Holiday Inn Berlin Airport Hotel Review in Schönefeld, Germany
We stayed at Holiday Inn Berlin airport hotel between connecting flight to Spain. At start we didn't planned to stay at hotel at all or to use some cheap hostel in Berlin city center, but after actually landing here in Berlin and visiting Berlin city center, we agreed a hotel is a must have. I was surprised to learn that hotels are way much expensive in Berlin than it is usually,This was one of the rare hotels we reached by foot, after arriving at local train station (located close to the airport) we decided to walk there, Unfortunately we had no idea which direction we should walk and I asked to the first passer by - Excuse me, do you have any idea which direction is…
Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
Berlin TV tower is located close to the Alexanderplatz in Berlin, Germany. The tower was constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the administration of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It was intended as a symbol of Berlin, which it remains today, as it is easily visible throughout the central and some suburban districts of Berlin. With its height of 368 meters, it is the tallest structure in Germany, and the second tallest structure in the European Union (by a half-metre).I was wondering around Alexanderplatx when noticed this giantic structure. I wasn't prepared good enough to capture this mega-tall structure in one frame, and felt a little bit tired to…
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz most probably is Berlin's most famous tourist spot. Alexanderplatz is a large public square and transport hub in the central Mitte district of Berlin, near the Fernsehturm. Berliners often call it simply Alex, referring to a larger neighborhood stretching from Mollstraße in the northeast to Spandauer Straße and the Rotes Rathaus in the southwest.I had a chance to visit Alexanderplatz during a layover between flights to Malaga, Spain. We took a local train from airport and visited Alexanderplatz to spend few hours before checking in at hotel near airport latter this evening.Metro AlexanderplatzOne of…
How to Photograph the Big Dipper
Have you ever wanted to photograph the Big Dipper? It is on of the easiest and probably the most famous grouping of stars in the sky.
Fail short using auto mode on your camera? I hear you - I was there buddy. Once I was laying in warm beaches in Turkey (around Izmir) it was night already, the view around me was just amazing, city lights, sea and stars... I spent all night stargazing and trying to photograph at least something using my camera... well... I ended up with nothing. Back then I had little clue of other shooting modes than auto. Auto mode is not your best friend during night time.
In today's digital photography school tutorial I would love to start…
Berlin Schönefeld Flughafen station (Railway)
Berlin-Schönefeld Flughafen (also named simply as Berlin Schönefeld) is a railway station in Schönefeld next to Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport just outside Berlin. The station is served by the S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 as well as the Regional Bahn.It's one of the easiest ways to reach Alexanderplatz and Berlin city center if you are traveling via Berlin Schonefeld airport. The single ride ticket price is around EUR 3, and you can buy them at vending machines in tunnel connecting airport to railway station. Make sure you composter them on platform before entering the train. Berlin Schönefeld…
Berlin Schönefeld Airport
Berlin Schönefeld Airport ( Flughafen Berlin Schönefeld) )was an international airport near the town of Schönefeld at the southern border of Berlin, the capital of Germany, 18 km (11 mi) southeast of its city centre.On 25 October 2020 the Schönefeld name and IATA code ceased to exist, marking its closure as an independent airport, with large parts of its infrastructure being incorporated into the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (IATA: BER, ICAO: EDDB) as its Terminal 5 with its sections renamed to K, L, M and Q.Schönefeld was the major civil airport of East Germany (GDR), and the only airport serving East Berlin. It will…
My First Star Trail Photography
I have wanted to make star trail photography ever since I saw one. It took me some time to actually get out in the dark and capture one, as I knew it wont be so simple as it was with HDR photography.
My equipment for this night's adventure - DSLR camera and a tripod. No remote control (not even a duct tape), I pressed shutter release button, after each 30 second long exposure, by hand this night.
It was fun experience, as I choose to shoot from our rural house nearby meadows - distant dog barks, frog noise from pond and a lot of stars.
My first star trails - didn't had much clue what I'm actually doing here tonight... no remote, no duct tape, manual…
How To Stitch Panoramic Photos with Adobe Photoshop (Photomerge)
I have wanted to write about panoramic photography technique I have been using for a very long time already, today finally I decided to put my knowledge on paper (blog).
Panoramic photos are cool and easy way to fake a wide angle lens, you don't have to own fancy DSLR camera and super wide angle lens to fit more into frame. For today's tutorial I'm using my Canon Rebel T5 DSLR camera with kit 18mm-55mm lens. I'm always trying to shoot at widest (18mm) to fit more details in frame.
