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The World According to Herr Willie - Outside the Polar Station of Ny Ålesund
written by wil6ka on 2016-07-05 #places

It is maybe the closest you will come to the North Pole: the polar region around Ny Ålesund. It is on 79° degrees north, where polar bears play polo and I was farthest from civilization. A tale about 50 shades of ice.
2016-07-05 11 17 Share Tweet
The World According to Herr Willie - Inside the Polar Station of Ny Ålesund
written by wil6ka on 2016-06-20

All of a sudden I found myself in the Northernmost settlement of mankind: Ny Ålesund, maybe the world's most significant polar station on the arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
2016-06-20 6 19 Share Tweet
The World According to Herr Willie: Kumgangsan and the Sacred Mountains of North Korea
written by wil6ka on 2016-06-04 #places

The Korean Peninsula is very mountainous, especially in North Korea. The landscape has affected the mentality and economy of its state. The beauty of Mount Kumgang and other mountains ignited myths and tales for a whole nation living on a rock.
2016-06-04 4 7 Share Tweet
The World According to Herr Willie: Pura Besakih, The Mothertemple of Bali
written by wil6ka on 2016-05-20 #places

On my birthday, I climbed the holiest mountain of Bali on a genuine pilgrimage. Walking towards Pura Besakih is also a tale about Balinese Hinduism, which is a singularity in Indonesia. So tighten your sarong around your hips and stick with me on this spiritual passage through the gates of heaven.
2016-05-20 5 17 Share Tweet
The World According to Herr Willie: The Metro of Pyongyang – Rails of the Cold War
written by wil6ka on 2016-05-14 #places

One of the proud achievements of North Korea is the Metro system in the capital of Pyongyang. It might be one of the most unusual MRT's of the world and you probably never would have guessed where the trains are coming from! It is an awkward tale about the twists and turns of the cold war.
2016-05-14 5 24 Share Tweet
The World According to Herr Willie: Lake Toba
written by wil6ka on 2016-01-03 #people #places

Talking about the creation of the world. A big bang, meteors hitting planets, ice age and tectonic breakdancing. The world is an incredible start up and the landscapes, that were created through the elements and time. Sometimes your eyes can still see this amazing process in a timelapse. Such a mystical place is Lake Toba in North Sumatra. Or as the locals call it: Danau Toba.
2016-01-03 7 16 Share Tweet
The World According to Herr Willie: Ilha de Marajó
written by wil6ka on 2015-11-08 #places

Brazil is an awesome country for traveling. There's so much to explore, each place very different from one another. It will definitely take a stretch of trips just to get to know this this South American pearl. I finished my copa tour last year in Marajó, the island of bulls—it just might be an eternal highlight for me.
2015-11-08 9 28 Share Tweet
The World According to Herr Willie: The Spirit of Jogja
written by wil6ka on 2015-11-03 #places

It is the marvel of Java, the cultural center of Indonesia: Yogyakarta, or, as we assimilated locals call it, Jogja! Jogja is full of historic sites and exudes a very adventurous yet welcoming spirit. It is a true multireligious melting pot that has seen kings and sultans come and go, and religions introduced and either went or stayed. Time has been gentle on Jogja. It's one of my most favorite cities in Asia.
2015-11-03 4 10 Share Tweet
The World According to Herr Willie: North Korea
written by wil6ka on 2015-08-20 #places

This might be a bit melodramatic but, hey, it's the Internet. But yes, I went to North Korea. Even better, I came back safe and sound and with some 80 rolls of film in my rucksack.
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The World According to Herr Willie: Brasília
written by wil6ka on 2015-07-10 #places

It's a modern utopia, a one-of-a-kind in the world: Brasília. The capital of marvelous Brazil is the wet dream of every architecture aficionado, the masterpiece of Oscar Niemeyer. This architect created an illusion of better living; thus, Brasília was declared an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. This is a homage to lines, curves, and boldness.
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The World According to Herr Willie: Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
written by wil6ka on 2015-07-03 #places

Singapore, like Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, is a likely stopover when you fly far. The city is a tiny urbanized hub but it's very favorable if you know some high-spirited locals. I was lucky to hook up with king kimbo (@hakimbo), who showed me around. He took my lame limbs to the Gardens by the Bay, an amazing place which was visually striking. I was hugging some artificial trees there when I found a baby—a very big baby.
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The World According to Herr Willie: Olympiastadion Berlin
written by wil6ka on 2015-05-19 #places

