio183

By chance we stumbled across Finnish design at Studio183 in the concept shopping centre BIKINI Berlin. Studio183 is a pop-up store with a great selection of international and Berlin-based artists and designers. If you like extravagant clothes and jewellery, it's a wonderful place to pick up a fashionable piece for yourself.

When we visited Studio183, they had beautiful wooden earrings by a Finnish designer as well as amazing pieces by the FNRM - the Finnish National Romance Museum - a fashion design collective that includes three Aalto University fashion graduates called Julia Montin, Amina Saada and Mo Ziwei. There were a lot of pieces I would love to own - Finland and romance are just my kind of thing!
My sister decided to buy one of the amazing giant tote bags with ruffles. I hope I can visit the Liike shop in Helsinki - where you can mainly buy their clothes - one day too.

Studio183 in BIKINI Berlin
Budapester Strasse 38-50
10787 Berlin
Studio183 Instagram
The Finnish Romance National Museum Instagram

More tips for Finnish places in Berlin

Unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit Galerie Pleiku (Eugen-Schönhaar-Straße 6A, 10407 Berlin) - an independent art space for contemporary Finnish art.

If you are more interested in architecture, check out Futuro 13 (Flußbadeanstalt 1, 10317 Berlin), a 50 square metre round house designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. The house is made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic and looks fantastic, like a UFO.

For those with a sweet tooth, the Naschhaus (Wühlichstrasse 25, 10245 Berlin) is a great place to visit. It is a Scandinavian candy shop that sells mainly Swedish sweets, but also Finnish chocolates such as Fazer bars, Geisha chocolate and Moomin cookies.

Populus Coffee is run by a Finnish couple (Maybachufer 20, 12045 Berlin) and is definitely worth a visit if you like coffee.

The Finland Centre Berlin (Schleichermacherstrasse 24a, 10961 Berlin) organises concerts, saunas, literature evenings and Finnish breakfasts.

And one last tip: Don't forget to check the cinema and concert announcements!

Galerie Pleiku Instagram
Futuro 13 Instagram
Naschhaus Berlin Instagram
Populus Coffee | Speciality Roastery & Shop Instagram

A large multicultural city like Berlin offers many opportunities, but it is also worth exploring smaller towns - you might be surprised to find Finnish influences everywhere.

Do you have any other tips to add? Feel free to comment below.

Pictures taken with our iPhone or Leica Q2.

My New Pickmotion Postcards

It was my birthday this week, which I celebrated with a day off. How lovely it was to stay in bed a little longer on a Monday morning and enjoy the little things the extended way. The number of phone calls piled up on a day like this with lots of advice and wisdom that I could use for the coming year. My favourite was from my aunt, who said that I am now in the right age to really enjoy life. And that's what I'm going to do, make the most of this new year. The new Pickmotion cards with my photographs on it fit in very well to this motto and convey a great deal of joie de vivre. My sister discovered them in a shop in Graz and surprised me by gifting them to me on my birthday. I am happy to share the stories behind the photographs.

Happy confetti to you

This typewriter is one of the treasures I found in our basement a few years ago. Its light blue colour makes you feel empowered to write some happy words, and even the sound of typing helps you get the message right.

It was always a pleasure to use it. I remember when I was a child, I often visited my father at work. He had a second desk next to his main desk and I used to spend a lot of time there pretending to work there too, hitting the keys on the typewriter, doing all sorts of things that you normally do as an office worker - or at least what I imagined they do as a child. His colleagues already knew me, and no one seemed to mind that I was "working" there too.

Whenever I see that typewriter, it brings back all the happy memories of my childhood. In those days, the typewriter could have had colourful confetti keys, because I'm sure the things I typed didn't make much sense. I wanted to emphasise this in the picture by showing how to write a happy, cheerful message without using any words. I submitted this photo to one of the Pickmotion photo competitions a long time ago and I was delighted to see it chosen for a postcard years later.

A Day by the Sea | Ein Tag am Meer

A Day by the Sea was actually just a day by the sea. I remember I was having some problems at work at university and my mum surprised me with a one-day getaway to Italy. In less than 2.5 hours we were in Grado, enjoying the still beautiful weather of an October weekend. It was our first visit there and we used the day for eating ice cream, strolling through the town, buying new jeans, walking along the shore, enjoying the sea breeze - just having a good time. I don't remember the problems at work anymore, but the memories made on that day are still very fresh and fond to me. I really like the colours in this photograph - if you look closely you can even spot a ship in the distance.

