Germany – Stuck in Customs
16
Oct 2018 : Tuesday
filed under  Frankfurt, Germany

Hans Zimmer in Concert!

You’re invited to a free event!

Hey everyone, I’m doing a free event in Glenorchy, New Zealand next week on Saturday the 20th at 7 PM. Come one, come all! Actually, don’t come all as there is only room for 120 people. I’ll be doing an Art Talk + Q&A. The event itself is free, but if you want to do a wine tasting beforehand, that is another option. Here is info and links below:

Trey’s Art Talk
Sat 20 Oct, 7:00pm–8:00pm
Where: Camp Glenorchy, 35 Oban Street
Register Here
Free, but should register to ensure a seat. F&B available for purchase.

Wine Tasting
Sat 20 Oct, 5:00pm–6:30pm
Check out the FB event

Watch Hans on Netflix!

I’ll go ahead and assume you have a Netflix account. Anyway, go do a search for Hans Zimmer Live and get ready for an amazing show! Best watched Super Loud and with a beverage of your choice!

Daily Photo – Hans Zimmer in Concert!

I was lucky enough to see my friend Hans perform twice in Europe. Once was in Hungary and the other time was in Germany. Both concerts had a lot of similarities, but I was surprised how much Hans ad-libbed a lot of the stuff he was saying between each song. He was especially popular in his hometown of Frankfurt where the fans went absolutely nuts.

I ended up with about 50 (or so) good photos of the two concerts and made a special book just for him and his crew.

Hans Zimmer in Concert!

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-06-09 21:36:36
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/250
  • Aperture3.5
  • ISO1000
  • Focal Length24.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
10
Jan 2018 : Wednesday
filed under  #80Stays, Berlin, Camera Gear, DJI Phantom, Germany

Cold War Listening Station Near Berlin

Star Trek Discovery

It’s a pretty good show, I must say. I can say it’s probably the most BEAUTIFUL show on right now for sure. Everything is really interesting to watch, from the special effects to the incredible Klingon vessels and interiors. I’m not sure about all the characters yet. And I usually really question a lot of the decisions the crew makes. But, if I can just let that go, it’s a pretty good show.

Daily Photo – Cold War Listening Station Near Berlin

When I heard about this place near Berlin, I knew we had to go! And yes, it even looks like a giant penis; I wonder if they did that on purpose. Anyway, now it’s filled with all kinds of cool graffiti and street art. It’s a bit dangerous maybe, with broken staircases, no guard rails, broken windows, and this sort of thing. I believe I had to buy a ticket to get inside, but it was totally worth it.

Cold War Listening Station Near Berlin

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-05-23 21:05:29
  • CameraFC6310
  • Camera MakeDJI
  • Exposure Time1/30
  • Aperture2.8
  • ISO250
  • Focal Length8.8 mm
  • FlashNo flash function
  • Exposure ProgramProgram AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
22
Aug 2017 : Tuesday
filed under  #80Stays, Germany, Sony A7R 2, Wolfsburg

The Fragrant Tunnel

Master of None

This is a great comedy! If you have Netflix and you like funny, unconventional stuff, give it a whirl. It may take you a few episodes to pick up on Aziz’s unusual style!

Interview on This Week In Photo

Here’s a new fun interview I did for This Week in Photo… whoa we talked about a bunch of things! Here’s links to a few:

First, go try out Plotagraph Pro. Second, here’s a link to our newsletter so you can find out about Aurora HDR 2018 for Mac and Windows the SECOND it is available for purchase. Third, here’s a link to our store where you can discover even more goodies. Thanks!

Daily Photo – The Fragrant Tunnel

This Wolfsburg is quite a place! I could never quite put my finger on it, but it was entirely unique. It was amazing for photography; there’s no doubt about that. Maybe if I spend more time here, I can figure out more about what makes this place tick. It’s largely there for the VW factory and the unique vehicle delivery area (see the category for the giant car-robot). But throughout the grounds are unique artistic things, like this rotating tunnel of fragrant flowers. What a fun idea!

The Fragrant Tunnel

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-05-22 12:39:51
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/320
  • Aperture10
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length15.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1.3

Comments
19
Aug 2017 : Saturday
filed under  #80Stays, Berlin, DJI Phantom, Germany, Quadcopters

Tuefelsberg, the Devil’s Mountain, the cold-war listening station

More and More Video

I took today’s photo with a drone. I also got a lot of video… I’m just kind of collecting cool video from all over the place. At some point, I’ll find time to make a new compilation video of some of these amazing places. Anyway, lock this place into your memory, as you may see it again in a future video! 🙂

Daily Photo – Tuefelsberg, the Devil’s Mountain, the cold-war listening station

How cool is this abandoned place? I had never heard of it until our most recent trip to Berlin. There’s a hill here that rises up about 80 meters. There’s also an abandoned Nazi military-technical college. I bet that was gonna be quite the party school. Anyway, on the very top is this listening station. Now it’s been taken over by graffiti artists and there’s all kinds of crazy stuff happening inside. It’s right out of Fallout. There are creepy people milling about, strange shut-ins, etc – the whole thing is wonderfully post-apocalyptic. You can buy a ticket to get in, but they make you leave (quite forcefully) after sunset.

Tuefelsberg, the Devil’s Mountain, the cold-war listening station

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-05-23 21:10:03
  • CameraFC6310
  • Camera MakeDJI
  • Exposure Time1/30
  • Aperture2.8
  • ISO250
  • Focal Length8.8 mm
  • FlashNo flash function
  • Exposure ProgramProgram AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
12
Aug 2017 : Saturday
filed under  #80Stays, Berlin, Germany, Plotagraph, Sony A7R 2

Strange Bokeh in the Park

New Plotagraph Review

Here’s a new Plotagraph Review on the site. I also made two new how-to videos. Here’s one of them for you:

Unusual Bokeh

Every now and then, the Sony throws off this strange effect in the background. I’m not sure how I did it, but I sure like it. I used the 35mm Leica lens here, and it seems to have some sort of spiral effect. Or maybe it’s just the orientation of the crowd. I’m not sure, but I think it is interesting.

