photography - Christof Strauss .com

Christmas market of teddy bears

Even though Christmas is over now, I recently strolled into this hidden gem of a Christmas market. Well, not so much hidden, since it’s in the middle of Schwarzenberg Platz in Vienna. It’s more hidden in the sense that it was still almost empty around noon.

After breathing in this atmosphere for some time, I slowly realised that the lack of humans on this Christmas market is balanced out by its many soft inhabitants. For some reason, teddy bears were all over the place, making this market less Christmasy and more Beary.

But the invasion of the cuddly toys didn’t end there. Since it was already the last day of the year, many small sales booths took shop and released even more of them into the wild.

A perfect summer

I was never a summer person. Not that I prefer the cold either. Its more that spring or fall are my favorites temperature wise. Summers on the other hand got hotter and hotter over the last few years. Making it hard to bear, especially in the city, which in my case is Vienna.

But this year it was different. It rained a lot, resulting in many nights without “tropical heat”. I took this as an opportunity to capture some photos that encapsulate this special summer.

Also as a way to treasure this memory of a summer, that may as well be a misfit on the future heat to come. To look back at what we had and may not get again for a long time.

9 things to keep in mind when visiting Venice

Navigating Venice’s charming maze of canals can be tricky. Read on for 13 useful tips to help you make the most of your trip!

Street photography in Japan #2 – Kyoto

When in Japan for the first time, it’s almost a given to visit Kyoto.

This mainly means different kinds of temples, but I would urge all of you who have never been to Kyoto to keep your expectations in check. Most areas of the city don’t look that “different” from what you may already be accustomed to (depending on where your journey through Japan starts). This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something to keep in mind so you’re not disappointed when you arrive.

Apart from some of the more obvious stops, like Senbon torii, you can always very easily avoid crowds by simply visiting some of the more remote temples in the outer parts of the city. So, if you’re getting overwhelmed, you can just have a look at your maps app and take a small detour.

Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide on Google Maps

After visiting Yokosuka recently, I noticed that I would’ve loved a digital version of the Shenmue Sacred Spot Guide. Which you can find here. Or you can also check out some other important learnings from my short visit.

Visiting Skopje

I visited Skopje for the first time a few weeks ago. The weather wasn’t ideal, but once the rain had stopped, there were plenty of opportunities to experiment with reflections.

Street photography in Japan #1 – Tokyo

In February I visited Japan for the first time. Besides visiting many specialty coffee shops and vintage fashion stores I also took many pictures which I slowly finish to sort and further develop. This post is the first batch covering some of my favourites I took in Tokyo.

Street photography in Athens

Last December I visited Athens for the first time. And I already know, it won’t be for the last time.

Street photography in Madrid

I recently visited Madrid and enjoyed the sunny weather with its harsh shadows during the day. This turns even simple things like windows with some plants into interesting subjects. It gets even more interesting, of course, when people cast their long shadows on walls.

There were many beautiful sunsets, still present as reflections when taking pictures of well-known landmarks, combing tourist hot spots with a drink, which I personally enjoy. At night, the city lights up with countless neon signs, glowing bars, eateries and their visitors.

And then, of course, there are the dogs, so many cute dogs.