Tools you will need: A camera, Adobe Photoshop
Let's start with basic photography:
Single landscape photo (f11, ISO 100, 18mm)
Yup, that's my backyard. I trim grass here a lot. For shooting…
Postcards from Riga
It was still and tranquil (most probably Friday evening) after visiting my dear grandmother in Riga, I decided to take Riga in night pictures.Experimented with long exposures and HDR photography tonight.View towards Old Riga from Radisson SAS hotel River DaugavaView towards Old RigaVansu bridge in RigaClassical Old Riga photographyRiver DaugavaRiga: Iron Bridge, TV Tower and National Library
Apple tree blossoms
A couple days ago I introduced you with first sprouts in our garden. Today allow me to show first apple tree blossoms from our apple orchard.Apple orchard in mid-May 2016Apple tree blossom
Akropolis Shopping Mall in Klaipeda
Shopping and entertainment center Akropolis in Klaipeda most probably is the largest shopping venue in the area. Those of you who have traveled to Vilnius most probably will recognize this brand. I first discovered Vilnius Akropolis in 2003 or something. Now it is time to put Akropolis Klaipeda on map. We were returning from Curonian Spit and decided to make shopping somewhere in Klaipeda, I noticed few Rimi and Maxima stores when we approached Klaipeda from Liepaja, but after we left Smiltyne Ferry Terminal Akropolis crossed our way. It was time to make a stop.Akropolis shopping mall in Klaipeda I was tired and I even didn't visit this shopping mall actually,…
My Summer Office 2016
Finally I have a good working place, a year ago I had to spend my days in front of house, while two years ago I reported very scenic working place - Turtle Lake in Tbilisi. After several days of improve back at our rural house, the room meant to be an office / guest bedroom is finally done, except it asks for some interior decors and other details, which makes overall mood.Summer office 2016Well I haven't done much digital work from here yet, but I hope I will spend these Summer nights not only by trimming grass, but hopefully patching some Drupal modules, developing new things, of course blogging, and post processing my photography (Adobe Lightroom, you rock)As for Digital nomads…
Taking the Chimney Down
This is a task we had, most probably, to do already a year ago, together with roof replacement, but trust me, last year's summer was one of the hardest, as the new home owners we didn't have much clue how to handle all those many things, the house asked us. So it took about a year before we actually decided to tear town that huge manfetel chimney. Well. I actually hired two workers to help me with it, meanwhile I was in the other part of loft painting and photographing the small room.Chimney to be taken downIn past, most probably by time, when this house was built (1890) this chimney was not only just a chimney, but also a bread oven, kitchen and maybe even a bath. Nowadays its…
Kavine Kolibris in Nida
Kavine or cafe Kolibris is located in Lithuanian seaside town of Nida. We paid here a short visit to have a meal. I was not hungry at all this time, so all I tried was just a cup of coffee and milkshake. Girls thus tried some local Lithuanian specialties. Kavine Kolibris in Nida, LithuaniaSoupSome fish soup. I didn't tried, but was told that pretty good one.Ice creamThe Bottom LineKavine Kolibris is a very decent place. Try, you won't regret it.
Another Layer of Paint (HDR)
In part 1 I told how we scratched chalk from ceilings and removed old wallpapers, in part 2 I showed how I applied base layer of white paint and did some photography tricks. Today I applied second layer of white paint, both for ceilings and walls, and also mastered a technique, I felt bad about in previous two articles. I had to use HDR photography technique to get the right exposures of window. Who said a construction worker cannot be a good photographer or vice verse?Second layer of white paint appliedI hope that stove in the middle of room will keep us warm in cold winter nights.HDR trick helped save the exposureAnyway, its time to apply paint for floor and move in, right?
Nida - Resort Town on Curonian Spit in Lithuania
Nida is a resort town in Lithuania, the administrative centre of Neringa municipality. Located on the Curonian Spit between the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea, it is the westernmost point of Lithuania and the Baltic states, close to the border with the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast exclave. It currently has about 1,650 residents.We arrived to Nida just shortly we paid a visit to Juodkrante (both are located on Curonian Spit). One of my first observations about Nida were simple, it's some artists paradise or something - a lot of workshops. And later by reading on Wikipedia, turned out I was right. Thomas Mann Summer house…
Paint Job - White ceiling, white walls
Today I'm continuing works in second floors room. Yesterday we did a wallpaper removal and chalk scratching thing. Today is the right time to apply base layer of fresh paint for ceilings.I had an idea not to apply white paint for walls this time, as I did it in first floor last year, see: Room One - Wall and Ceiling Painting with Water Based Paint; Removing Junk And Adding First Layer of Paint (Kitchen Works); instead to glue new wallpapers here. Thus after finishing paint job for ceilings I decided to apply a test layer with paint on walls, just to see. The result was pretty much satisfactory, and after a short consultations, we decided to go white…
Juodkrante - Lithuanian Riviera
Juodkrante is a seaside resort town located on Curonian Spit in Lithuania some 20km from Klaipeda. To get on to the Curonian Spit you will need to take a ferry at Smiltyine terminal at first.I was really surprised of different architecture I seen here on Juodkrante and Curonian Spit. I you have ever been close to the Netherlands, you will find some similarities with Dutch architecture here, thus, most probably the architecture here is kept from times when Curonian Spit was part of Germany (prior to WW2). I did find some similarities here with Dutch town of Leiden, for example.Juodkrante in LithuaniaJuodkrantė (literally: Black Shore) with permanent population of about…
First Sprouts of Spring
A few days ago we constructed our second veggie garden in wooden boxes, then we planted. Few days latter first sprouts were observed.I was busy with scratching wallpaper from the other room we decided to improve this year, while my better part took some lovely close ups and macro's in garden.Strawberry plantsBought these plants at local Kuldiga marketRhubarbYou can make a lovely jelly out of these, or you can try to make a rhubarb wine later. We decided to try later this Summer and brew our rhubarb wine. Plants of tomatoesFirst sprouts of radishes First sprouts of dillA dandelion CrabappleRhuburb
Removing Wallpaper in Second Floors Room
Finally we have moved to indoor works, and this time we started with a room I haven't covered yet - a little room in second floor with a stove. We still don't have any idea what this room will be at the end, it might be either a guests bedroom or a temporary home office.Most probably something in the middle. Stairways to the loftThere is a small room on the leftOld Wallpaperand still some junk inside. In matter of few hours we removed the junk, removed wallpaper and scratched chalk from ceilings.The resultClean walls and ceilingsNow it is the right time to apply first base layers of paint to ceiling. At this stage I had an idea to glue new wallpapers on walls, how it will be in th end…