Berlin Photography: A black and white photoessay

We couldn't connect with Berlin. For about a week, we tried loving Berlin every single day. Our Berlin photography will hopefully show you the city the way we actually saw it. We specifically photographed the city in black and white, because of its history and grittiness. Berlin is a heavy city. It deserves its non-colours. With daunting grey clouds, ugly concrete blocks and the sea of cranes, Berlin left a mark, rather than an impression. For historians, Berlin might be one of the most exciting cities ever. For us, it was an unpolished gem, a little too grimy to be loved. We didn't love Berlin but we very much enjoyed getting lost in its history pages. Here is our Berlin photography: raw, coarse and a little abstruse.

Berlin Photography

Friedrichstraße: Berlin looks different at night, better, but also a little eerie. Some parts remind me of communist Bucharest, whilst other neighbourhoods reminded us both of the Bristolian streets.

Friedrichstraße: It's all about seeing how Berlin looks like through the cracks of history.

Friedrichstraße: I know Berlin is safe, or so they say. It's the 27th safest city in the world, but I can't stop thinking about Berlin Syndrome.

Friedrichstadt-Palast: We decided to go see The One in Berlin. We were lucky enough to get a little peek behind the scenes.

Friedrichstadt-Palast: Over 100 performers on stage. Acrobats, singers, artists, all made The One a dreamy show which you can't miss during your trip to Berlin.

Berlin Subway: A bit rough, a bit dirty, Berlin's subway system is 116 years old. It's extensive, reliable and a bit nuts at night.

Berlin Subway: The subway undertook major development after the World War II.

Berlin Subway: There are fun stations, dirty stations, metallic stations and simple stations.

Berlin Syndrome: I often wonder what happens behind closed... windows.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe: A heavy place, where history meets hope. We hope to end all wars, forever. Life has one goal and one goal only: to stay alive.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe: The walls are cold. It's also unusually silent between the blocks. You can't hear anything, but some quiet steps behind and distant voices which slowly fade once more... There are cracks and there are holes in our history books. We need to teach that only love makes life.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe: My name is Coralia but they used to call me Cora. I am not this Cora... Cora Berliner was an economist and social scientist and a victim of the Nazi regime. She was a pioneer of social work.

The Brandenburg Gate: an 18th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin. The Gate stood between East and West Germany, becoming part of the Berlin Wall.

Berlin Photography: There are hidden figures behind all heavy walls.

Neue Kirche: 18th-century structure including displays on the parliamentary democracy of the German Bundestag.

Konzerthaus Berlin: For when you wish to escape the heavy history and get lost in the sounds of music.

Friedrichstraße: It's all about sneakers on wheels.

Hackescher Markt: Every city looks better when there are bikes everywhere. Berlin is no exception. It reminded us of our home, Bristol, UK.

Berlin Cathedral Church: Located on the museum island in Berlin, this is one of the most fascinating, majestic buildings in the city. 

"That was but a prelude;
where they burn books,
they will ultimately burn people as well."
Heinrich Heine 1820

Fernsehturm: The tower was constructed between 1965-69 by the government of the German Democratic Republic. They say it was used by the communists to spy into West Germany.

Walls of love and Bike for Earth in Berlin.

Half and half: The ever divided Berlin.

The Neue Wache: Also known as the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Victims of War and Dictatorship. It represents a mother holding her dying son exposed to the elements.

The Berlin Wall: When a wall comes down, who said you cannot build another in good faith.

The Berlin Wall: When something as arbitrary as a bit of concrete can divide people for far too many years. 

Checkpoint Charlie: It was in fact, Checkpoint C, and it was well known due to its location on the Friedrichstraße.

The Bundestag: Visit the Dome and learn about the transparency of the current government.

The Bundestag: View of the dome from the roof terrace.

Berlin: Grab the ball and feel its soul.

Checkpoint Charlie: These are all fake. Street sellers are importing these from abroad and sell them to tourists as memorabilia.

Berlin Subway: Because freedom of speech should be taken seriously.