Depending on the desired image detail, a telephoto or super-telephoto lens with focal lengths between 200mm and 600mm is recommended. In this lens class, I rely on my Sigma 150-600mm F5,0-6,3 DG OS HSM Contemporary(Amazon Affiliate Link).

The “Photo Pills” app can also be used to calculate when, for example, the moon or the Milky Way will rise or set exactly behind the monument.

Upper access path to the cemetery in village district Hausberge at the street „Kempstrasse“

From the upper graveyard path you have a direct view on the Kaiser-Wilhelm monument. From this place you can get quite close to the monument without having to photograph from too far down. You do have to look up, but not in such a way that it is disturbing on the photo.

Link to the exact spot

Upper part of street „Kempstrasse“

This is my favorite place because I can reach it on foot from home. With the car you can stop at the shoulder and have the monument almost at eye level. Just please do yourself a favor and don’t stand in the middle of the road in the dark, but secure yourself with lights and ideally stand behind or in front of your lighted vehicle.

Link to the exact spot

Parking lot of the former „Porta Berghotel“

You almost can’t get any closer, but you are far below the Kaiser Wilhelm Monument and have to photograph up high. The parking lot of the former hotel is usually not very busy.

Link to the exact spot

Portakanzel on the “Wesergebirge“

By car you can drive to the TV tower Porta Westfalica on the Weser mountains. From here you have to walk about 30 minutes on the ridge towards the west, then you will automatically come to the small viewing platform “Portakanzel”. Pack sturdy shoes for this. If you are lucky, you can observe how the fog moves through the Porta early in the morning – the “Wilhelm” then stands like an island in the clouds.

Link to the exact spot

Möllberger Straße corner Papensgrund

From the pedestrian path along Möllberger Straße, the emperor can be photographed from the south. Parking is available at the roadside.

Link to the exact spot

My photo equipment:

Nikon Z6 II full frame mirrorless camera: https://geni.us/vF5K4Nk *
Nikon D500 DX format SLR: https://geni.us/QpwK *
Wide angle for astrophotography: https://geni.us/PIPEGEB *
Wide angle for astrophotgraphy on DX camera: https://geni.us/rnztt4N *
Travel tripod: https://geni.us/fVJfG *
Large tripod: https://geni.us/lXGgv *
Always-on lens: https://geni.us/XIbn *
SD Memory Cards: https://geni.us/YWhyWuG *
CFExpress Memory Cards: https://geni.us/QNYEy4J *
Remote shutter release with interval timer: https://geni.us/eRSAm *

* All aforementioned links are Amazon affiliate links

Der Beitrag The best spots to photograph the Kaiser Wilhelm Monument in Porta Westfalica erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

In my earliest childhood memories I can remember the cemetery chapel with its colorful glass panes. With my grandparents I visited the graves of our family and on each visit our way led past the chapel. Other times came and at some point I walked the last common path with my grandparents out of the chapel to their own funeral.

This building has certainly seen many fates and many tears. But the colorful glass panes through which the light falls into the hall comfort and give hope, I can say that myself. It is wonderful that the old cemetery chapel is preserved by the Bismarckbund and will remain a place of farewell but also of confidence in the future. My contribution are these photos.

All photos were taken with the Nikon Z 6 II and the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 Art lens (Amazon Affiliate Links).

Der Beitrag Photos of the cemetery chapel in Hausberge erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

New equipment should be mastered. So before I go on an Oriental cruise, I had to learn a lot of things about my new Nikon D500. Also a little practice with the quick assembly and dismantling of the new tripod should still be included, so that the use in the wild does not take too long. A trip to the Kleinenbremen visitor mine seemed to be a great way to do this. A brief look at Instagram promised exciting motifs. I had already visited this place as a child, but could hardly remember it.

The Kleinenbremen visitor mine offers the best conditions for taking photographs under adverse conditions, not only because of the rugged environment, the temperatures and the wetness, but also because of the guided tour. Here it is important to be quick. Set up, align the camera, adjust the camera, start the HDR-series and the miner screams “Come on, you have to stay tuned in, don’t fall behind”. Thirty people turn to me. Yeah, all right. I’m coming already.

Under ISO 400, nothing works here today, any lower ISO value would increase the exposure times within the HDR range excessively and I would get shouted at again. Of course I know the tour only takes 1 1/2 hours and you can’t wait for any hobby photographer. But it is this circumstance that trains best to be quick. Anyway, there should be guided tours for photographers only. Maybe at more expensive rates, but with fewer participants and more time for the different scenes.

A small train takes you deeper underground into the mountain. The small 4-seater cabins in the train are actually made for hobbits. In any case, of my kind, no 4 persons will fit into the small gondola – only in pieces. Thank God I folded the tripod to a minimum in no time at all. Not to imagine what would have happened, the miner would have had to wait 10 seconds for the descent, because I would have had to fold two tripod legs.

Nevertheless, the whole trip was a lot of fun and I can only recommend it to every ambitious photographer. Take a light and small travel tripod with you, because otherwise you can give up in difficult lighting conditions without a tripod. For my part, I rely on my only 980 gr. heavy Rollei Traveller No. 1 Carbon (Amazon-Affiliate-Link). Be sure to use RAW file formats for fine-tuning the white balance, especially if you want to work with exposure bracketing, like me, and for general exposure compensation.

It is advisable to stay at the end of the group of visitors as a photographer. This gives you more time to take your picture and prevents other visitors from walking through the picture and destroying your pictures with a flashing mobile phone light.
Bring wipes for your camera and lenses. Otherwise, dripping water from the gallery ceiling can quickly interfere with photo fun.

I am aware that not everyone has a technical understanding of photography and I can’t expect that. But actually, after the third photo with the iPhone LED flash in the 800 meters long, dark tunnel, the last one might have noticed that this kind of thing doesn’t work. And if you don’t understand why, then at least after looking at the result, you should check this matter out for yourself. Far from it. Let’s try eight more flash photos. At least no one photographed with iPad.

The Kleinenbremen visitor mine is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

From 1 March to 30 November, entrances will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a. m., 1:00 p. m. and 2:30 p. m.
On the NRW public holidays there are also entrances (November 2017).

Additional information: The visitor mine in Kleinenbremen in Porta Westfalica is ideal for a small photo excursion. I used a November day for an underground tour. So I was able to test my new photo equipment and internalize the operation of my new camera. The girlfriend was also happy. We had already had the mine on our list of activities for quite some time. Lucky up!

http://bergwerk-kleinenbremen.de

All the links in this text are Amazon Affiliate Links, and by clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a percentage of your subsequent Amazon purchases. However, this circumstance does not influence the background of my product recommendation. This product recommendation is independent, honest and sincere. 

Bei allen genannten Links in der Videobeschreibung handelt es sich um Amazon-Affiliate-Links.Durch einen Klick auf einen Affiliate-Link werde ich prozentual an Euren darauf folgenden Amazon-Einkäufen beteiligt. Dieser Umstand beeinflusst aber nicht die Hintergründe meiner Produktempfehlung. Diese Produktempfehlung erfolgt unabhängig, ehrlich und aufrichtig.

Der Beitrag Photo trip to the visitor mine Kleinenbremen erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.