Favourite Spot | Lieblingsplatz

The Favourite Spot postcard shows one of my favourite places near my home. The picture was taken in Pörtschach, Carinthia, Austria. The Wörthersee always fascinates me with its turquoise water and the many events around the lake. When I need some time for myself, I like to go there early in the morning when it's quiet and the tourists are still in bed or having breakfast. For me, this picture represents a light-hearted summer day with watching the sailboats crossing the lake. It always makes me happy to be there. It's one of those photographs that shows a feel-good moment - the kind we should incorporate into our lives more often.

The perfect camera bag

Finding a great camera bag is not that easy. Most of the time, something unfortunately just doesn't feel right: it could be the size, the weight, the strap. It's like finding the right partner - a great mission, but difficult to complete. If you're lucky, you'll find your dream partner, and if it's not a perfect match, you can still adjust it – attention: the latter only applies to your camera bag! ;-)

In all my years as a photographer, I have tried many different ways of carrying my camera: various cross-body camera bags, camera backpacks with one or two straps, old vintage bags - some of them stayed, most of them found a new home. It's a personal choice and always depends on your needs, which may be different for everyone.

Here are 5 things I look for when choosing a camera bag

1. A unique style. I prefer a bag that doesn't look like a camera bag. I often travel alone and I don't want people to know that I'm travelling with a 5k to 6k Euros gem of camera equipment. A camera bag that does not look too mainstream will keep unwanted eyes and hands away. All for the rule: you don't want to share your precious one!

2. A sporty look. The weight of the bag should be within reasonable limits. My Canon camera is quite heavy, so I'm always relieved when I don't have to carry extra weight around all day. I would rather take an extra lens with me than carry the extra weight of a heavy bag.

3. Stability. It's always good to know that my camera is safely stored in the bag and that it has great support when life gets shaky.

4. Mental support. A camera backpack might look cool, but if it takes ages to get to my camera, it is not the right choice for me, as I will procrastinate far too much and not take the picture. Imagine a very cold winter's day, what a great help it is to be able to easily access your camera, take your pictures and quickly store your camera again.

5. Variety. Another very important feature is a variety of storage options. Several pockets and a zipped compartment give you the freedom to carry and easily find your extra camera accessories such as memory cards, batteries or lens cleaning products.

How to get the most out of your camera bag (especially when travelling)

When I just want to take a few pictures of flowers, I usually grab my camera, but especially when I travel, I need a camera bag that works as a daily companion with more functions than usually intended. Here are a few tweaks - some are helpful, some are more like a little nice extra.

1. Camera bags are often made from a thick, padded nylon fabric that holds your camera well. Unfortunately, this type of fabric isn't very kind to your wardrobe. On several occasions, this harsh material chafed on my cardigan as I walked, roughening the fabric. If you like to wear tights or fine fabrics, I would recommend sewing on a second layer of nice fabric such as satin or cotton on the back of your camera bag to avoid unfortunate damage to your wardrobe.

2. Some of the larger camera backpacks and most hiking backpacks have it: a key holder. It's another thing you can easily add to your bag without any DIY skills: All you need is a clip and a small strap, and once you have attached it, you will never have to worry about where your keys are again. If you are worried about your keys scratching your camera or lens, you could put them in a small fabric gift bag and clip it to your key ring.

3. When I'm travelling and I want to explore the city, I don't want to take two bags or a bag and a backpack to carry all the things I need to get around. All I really need is my camera, phone, keys and wallet, maybe my passport. I find it really useful to have a travel wallet for this case. It is thinner than a normal wallet and holds cash, coins and cards. I chose one in a colour other than black so it is easy to find, my travel wallet also has a hook and can be attached to my key ring.

4.  One accessory I like to add to my camera bag is a small talisman. The brand Kalahari does a great job of adding the tiger's eye - a protective healing stone - to their camera bags. The stone was used by the ancient Greeks and Arabs to protect themselves from the 'evil eye'. As a healing stone, it is said to sharpen your vision - it is also popular with artists and writers to clear creative blockages. It's nice to have a special little extra in your bag that most people don't have, and if it helps with creativity, why not add one?