Daily Photo – Strange Bokeh in the Park

While in Berlin, I went to this weekly festival in a park there. It was kind of like a mini-Burning Man. You know these types of mini-festivals. They seem to be getting more and more popular. And they’re always great for photos. This was taken in a big karaoke area where people would organically get on the stage and sing, dance, and perform. You can see the audience in the back, just as this performer was walking off the stage.

Strange Bokeh in the Park

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-05-21 19:04:27
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/2000
  • Aperture
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
18
Jul 2017 : Tuesday
filed under  #80Stays, Germany, Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg

The Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, Germany

More from Wolfsburg

In case you missed this photo from last week, this is the huge car-delivery robot right by the pool below!

The Giant Car Robot

Daily Photo – The Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, Germany

This is a crazy little scene, eh? Yeah, this is the view from the pool at the Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany. I didn’t have enough time to stay at the hotel, but I did run around this whole area and take a bunch of photos. For true Volkswagen aficionado, this is kind of a mecca. New owners come here from all over the world to pick up their new cars (from the photo above) and drive them back home.

The Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, Germany

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-05-22 11:49:09
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/800
  • Aperture6.3
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length12.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+0.3

Comments
28
Jun 2017 : Wednesday
filed under  #80Stays, Germany, Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg

The Giant Car Robot

New Spotify Playlist

I take great care in grooming my Spotify playlists. I do each one based on mood. Here’s my latest one… hope you enjoy. It’s called Feelin’ Groovesalad.

Daily Photo – The Giant Car Robot

How’s this for a unique place?!? While in Germany, we made a day-trip to visit the Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg. It’s an entirely unique location because it’s embedded right in the middle of Volkswagen heaven. Germans love their cars (if you didn’t know), and many people make a pilgrimage to come here to pick up their new cars. Volkswagen has these two huge towers where new cars are delivered every day to their owners. A tremendous robot goes shoots up the central cavity to pick up and deliver different cars as if in some tremendous vending machine.

The Giant Car Robot

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-05-22 14:31:18
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time0.5
  • Aperture13
  • ISO50
  • Focal Length16.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
17
Jun 2017 : Saturday
filed under  #80Stays, Budapest, Frankfurt, Germany, Hungary

Hans Zimmer in Frankfurt with our competition winner Martin!

Here’s the Facebook LIVE from at the soundcheck for the Hans Zimmer in Frankfurt at the Commerzbank-Arena with our big contest winner Martin Rosenkranz and his wife who came with him to see the concert! While we were filming Lisa Gerrard was belting out one of my favorites from Gladiator while the sound crew gets the levels right. A night spent taking photos while listening to incredible music, couldn’t ask for anything better. Below are some of my favorite photos from both the Budapest and Frankfurt concerts, check them out!





Here’s the first concert we visited in Budapest… the lighting here was just incredible, so I decided to do my own take as a tribute to Inception.



During sound check in Frankfurt, Hans jumped on stage to play “Video Killed the Radio Star,” a song that came out of his very first band (a rarely known fact!).



Lisa Gerrard belts out one of her heart-wrenching songs from Gladiator (Now We are Free).



Everyone in the band seems to do multiple things. Here’s some of the great violinists jump in to do some backup singing.



In the middle of the Frankfurt concert (this is Hans’ home town in Germany), a golden sunset started streaming through the stadium.



Behind the scenes were 10x as many people making sure the show went well. There was so much lighting and control mechanisms – I thought it was all quite overwhelming to even conceive of, much less control.



Tina Guo, one of the featured cellists, tears apart more strings from her bow. I told her it looks kind of like she’s playing a quadcopter, eh?



Here’s the old piano that Hans plays throughout the concert. He told me he gets really nervous before the show, so worried he’s going to hit the wrong note… so that’s why he puts little stars on the keys.



Hans conducts his band during Interstellar, one of the final numbers.
Comments
7
May 2017 : Sunday
filed under  #80Stays, Berlin, Germany, Ritz-Carlton

An old public bathroom to buy burgers

Late May in Berlin for Photo Walk

Make sure to check out our our 80 Stays Tour Website for all the info on our FREE Photo Walk in Berlin on the 20th May!

Daily Photo – An old public bathroom to buy burgers.

Welcome to one of the most famous burger places in Berlin! We asked our concierge at the Ritz-Carlton where to go get a cool meal. He said, well, there is a place under the railroad tracks that used to be a public restroom and has been converted to a place to get great burgers. Say no more! Curtis and I went straight there! 🙂

An old public bathroom to buy burgers.

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-09-29 01:30:11
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time5
  • Aperture4.5
  • ISO50
  • Focal Length24.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-0.7

Comments
3
Apr 2017 : Monday
filed under  Dusseldorf, Germany

Gehry Architecture

How do I make Prints for collectors?

Here’s a video from our Fine Art Prints page at www.TreyRatcliff.com. It shows how we fabricate the prints here in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Daily Photo – Gehry Architecture

This is amazing Dusseldorf, where I’ve been twice to inspect the prints above. I try to go out at night a little and explore this new section of the city. There are three Gehry buildings here, and this one is a favorite. I’ll share a photo of this mirrored thing in the middle of the day too; as you can imagine, it looks quite different.

Gehry Architecture

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2015-02-09 01:51:50
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time4
  • Aperture4
  • ISO160
  • Focal Length16.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments

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