The 2015 UEFA Champions League Final will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on June 6. It is a place full of history and is also the only football stadium with a blue track course. Some say it is the most beautiful stadium in the world, and I totally agree with them. But then agai,n I might be biased because it is the home court of my favorite team, Hertha BSC Berlin—my blue-white bloodline.
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The World According to Herr Willie: Salvation Mountain
written by wil6ka on 2015-05-16 #videos #places

Leonard Knight passed away last year but he left an incredible legacy, an embodiment of love, that is Salvation Mountain. From 1984, he painted and remodeled a little hill in the California desert that's colorful as a cupcake and truly meaningful. And if anything ever would have been meant to be shot with Lomo cameras, it would be this psychedelic, holy hill.
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The World According to Herr Willie: The Amazon
written by wil6ka on 2015-04-09 #places

It was the Amazon which I had longed for my whole life. And when it was finally a set deal that I will travel to Brazil with two of my best friends for the Copa do Mundo (World Cup), we really had to start our adventure in the Amazon. I had known about this magical place deep in the rainforest. There was a lodge run by local people of indigenous background, with wooden houses that float on the water and a limited number of visitors. It was eco-tourism as how it should be. To preserve and to celebrate one of the most impressive locations I have seen so far.
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The World According to Herr Willie: Meet Ishita Malaviya, India's Lady of the Board
written by wil6ka on 2015-03-10 #places

For the last three weeks, Herr Willie has regaled us with fascinating tales of his Russian adventure. Today, he shares with us yet another great story from one of his travels: meeting the beautiful and influential Ishita Malaviya, the first female surfer of India.
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Elitechrome 400 EL: Absolutely Retro
written by wil6ka on 2014-03-14 #gear

The entire Kodak Elitechrome series belong to my favorite films. From the EB, to the EBX, ED, and EL; they all have great features once you know how to use them well. The EL with its 400 ISO hardly gets any attention, which is also because of the fact that it is more uncommon. But that is about to change with this. Here's some e-love.
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Ferrania Solaris Chrome 100 - A Toxic Link to the Future
written by wil6ka on 2013-08-31 #gear

There always has to be a reason or motivation to write a film review. Sometimes it’s the sheer excitement about a great series of pictures or a rare find. In the case of the Ferrania Solaris Chrome, it is an epic turnover in the current photo film industry. With their recent statement to be releasing a new slide film, Ferrania made most of analogue film aficionados rub their eyes in happiness. So it's time to go back to the future with the Ferrania Solaris Chrome 100.
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Imation Chrome 100 - Closing a Ferrania Trilogy
written by wil6ka on 2013-08-30 #gear

Ferrania came out with new print and slide films and I am jumping up and down with joy. For this reason I just made a review about the old Ferrania Solaris Chrome. It’s said, that this new slide film has an emulsion which was derived from the 3M Scotch Chrome 100. For this film, I made a review already a few months back. But I think there is one last film, which falls into the same range and same emulsion. So to make the film trilogy complete I will introduce the Imation Slide 100.
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Kodak Ektachrome Panther 400 (35 mm) – Release the Panther
written by wil6ka on 2013-07-15 #gear

I know the tagline is cheesy, but it caught your attention – so it’s just perfect (evil laughter). And in my quest to squeeze every Kodak film into cameras and the best out of it on film, it certainly caught my attention too, when I first discovered,that not only Apple gets their inspiration from the zoo when branding their products. So may I present, the new find from the photographic animal farm: the slide film that was called Kodak Ektachrome Panther 400:
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Labaphot BW 100 – Ancient Black Pearl
written by wil6ka on 2013-07-15 #gear

I am always surpised how durable black and white negative films are. But this one is ultra special. The Labaphot was produced in West Germany, so it’s a relic of the old Germany. Basically the postal code on the film cartridge doesn't exist anymore. And the cartridge is in fact a show for itself. It must be the most beautiful film vessel I ever laid eyes on.
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Kodak SO 553 – The Special One
written by wil6ka on 2013-06-10 #gear

Ah, before I forget, I want to write this review about this film. What's it called again? Ah right: the Kodak SO 553. It is quite a strange one! Coming in the similarly mysterious, unrevealing yellow boxes, like the Vericolor Slide, Technical Pan or SE Duplicating films. And all of those are kinky crazy. So checking this one, it came with a promise.
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Kodak Ektachrome 320T - A Survivor
written by wil6ka on 2013-05-02 #gear

There was a range of ultra-low iso slidefilms for artificial Tungsten light from Kodak that delivers all kinds of color-nuances and shades. These films were quite durable and stable, so they were actually quite suitable for many kinds of weather conditions and photojournalists, that always had to be sure that they can deliver results whenever it's needed. One of my favourites in this row must be the Kodak Ektachrome 320ET - a true survivor.
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Ilford Dia 200 - Singing the Blues
written by wil6ka on 2013-04-30 #gear