5. Actually you can use any bag and make it your personal camera bag. As long as it fits your camera and is quite stable, there is nothing wrong with using a normal bag - no one would suspect your camera inside. You could still buy some camera inlays and add them to your personal bag - then you have all the benefits of a regular bag and it is definitely a cheaper option than the quite expensive camera bags.
   
   The blog post features the Long Week Santa Fe Shoulder camera bag (not sponsored). If you have great tips how to improve your camera bag, please let me/us know in the comment section!

Two sides of Ljubljana

There is something special about visiting small places. The ones that have a history and are filled with countless fascinating stories.

Ljubljana is wonderful because it combines two things that I personally like: on the one hand, it has a romantic side with a gem of an old town with squiggly architecture, narrow streets with beautifully decorated boutiques, picturesque bridges and cute cafés where you can get small Slovenian pastries. It always brings a smile to my face when I see Café Romeo opposite Restaurant Julija in the old town centre. I hope many romantic souls have met there on occasion and found the love of their lives there. It's the little things that make the city so charming.
If you are interested in literature, you can follow in the footsteps of France Prešeren, who was one of the great poets of European Romanticism and whose statue you can find in the central town square.
This time we strolled through the colourful food market and discovered the flea market right on the riverside on Sunday.

On the other hand, you can discover a rather alternative, rebellious part of the city. I really like this independent scene, which is also visible on the walls, in the art shops, in the museums and in the style of the people. Alternative culture in Ljubljana has a rich tradition and goes back to avantgarde artists who challenged the established cultural patterns as early as the 1920s and 1930s. Today, there is still a lot of new creative energy to be discovered - not just at Metalkova. I really like the fact that this side is not hidden away - it is part of the capital - a city that offers much more than you might expect.

All pictures taken in November with my Leica Q2

An exciting year ahead

A big part of being happy is being excited. Being excited about everything - the sunshine that comes in through the window when you wake up in the morning, the warm and cosy bed you can stay in for a few more minutes, the fresh fruit for breakfast, the great song you listen to on your headphones while you brush your teeth, the sweet good morning message you get from a friend, the funny conversation you have with a colleague, being able to leave work early, the moments you take for yourself, the next episode of a show you like to watch, the beautiful sunset, the lovely family dinner, the extra dessert you order just because you feel like it, the meeting with friends you love, the smile of your favourite person, a walk in the warm summer rain, saving money for an album, a camera, for travelling or for your own home, the bed after a long day, the time to daydream.

Every day offers many opportunities to be happy and excited - let's never run out of the magic of the everyday and the feeling of gratitude for every beautiful moment.

2024

I have already put up the new calendar for 2024, the Pickmotion “Blütenzauber” (“A Year in Bloom”) Calendar. One of my first personal pleasures in 2024 will be turning the calendar over to the January page, because this month features one of my photographs taken in our garden. I can't think of a better way to start the year than to be reminded to keep doing what I love so much: photography. It's the third year that one or two of my photographs have been featured in the Pickmotion calendar. There are now four different versions of the calendar: the wall calendar with large format photos, the monthly planner for the more organised among us, the family planner to keep all your appointments in one place and the birthday calendar.

The birthday calendar is the newest addition and one of my favourites because it is not tied to a specific year - it is a very slim, perpetual calendar with space for all the important dates such as birthdays or anniversaries.

Let's hope that 2024 will be a year that tells a story of happiness, health, love, peace and joy. Let's look forward to all the small and big moments, the firsts, the happy repetitions of beautiful things, the birthdays and anniversaries that will make us feel excited.

If you would like to own a Pickmotion “A Year in Bloom / Blütenzauber” calendar, you can order it directly from the Pickmotion webshop (the birthday calendar is also available in English), Amazon, Thalia or Weltbild.

Happy New Year!

Tampere on film

I put my little camera in the pocket of my warm brown teddy jacket, which makes me look like a giant bear as I leave the house. It's autumn, October to be precise, and the temperatures are much colder than at home. The keys are safely tucked away in my olive bag, the gloves are on, the hat and scarf are in place and I am ready to go.

The camera is within reach. The term "pocket camera" makes sense. It fits perfectly into the pocket of my jacket. I bought this gem at an auction - it's a preowned analogue camera from 2000, a Leica C1, and it came all the way from Germany to Austria. Sometimes I wonder what this camera has already seen and captured. I am sure it has made a lot of memories over the last 23 years, maybe seen more of the world than I have or ever will.

