Where East Meets West

[Pete Askew]

Well, not quite. The old border between East and West was 50m to the left and they appear to be going in the wrong directions!

This is on Glienicke Brücke, Potsdam where the exchanges between East and West were made during the Cold War.

Leica M9 + Leica 35mm Summilux M f1:1.4. ISO 160, 1/125s at f1:8.0. PP in LR an Nik ColorFX 4.

 

[Steve Boykin]

Fantastic. I dated this woman who was German for awhile when I lived in Boston. She was actually from Switzerland. Anyway, she used to be horrified about her father who wore socks with his sandals. I don't know why I thought about that...

Is the older bike rider metaphorically E. Germany? I really like the bridge superstructure. Directionally it sort of mirrors the uphill climb of the older rider. It's never downhill after 50. Trust me I know.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Love the greens Pete - would make a super 16:9 crop to the white line on the left I reckon

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Lovely colours and a a meaningful composition, Pete. Greens and yellows with your Leica are amazing.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, why does the Leica have great yellows and greens? Nice comp, Pete, those riders appeared at the right time, as did you.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I like the fact that it sort of looks like they are going for a high speed kiss

 

[Pete Askew]

That is exactly what I thought Hamish. I was actually taking pictures of the palace framed by the bridge and had included one cyclist and then notice two more approaching. I was going to wait for the racer to pass but then realised that the two were going to coincide at the palace and so waited and took the shot (I was a tiny fraction late). I would probably have increased the shutter speed if I'd had a chance, to enhance the illusion of the near 'collision', but it all came together too quickly