The Two-Years-Photo

The time it took me to make it, actually.

That photo up there took me about two years. Give or take—I didn’t really keep track, and to be honest, I could’ve nailed a shot like this on the very first day I noticed the reflection.

I’ve walked past that spot, in my hometown at the Bremen Cathedral, so many times, always looking up at the mirror under this passageway between two buildings.
Sometimes I’d stop for just a minute, snap ten or fifteen photos, and sometimes I’d stand there for half an hour and take three shots. But something was always off—no color, too many people, the wrong angle—you name it.

Then one morning, as I was walking toward the mirror, I saw this city worker, and the photo immediately popped into my head. I sprinted to my spot and managed to take three shots before the guy turned the corner and disappeared.

If you're from Bremen, you might recognize it more easily here (not upside down):

My idea from the start was to flip the photo—give it a bit of an Inception vibe with the towers in the background.
Whenever I shoot reflections above me, I flip them 100% of the time. To me, it always feels like an another world. Maybe you’ll get what I mean when you look at this photo:

That one was taken in Munich, down in the subway station. It’s also one of my favorites.

And finally, here are a few extra photos to give you a better idea of the location (for those of you who aren’t from Bremen):

This is the location. On top, you can see the passageway with the mirror underneath.

A little wider shot, which I don’t really like.

The Bremen Cathedral when the sun hits hard.

The Bremen Cathedral. The photo location is next to the right tower.

And that’s me. Bye.

Thanks for your interest.
Maybe the next blog is about the gear I use/used.

Have a good one
Bjoern