Now the camera is with me in Tampere, Finland, a place I am quite sure it has never been before - instead of me, who has been here almost every year for the past fifteen years. Returning to a place you already know well has many advantages, but sometimes it is difficult to find new creativity because I have already taken hundreds of pictures of this city. But this camera makes everything new.

36 shots to keep and savor. My first roll of film. In a world where digital transformation and AI have become popular and everything is faster and more economical, the camera seems like a blessing. I still love my digital one and the possibilities it offers, but being limited in the number of photographs I can take and having less chance of adjusting feels good.

I feel a sense of excitement when I press the release button and hear the sound that proves I have successfully created a new memory. The process of slowing down, taking the time to frame and carefully selecting the scene before pressing the button feels pleasurable and makes me smile. It demands a lot more - a closer look, discovering details and getting the lines straight.

The days are golden in Tampere. The sun is shining brightly and there are plenty of beautiful moments to capture. Although it's really cold outside, I continue to take my last shots before I leave the country.

Developing the film turns out to be more exciting than watching a crime movie. I am not sure if any of the pictures will turn out right. If all goes wrong, all the memories captured on film are gone. I get really excited and you can hear a sigh of relief when I see the developed pictures for the first time.

The pictures look like they were taken in another decade. If someone had told me that my grandfather had taken them when he travelled up north in his caravan in the 80s, I would have believed it.

The colours and the grain make the pictures look special - perfectly imperfect. That's what it's all about, the work of getting the shot, the joy, the thrills and the smiles: just an analogue experience.

Taken with my Leica C1, Kodak Gold 200
Developed at Cyberlab

An ode to Finland

It was always there, right at the centre of my heart. Since the early days of my childhood I have been talking about Finland, not knowing where this feeling, this calling for the North, came from. Sixteen years ago I set foot on this land for the first time, and since then many steps - small and large ones - have followed.

My picture of the North has always been created - some might also say distorted - by the media. I grew up watching romantic movies set in Scandinavia, showing the most idyllic places imaginable and giving the impression that there is always summer, endless summer nights with beautiful light and romance just around the corner.
Time also seems to be a precious thing that never runs out in the North. Slowing down, and focusing on essentials have always fascinated me.

It was one of those lovely warm weeks in June that proved to be the perfect time to dive into this dreamy world and discover a bit of Nordic charm in Tampere.

Tampere Love Letter

Where sunsets last for hours. Where sweet little cafés can be found right in the middle of the forest. Where the sea sparkles and the water tickles your feet as you walk along the sandy shore. Where roses are called Austriana. Where you can be yourself.
Where wooden houses have deep colours and the most beautiful verandas. Where the smell of barbecue is the odor of the summer. Where second-hand shopping feels like a treasure hunt. Where living the best life feels easy.
Where the red brick buildings evoke industrial charm. Where you can always find a companion, even if it is a giant plushie called Elephi.
Where walks in the rain with soaking wet socks are fun little adventures. Where the fridge contains endless Geisha chocolate bars.
Where design is a must, not a nice extra. Where the forest brings you joy. Where sugar-coated lips are a nice side effect of enjoying every bite of your munkki.
Where happiness feels different, but beautiful. Where you can watch the sunrise at 4am. Where you meet your flat mates with a cup of coffee in the elevator. Where life feels good.
Where cars get professionally repaired in small garages and people wait on the pavement. Where construction paths are painted with flowers so that there is also something beautiful about them. Where places look like they were originally made for postcards.
Where the light is particularly sparkling. Where the streets are full of life and music. Where dreams can come true.
Where curiosities lighten up everyday life. Where a week flies by. Where a light breeze makes the heat bearable.
Where my favourite bench is located. Where the longing for the next reunion begins even before I have left the country. Where the sun gets celebrated and all shops close for Midsummer. Where memories will last for years, if not forever. Where a deep breath of fresh air becomes an elixir. Where my heart belongs. Where it feels like a second home.

There's a transformation that happens every time I step onto the plane. Focusing on the simple and beautiful things in life can make the difference. There's always happiness and small pleasures if you look closer and let them be.

