• reflection,  Travel

    A day at Vestrahorn

    The furthest eastern destination of our trip was the Vestrahorn. With a private beach of black sand, this place is interesting at low tidal ranges because of its reflections. The nice lady at the entrance gave us a ticket for morning and evening. So we came there in the morning and in the evening hours.

    Vestrahörn at low tide © Julian Köpke

    The blue colour of the reflections deceives the fact that a warm morning sun illuminated the beach. My friend Detlef is almost lost in the vastness of the beach.

    The photographer at Vestrahorn. Black sand beach. © Julian Köpke

    Sometimes I find it difficult to make panoramic shots because can’t plan the picture in my head. Every panorama always contains a small surprise. On the Vestrahorn I made this panorama with reflections from shots with identical parameters.

    The rocks of Klifatindur (panorama 2 shots). Black sand beach. Vestrahorn. Estrahorn. © Julian Köpke
  • Landscape,  Sylt,  Travel

    Flotsam and jetsam

    The Braderuper Heath is a northeastern part of the island of Sylt, with a white cliff of kaolin. While walking we came across an eviscerated duck that was suddenly lying in front of our feet. The head was dark or black, the throat was flabby, the internal organs were probably used for food. Maybe some dog owners had become angry already about their naughty four-legged friends.

    That’s not enough. A short distance later we came across shipwreck whose hull with the upward-facing edges offered the same aspect as the duck’s disemboweled body with its ribs. Since the tide was low, we were able to approach the mortal remains of the ship without water running into our shoes. We just sank a little into the tidal mudflats.

    Wreck in the mudflats of Braderup. © Julian Köpke

    We could have made bets on the age of the ship and the cause of the accident. The three-masted grain schooner was moored as an unauthorized party ship off the coast of Braderup and sunk due to a fire in 1981. The cause of the fire was never determined.

    There are many places with a white cliff. This one is part of the same geological structure as the cliff in Morsum.

    White cliff at Braderup © Julian Köpke
  • Travel

    End of the world

    On a ball there is no such thing like an end or a beginning. Before the discovery of America the region we traveled to today was called „End of the world“ or „Finistère“ in French. The Atlantic Ocean shows its wild side here.

    On our way from Camaret-sur-Mer to Pointe du Raz we came through many old villages of Brittany. St. Nic is such a place, where you can find a pretty church building.

    Èglise St. Nic © Julian Köpke

    Coming form Douarnenez you first reach Point du Van in westerly direction. The church is consecrated to shipwreckers.

    Église Pointe du Van © Julian Köpke
    Église Pointe du Van © Julian Köpke

    Within sight of the western wall you can perceive a small lighthouse.

    Sailing boat and lighthouse © Julian Köpke

    After a short drive, first in a southerly direction and then in a westerly direction, you reach Pointe du Raz. At low tide the is a strong current in southern direction. The water is visibly swirled between the rocks. At this point, where the world ended 528 years ago, you can easily imagine a wild Ocean.

    Our journey to Brittany now has come to its end.

    See more images in my album.

    Pointe du Raz © Julian Köpke