Austria

“Though the stars are out, not one of us knows the way,” IMBECILE song text by Mike Batt. The “Hohe Wand” / high wall, a mountain near Vienna was the place for star photography last Friday. Our group of 7 photographers started at about 9 pm, and we did shooting until 11:30 pm. I had a head lamp with me; it was dark. And it’s also live saving  🙂 because near the sky walk; there are slopes which are straight as a pole with 100 meters / 330 ft height and no fence or sign ➡  which warns you. In the night, you have to be careful there. 😐

I placed my A7S with the Samyang 14mm F2.8 on my Sony VCT-300 tripod and prepared for shooting. Higher ISO about 2500 to 3600 are a must, shutter speed at about 12 to 15 seconds and manual focusing, which works fine even with the stars if you use Sony focus peaking. So I got beautiful shots of the milky way. 🙂

Post processed with: Luminar, Color Efex Pro, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/2.8
• Shutter speed: 20s
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 2500

Lake Neusiedl lies between SW Hungary and south-east Austria. This steppe lake is only 1.5 meters / 5 ft deep, has gray and muddy water. If you are standing in the water, your feet sink into the mud until half of your calves get covered. On the borders, the reed is growing. It’s a great area for kite-surfers because it’s flat with no waves usually. If a bigger storm is brewing, it’s better to get out of the water fast, if the wind kicks in, you will soon have huge waves which act like an undertow in conjunction with the shallow water.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/2000s
• Focal length: 55mm
• ISO: 100

In this part of Lower Austria, I saw many, many canola fields. Maybe the biofuel of the future? I prepared my DJI Phantom 4 Pro for the flight, with some tests on the beginning. Because sadly I recognized from time to time that the movie touch on the DJI App didn’t get activated, although I thought it did, which led to some flying sessions, where I didn’t record a movie. Therefore it’s essential for me to check this carefully.

Mountains and sports are the occasions where I use my telephoto lenses the most. There I also take my photo backpack with me, which I stuff with more lenses and cameras I normally need. 🙂  But this invites to more experimenting with F-stops and exposures, a different approach to taking photos and more HDR-testing. At this mountain peak on the Dachstein, there it’s a bit colder, even during sunny hours, so I have my photo gloves with me, which are made from wool but without fingertips, to preserve the feel of my skin.

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/1250s
• Focal length: 18mm
• ISO: 100

Schladming is a famous winter resort, which has developed into a year round holiday- and event location. It lies between mountains up to 2000 m / 6500 ft. The most prominent is the Planai, where the ski races take place. In the summer months, there are many hiking trails, natural swimming baths, and several courses via ferrata for the braver visitors. For this photo, I had to cross a curvy street and was standing on a steep meadow, with little place to move. From time to time you have to take some risk  🙂

Post processed with: Photomatix, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/5.6
• Shutter speed: 1/250s
• Focal length: 45mm
• ISO: 400

The House of Habsburg built the Hermesvilla by architect Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer between 1882 and 1886. This picture shows the backyard after a heavy downpour from which we had to flee into the inner of the building. There we had a cup of coffee, then after the rain stopped and the first sunbeams appeared, I was outside shooting. I like the smell after rain showers; the air is so clear and crisp.  🙂

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: LEICA X VARIO (Typ 107)
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/200s
• Focal length: 30.6mm
• ISO: 100

Though I am the rock, pop, electronic – music guy, on Saturday, I got an invitation from my brother and his girlfriend to attend a classical concert of Russian composers like Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and others presented by a Czech orchestra. It was open air on a castle ground in Kirchstetten, Lower Austria; I can only recommend listening to such music from time to time.

“So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me” (Abba).  😎

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop 

• Camera: ILCE-6000
• Aperture: ƒ/1.8
• Shutter speed: 1/500s
• Focal length: 55mm
• ISO: 1600

I think this man was happy, that the baby in the red buggy was finally sleeping and he could take a rest with a newspaper in hand. Castle Grafenegg is in excellent preservation and got through a restoration which lasted some years. The history reaches back to 1294; then it got more phases of reconstructions during the centuries. One of the highlights of Austrian castles.

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop

• Camera: LEICA X VARIO (Typ 107)
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/125s
• Focal length: 18mm
• ISO: 100

I have the admission from Austro Control, to fly with my quadcopter on uninhabited and unsettled areas, this means the nature, hills, mountains, and fields are flying territory for me. Even there some people get angry and think I am flying illegally. Then I have some short discussions, and sooner or later they give up and go their way. For me, the photos stay, and that’s my joy. 🙂

Post processed with: Photoshop

• Camera: FC6310
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/320s
• Focal length: 8.8mm
• ISO: 100

I was shooting this picture during my photo tour with Samyang FE 14mm 2.8 AF lens and DJI Phantom 4 Pro at the golf club. I was underway with the electrical golf caddy, which was fun to drive and stopped for photos and drone flying. Since I am untalented for golfing, this was an excellent alternative spending the day. 🙂  This golf course at Adamstal, near Vienna, is embedded between hills and mountains, it’s a great nature experience with fresh air and sun for your skin.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: FC6310
• Aperture: ƒ/5.6
• Shutter speed: 1/400s
• Focal length: 8.8mm
• ISO: 100