Tampere in summer

All pictures were taken in June with my Leica Q2

Pürgg in spring time

After spending a wonderful and relaxing time in Pürgg last July, I was really looking forward to visiting this place again - this time we travelled there in May with the whole family.

We stayed at the same apartment, die Gasthaus Krenn residency and it already felt very familiar coming back to this place. The residency offers three apartments in different sizes, we stayed in the middle sized one with two bedrooms. All three apartments but also the hotel rooms of Gasthaus Krenn have a really warm and inviting atmosphere due to their interior design details, wonderful artworks, beautiful flower arrangements and amazing furniture. In the bathrooms you find a large selection of Susanne Kaufmann products.

The weather was unfortunately not too great when we were there, it was quite cold and it rained a lot. It felt like pre-season for Pürgg, the beautiful natural swimming pool was not open yet, the mountains were still covered with snow and the deckchairs, which I loved last year, were still missing on the balcony. Although the flat offers a wide range of indoor activities, such as a large selection of books and magazines, some board games and even a Playstation, I would recommend staying there at a later time, e.g. at the beginning of the summer season, to fully enjoy all aspects of this place.

Travel tips around Pürgg

Trautenfels Castle

This time we visited the museum of Trautenfels Castle, a beautiful castle in the Styrian Enns Valley, which offers impressive historical rooms like the Marble Hall as well as modern architectural elements. The permanent exhibition shows the themes of forests, animals and wood, treasures of the mountains and the natural landscape of the Enns Valley. There was also a special exhibition on the healing arts - on the history of medicine. I also liked the museum shop and bought a votive gift there - eyes, of course.

The museum is open daily from 1 April to 31 October from 10 am to 5 pm.

If you get hungry after the cultural visit, you will find a rustic fish restaurant called "Schlossteichstüberl" directly below the castle with a wide selection of fish dishes.

Hallstatt

Just 43 minutes away by car is the town of Hallstatt on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut region. Hallstatt's UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts visitors from all over the world, especially from Asia. There is also a replica of the village in China, in the province of Guangdong - the centre of the village is modelled on the Austrian town, because the combination of mountains and lake is considered as “lucky” and a wonderful place to live.

I recommend visiting Hallstatt quite early or late so that you can enjoy the town without it being crowded.

Grundlsee

As I have already heard a lot of positive things about Grundlsee, we also visited the largest lake in Styria, which is also surrounded by beautiful mountains. Every three years, the Daffodil Festival takes place at this lake, where daffodils are arranged into figures and shapes such as giant bears, dogs, owls, birds, etc. I would love to experience that one day.

Liezen

As it was raining quite heavily, we decided to go shopping and visited Liezen's ELI shopping centre with 50 different shops. Here you can find a grocery shop, many fashion shops like Kastner & Öhler, Only or Vera Moda, a bookstore, a sushi place, a bakery and a kebab shop.

Gasthaus Krenn

The reusable Postcard

On some days happiness lives in the letterbox. When you come home after a busy day at work, opening the letterbox and finding, among all the bills and piles of advertisements, a colourful postcard from a friend you haven't heard from in a long time can really make your day and bring a smile to your face.

Taking the time to sit down, picking up a pen and writing a few lines might be a bit old-fashioned, but also very lovely. The Pickmotion cards in their Polaroid retro style are perfect for it: No matter which purpose - a birthday wish, a little note of thank you, an invitation or just for fun – you can find a suitable card for every occasion.

I am fascinated by handwriting and I am always happy when I receive a handwritten letter or postcard. I already have a large box in which I have collected many letters and postcards from the past: They go back to my childhood, like letters from my best friend from whom I was separated by a move, to little love letters, birthday wishes and holiday greetings.

Pickmotion’s sustainable greeting card

Adapting to the needs of the present time and especially of the environment, Pickmotion has now developed an environmentally friendly postcard that can even be used twice.

The card comes in a package made of 100% recycled paper - completely without plastic and glue. Inside you can find a folded card that serves as a passe-partout for the postcard and on which you can write your text or wishes. By simply lifting the postcard out of the passe-partout, the card can be gifted a second time. So you can make someone happy by sending a card in an envelope and the receiver has the chance to do the same by reusing the postcard.

I am pleased that my motif "pink poppy in the garden" (ZG-1316) is part of the sustainable Pickmotion nature edition and will hopefully bring joy to many senders and recipients.