Once I laid eyes on that offer on eBay I was instantly stunned. There was a slide film of Ilford. The British film producer came out with their own branded color transparencies? I made sure to win the bunch and tried the Ilford Dia 200 myself. One of the reasons I liked it is because it used the German name for slidefilm: Dia.
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Scotch Super Chrome 100 - Repeating History
written by wil6ka on 2013-04-29 #gear

The history of film production must be as confusing and incestuous as the web of royal relationships of the European kingdoms in the 17th century up to the 19th. Back in the days, a German noble becomes the Russian Czaress, French lords became kings of Spain, and even the Danish were ruling all of Scandinavia. A marriage here, a war elsewhere, a coup d'etat everywhere - such a mess. Nothing was like it seemed and you could never trust what you were told. And with the Scotch Super Chrome 100 it’s history repeating itself.
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Vericolor Slide Film So-279 – Engineering 2D Graphic Photography
written by wil6ka on 2013-02-27 #gear

It’s the original encounters, which unfolds the most energy and evokes the strongest feelings! There's nothing quite like finding a film that has its own secrets and leaves you guessing. Such is the Kodak Vericolor Slide Film, a sensation in blue and black.
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The Creation of Panoramic Macros
written by wil6ka on 2012-12-07 #gear #tutorials

It's the photographic accidents that sometimes bring out some new twists and thoughts about photography. Things you never really thought about in the first place. Just imagine the lens of your panoramic camera gets loose and creates some very interesting new results? How about that?
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Mt.Inwangsan – the Green/Holy/Touristy/Millitary Hill
written by wil6ka on 2012-07-03 #places

The construction of the lomographic guide of Seoul is gaining pace and content. And so I thought I should pull out a merry old location to join the jam. A few years back on my first stay in Seoul, I discovered a green mountain in the middle of a city made of concrete and steel. Mount Iwangsan is a big city delight with a lot of incentives and shamanic ghosts.
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AGFA CT Precisa 200: A Film with the Pox
written by wil6ka on 2012-06-28 #gear

We are all in love with the marvelous and unchallenged pinnacle of colour-cross-explosion of the Agfa CT Precisa 100. In the quest to find films with likewise features, I looked in the neighborhood and found another gangsta: the Agfa CT Precisa 200. But, this black sheep in the family surprised me with unprecedented effects. This film is sick – it has the pox!
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DMZ - the World's Hottest Border
written by wil6ka on 2012-06-06 #places

It is most likely the one border that is constantly in the focus of the world. The demarcation line between North and South Korea is always hot and edgy. You better hold your horses and don’t get silly, because the soldiers have their finger on the trigger. But beside from that, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea can also be considered as a political version of Disneyland.
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Holga meets Olga: Holga 135 Spotted in FHM!
written by wil6ka on 2012-06-04 #news

She is up and coming and hot like a vodka afterburn. Olga Fonda is taking Hollywood by storm and she gets down and dirty with a toy camera. The model and actress did a shoot for the FHM Germany and she was wearing a Holga 135 and not much more. ;-)
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ALFO Professional Slide Film: Digging Deep into History
written by wil6ka on 2012-03-12 #gear

In my quest to find films everybody forgot about, I found the ALFO Professional Slide Film. Never really heard about that one, so I started my CSI engine. So this review is rather about the way one researches about the history of gone film-gems than the look of its emulsion.
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Seoul Palace: Royal Guard Changing Ceremony
written by wil6ka on 2012-02-27 #places

A palace is a spectacular sight in every corner of the world. But sometimes the events around the monument have that special edge, that make it a unique lomographic location.
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General Photo Black and White Surveillance Film: You Are So Dirty!
written by wil6ka on 2012-01-27 #gear

You are a dirty film, very dirty! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Exposing yourself blank in front of all those people? And look at all the grain in your face and on your body! I cannot leave you for a bit and really, I don’t want to!
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Voigtländer V200: Attention, Please!
written by wil6ka on 2012-01-19 #gear

Color negative film often doesn’t appeal to me. There seem to be endless variation and colours are not as reliable as slide film, and cross processing it is basically not an option. But it is the variety, that makes analogue photography ever exciting and the Voigtländer V200 is a choice that catches more of my attention lately!
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Ilford Pan 100: Panchromatism Galore
written by wil6ka on 2012-01-17 #gear

I don't remember how I came across this film-gem. But nonetheless, I took this film-gem on a trip to Sweden last summer and I can proudly say that the Ilford Pan 100 is one of the greatest black and films I ever got to try.
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Maco TS Eagle 400 AQS: A Graphic Novel
written by wil6ka on 2012-01-13 #gear

