The German city of Düsseldorf was founded at the confluence of the river Rhine and the river Düssel. Its landscape is marked by a tall bridge and a huge telecommunication tower. This is the inspiring setting where electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk formed in the 1970s.
When you walk along the river it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the interplay of these elements representing technology and nature. It was a cold, windy and wet day and I took out my precious bulky gift to snap a Polaroid. I walked back and forth to include both the bridge and the telecommunication tower, with the river flowing calmy underneath.
I was clicking and nothing was happening. The camera was on, so at first I did not understand why. I really wanted that shot and stayed behind my friends to sort this out. I thought why am I so bad at this? It just didn’t work. Then I realised that the front part had snapped open, letting unwanted light in. I closed it, I pointed it and held the shutter and the flash button at the same time to deactivate the artificial flash. The photo popped out, but I felt I moved the camera away too quickly. I thought I screwed it. I put the photo in my pocket, away from the light, without much hope. I continued strolling and questioned whether that was the best spot to take a picture from. But at least I tried.
This is the result:
My one and only shot of Düsseldorf, already printed, already on my wall. It has a patina of nostalgia, even though it was yesterday.
I wish it would be sharper. I managed to frame the elements I wanted though. It seems from an era gone by, but this is the end of 2018. My subsequent two shots at contemporary art museum K21 didn’t even pop out, so I am grateful for this one. My one and only shot of Düsseldorf, already printed, already on my wall. It has a patina of nostalgia, even though it was yesterday. I shall remember the moment I took it, and the good times spent there with friends. It carries more information than a digital photo. The humidity and the anxiety seems to be there in the colours. The only thing missing is the soundtrack, so look at it whilst listening to Düsseldorf’s Kraftwerk.