Awesome Decks - Five Mile Scarecrow

My second ever longboard had to be something special and extravagant (just as my bass guitars, tell me if you want to see them). Also, I wanted to have a top-mounted deck as I was sick of the beginners-friendly feeling of the NinetySixty BooBam. And I aimed for a update on the graphic as well, you understand once you've seen the BooBam. Then I saw Scarecrow.

Top-mounted - check.

Extravagant - Look at this concave and the nose and tail, CHECK.

Nice graphic - Love the colors and the motive, check.

I added Paris trucks in red and matched the wheels and the bearings as well - but I am now looking for a better exchange bearing because the old ones really suck. Although I messed it up a little by having to much of a stress on the style, I really love how it feels on the street. As I have to go downhill pretty much everywhere I go, I really appreciate how the pockets lock your feet in and you can easily keep a little swing to your driving. But I don't really reach any top speeds, although it is actually going down a hill - the rough ground and the fact that it's still in Germany's rather flat northern area don't make for a fast track. Also, the W-concave really keep the weight down and gives just the right flex for me. You might have some issues at first getting along with the bulge, especially under your front-foot toes, but it becomes really important in judging the optimal position of your feet once you've found it. And the price of $160 makes it a really nice deal for a very special board.

Winter Season - Bike vs Board

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Winter In Germany

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One Day In Hamburg - Christmas Time

One thing that's perfect in Hamburg in December is all the bright Christmas decoration that is spread all over the city. This here is just a tiny piece of it spread over maybe half a mile through the city. But I had a really good time trying out some stuff with the town hall and how it was lit from below and the clouds hushing by.

The scale of Christmas trees.

Love how this picture turned out with really warm colors..

While this one is really moody, especially the dark top.

A little too bright but I love how the buildings pops out from the background.

I like how the seagull sneaked in on this one.

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One Day In Hamburg - Essentials

Water, the most important thing to humans. With six times as many bridges as in Venice or double the bridges of Amsterdam water is also a pretty big thing to Hamburg. These are some shots of the Alster and the Elbe, the biggest and most important water surfaces in Hamburg.

Chasing The Sun

One of the things I hate about fall and winter is how little light we get throughout the day. Especially if your photo- and videography is only a hobby - measured by the time you have available for it - it is hard to get ready for a shoot before the sun goes down. And we still have one and a half months left until we have the shortest day of the year. I'm stunned every single year again.

Like really stunned: Once I realize that it's happening I can't find the motivation to get out and shooting. It just seems like I won't even find anything before it get's dark again. Yesterday I was on my way home around 4 pm and guess what I saw: Golden Hour! But of course I couldn't carry my camera around all day - also I didn't even think that it would become such a nice day. But let's not get too depressed because of that - here are some pictures I collected this summer.

One Day in Hamburg - Alstervergnügen

So over the summer every year, there are some events that just affect the whole city. This here is a good example: the Alstervergnügen / the Alster pleasure. While the larger part of the lake Alster is home to all kinds of small boats, sports enthusiasts and all winter lovers when the ice is thick enough (that happes like once in five years and becomes a pretty big thing), the smaller part is home to many events and street festivals like the CSD and of course the Alstervergnügen, once in the summer months and once in the winter months. The pictures are one and a half months old now but is still was a pretty awesome day to spend in Hamburg.

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One Day in Hamburg - Where to go when you're around

Have you ever been to Hamburg? Well, there are places that are definitely worth a visit. So in this series - I will show you some places to stop by on your short trip or even when you're living here. These spots will be awesome places for photography, videography and spending quality time in the best ways possible. They will vary from urban over lifestyle to nature have everything you need for one day in Hamburg. Each post will be part of a day in Hamburg, concluding to the whole day in three or four posts.

So as any of the posts that introduce new stuff this is rather boring and short. But come back on Wednesday to read a bit more on the changes that come to the blog at this time of the year. Until then, repect your spots and keep exploring.

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Hamburg Longboard Spots - Hamburg HafenCity

So this week, I went for a tour through the youngest district of Hamburg: the HafenCity. So pretty much the HarbourCity, doesn't sound that nice, does it? While being the youngest district it is also the most discussed one. Billions of Euros wasted for building the Elbphilharmonie from 2007 probably until 2017. The controversy on the modern architecture destroying the flair of the district.

Within a hundred meters there is a change from the left picture - the old look of the district - to the right one with the new buildings. Each of the styles is beautiful in its own way but it wasn't the best idea to put them right besides each other.

                                                                         


The HafenCity is on the top list of Hamburg's most expensive districts. With a wide offer of high class shops and designer stores there come the matching apartments. For example the penthouse of the Marco Polo Tower - as seen on the picture below - right at the riverside with an awesome view over the whole harbor and the city. At least that's what I guess as I've never had the opportunity to get up there. Also it is located right next to the Unilever headquarters and the Cruise Center where many cruise ships start their journey.

Still I can't decide what I like better - old or new architecture. Let me know about your opinion on this controversy. And as always: Protect your spots and keep exploring.

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Hamburg Bike Spots - Once Upon a Time

Wonder why I chose this title? Well, this spot is still pretty nice. Beautiful views over the water and the fields, a nice BMX/MTB trail and lots of green. Your butt gets tortured a lot, but I guess that's just another side effect when riding your bike off road. This is the Westensee, a small artificial lake that was planned to become a hotspot for young families.

The problem is that it is pretty much at the west end of all the south-east suburbs. So, opposite of the resedentials there is nothing but fields and industrials. Doesn't sound that awesome, right? But on top there are plenty other lakes that are either more central or have better water and surroundings and therefor attract more people.

Over the last years the environment was pretty much left to itself and now there are more than two thirds of the beach covered in grass and all kinds of plants. Also the paths that made for wonderful bike trails became to tight with spiked branches on both sides to just shoot through them. I am actually quite shocked by that as I haven't been there for more than a year. And suddenly a wild nature appeared.

So next time I will visit another lake that is a lot better for a nice bike ride as well as your workout rides, even if it might be harder to reach. Also there is something new planned this Wednesday and Saturday. Until then, respect your spots and keep exploring.

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Hamburg Longboard Spots - Dove Elbe

So this week it pulled me out of the city once again, but not quite that far. Actually it was both, board and bike as my girlfriend was with me, but I was on the board so this counts as a board spot, I guess.

So we started right at at the east end of the marked path. Medium quality ground, some cars and a nice view. And if you take your time to look around instead of racing along you find these things that make you wonder about the story behind it. Like this little wooden boat there. I mean, when was the last time that you saw a boat completely made of wood out on the water? It must have been the for some years or maybe even decades.

And then, of course, there are just beautiful views of the river and nature. And you are mad because you have a 18-55mm lens only. But on the other hand, I like this shot of the river in the front at the cows at the riverside just chilling there.

Maybe I should explain: We were at the Dove Elbe, a arm of the Elbe of about 14 km length. At the place I live the Elbe is about three times as far away. This makes the Dove Elbe a good place if you want to chill out at the riverside.

We then finally arrived at the Hamburg Olympic Center of rowing that recently was the location for the rowing world cup. But I like it a lot more when everything is calm and there is a small boat driving by every now and then. Also, most people driving by are so nice and greeting each other - this is traffic how I like it.

That's it for today. As allways, keep exploring and protect your spots

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