Zeiss Infinity Tour - Berlin
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Returning to Berlin as part of the ZEISS Infinity Tour felt familiar, but there was still plenty to discover. I had led photography workshops in the German capital before, and each visit offered a different view of the city.
What keeps Berlin interesting to me is its constant change. New buildings, street art and the everyday life of its neighbourhoods create opportunities to look again, even in places I have already photographed.
A City of Different Perspectives
Berlin brings together many architectural styles and ways of life. Historic landmarks share the city with contemporary buildings, while neighbourhoods such as Kreuzberg reveal another side through their streets, shops and creative spaces.
As a photographer, I find that variety rewarding. There is no single view that captures the whole city. Its character emerges gradually through the places you explore and the details you notice.
Returning also gives me a chance to reconsider familiar subjects. A different viewpoint or change in light can reveal something I missed on an earlier visit.
Photography and Creative Freedom
During the workshop, I met Peter, a Berlin resident, and we spoke about photography and the meaning of infinity. For him, infinity represented the freedom to create without boundaries.
His answer connected with a question we often face as photographers: how do we express a personal vision within the limits of a frame?
We choose what to include, what to leave out and when to press the shutter. Those decisions give shape to the photograph, while the possibilities for interpreting a subject remain open.
Our conversation became a reminder to keep exploring, even when a location seems familiar.
Finding Infinity in Architecture
For my Berlin interpretation of the tour’s theme, I chose the Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Centre and its library.
Although landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and television tower are closely associated with Berlin, this building held my attention through its interior space and sense of depth.
The repeated lines and layered arrangement of the reading areas create a strong visual rhythm. Looking into the room, the architecture draws the eye through the space, suggesting a continuation beyond what the photograph can contain.
For me, it offered a fitting expression of infinity: a place dedicated to knowledge, discovery and the exchange of ideas.
Observing Light and Space
Late-afternoon light added another dimension to the building. As the sun reached its surfaces, it changed the relationship between light, shadow and architectural form.
These are the moments I look for when photographing architecture. I want to understand how a space is organised, then observe how light reveals its character.
At the Grimm Centre, the combination of geometry, depth and light gave me a subject that connected my interest in architecture with the wider theme of the journey.
Returning with a Different View
Berlin reminded me that revisiting a city can be as rewarding as discovering one for the first time. Familiarity helps me look more closely, while the city’s changes give me new reasons to explore.
The workshop and my conversation with Peter added to that experience. I left with photographs, but also with another perspective on creativity and the possibilities that remain whenever we return to a place with an open mind.