This must be one of the craziest monochromatic emulsions I came across with. Not only the title is a promise of an adventure, but the pictures are as well. In most black and white films that I have used, objects in the distance become darker. With the Eagle, the darkness flies away. In fact, it's the other way around. The further the object is away from the lens, the brighter it is.
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Siberan Adventures in LomoScope
written by wil6ka on 2011-05-31

It was Siberia. A call to a distant and mystic land. And I picked up the landline telephone. Last summer I was asked to join a group of young adventurers to go from middle europe by all means of transportation. Aiming a a tiny village called Man Yckwe. To be enchanted by indigenous Siberians and to fall in love with a remote paradise!
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Kubik Club in Hamburg
written by wil6ka on 2011-05-20 #places

The Kubik is a traveling club that is exactly what its name promises! A collection of glowing boxes that light up to the beat of the music (Billie Jean says 'hello').
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Santa Monica Pier
written by wil6ka on 2011-05-18 #places

L.A. is Hollywood, is Bel Air, is Downtown, is the beach of Santa Monica, is Michael Jackson and is the Pier. After all, this piece of bridge in the Pacific is the absolute culmination of what LA represents. Basically, it's all about fun and relaxation.
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Burn Instax Burn
written by wil6ka on 2011-04-10 #gear #tutorials

Bring it down to one line: „make that Instax burn!“. Maybe after all pyromaniacs and lomographers can share a common playground in the future!
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Voigtländer Vchrome 100 -Longest name | Best results
written by wil6ka on 2011-03-26 #gear

Size does matter! I know the title of this film doesn't fit on any benjamin, but it is worth remembering this gem in the historic film-supermarket. Bright results, true and saturated colours and a feel-good-mood, when you get the results.
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Revue Dia CR 100 - Flower-Power-Hippie-Film
written by wil6ka on 2011-03-14 #gear

A film from the past and a troubled history within two worlds. And all ends up in a romantic flower-power-hippie wave of an expired gem!
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Kodak Press Chrome 100
written by wil6ka on 2010-08-27 #gear

If you are desperately in love with all the member of the Kodak Elite Chrome family you really should expand your love-universe. The Kodak Press Chrome 100 has some assets to offer, that come close to his stepsisters and stepbrothers. But his unique character will make you jump into this passionate affair with no regrets. Go for it!
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ORWO Color QRS 100
written by wil6ka on 2010-08-06 #gear

There is a certain mystery lingering around films that are out of production. Double that aura of being uknown, when the place of its origin is already gone. The perfect example is ORWO, the film monopolist in the deceased GDR.
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Robben Island
written by wil6ka on 2010-06-21 #places

The end of apartheid is one of the most significant events in African history, at least in the past decade. And there is one site that symbolizes the return to freedom as no other: Robben Island.
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Capetown Stadium
written by wil6ka on 2010-06-21 #places

The worldcup of football just started and the worldwide craze will reach its pinnacle in the next days. The most exciting thing about the world's greatest sport-event beside the olympics is the hosting nation: South Africa. And as every tournament of such scale helps to build an lasting infrastructure it is the stadiums that are the first stars of the cup. One of the most impressive ones is the capetown stadium.
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Cristo Redentor, Just Call Him Jesus
written by wil6ka on 2010-04-04 #places

Well there are some landmarks, that are hard to discover, because, they are just there, very exposed not hidden at all. Take the Chinese wall, the pyramids of Egypt or Christ the Redeemer.
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Estádio do Morumbi SPFC - Kick it like the Brazilians
written by wil6ka on 2010-01-22 #places

If one thing is certain, it is the craze of the Brazilians about football. Not only that they hit the Penta, the completion of five world championships, Brazilians dance with the Ball as if they would draw calligraphy on porcelain. So it was about time to see them doing their thing. Best Spot to witness some good sport is the Morumbi stadium of SPFC, São Paulo Futebol Clube.
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The Staples Center Home of the Lakers and MJ
written by wil6ka on 2010-01-13 #places

In the US of A most buildings don’t have a long history, considering there are churches in old Europe telling a story stretching over a thousand years. Basically everything in the states has the charm of something new and fresh. And they made a great twist out of it, because everything is convenient and tries to hit the need of the one that uses it. Take stadiums or convention halls.
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Nathan Road Hong Kongs Main Street
written by wil6ka on 2010-01-11 #places

Hong kong is a small megalopolis but still big enough to have a major shopping street, that is rarely to be found elsewhere. It is so long you even get the feeling, that you can walk from one edge of the tiger state to the other edge. It’s all about Nathan Road, the economic bloodline of Hong Kong.
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