Michael from the travel and photography blog Erkunde die Welt invites to the 14th edition of his photo parade. This time the theme is ‘The most beautiful travel photos 2024’. A wonderful opportunity to look back on the past few months.
First of all: What is a photo parade? Quite simple: A blogger calls for contributions on a specific topic within a certain period of time and collects them in a central location. This creates a network between the participants and increases the visibility of all participating blogs.
The rules for the Photo Parade 2024 are simple: just create a post with your favourite travel photos from 2024 and have fun with it. The pictures – at least six – should fit the themes of architecture, city, mountains, above, black and white and surprise.
My contribution
to the Photo Parade 2024
We travel to Provence in spring 2024. The planning began months in advance, we looked forward to the start and finally set off in May to immerse ourselves in the unique feeling of the south. However, our destination in 2024 is a little further away: Lourdes. On the not necessarily direct route there, we visit a few ‘We have to go there!’ places – a wonderful holiday. We also spend several weekends at Lake Garda and travel through Switzerland by motorcycle.
Photo Parade 2024,
Category Architecture
On our route from Mandelieu-la-Napoule to the west we visit every single parking space. We marvel at the blue sea, the unreal rock formations and, last but not least, the ingenuity of the architects who build the most ingenious houses on the hillside here. The colours, shapes and layout of the residential complexes are incredibly varied – matching the blossoming and fragrant vegetation of the Côte d’Azur.
Residential complex on the Côte d’Azur
Lourdes becomes the highlight of this trip. Even if the town leaves us a little ambivalent (the flood of kitsch shops is simply crazy), we experience an irresistible atmosphere in front of the church of Notre Dame de l’Immaculée Conception. Apart from that, the basilica is also a very special architectural experience.
Notre Dame de l’Immaculée Conception, Lourdes
The Swiss motorcycle magazine Moto.ch receives several articles from me. For the ‘Day trips’ section, I set off on text and photo trips through the far east of Switzerland. In the tranquil village of Valchava, I come across this typical, beautifully decorated with sgraffito and lovingly adorned and probably ancient Grisons house.
Grisons house in Valchava (Grisons)
In 2025, Italy’s highest pass road, the Stelvio Pass, will be 200 years old. I am researching special and unknown features for a video portrait of this technical marvel. The film will also feature the Tibet Hut not far from the top of the pass – a unique building from the 1960s on a cliff at an altitude of almost 2,800 metres.
The Tibet Hut on the Stelvio Pass
Photo Parade 2024,
Category City
Montpellier has become a fixture on our travels through the south. The mix of narrow, shady alleyways and ultra-modern, vibrant architecture as well as the proximity to the Camargue really appeals to us. For us, a holiday in France is not complete without an afternoon on the Place de la Comédie or the Promenade du Peyrou.
We love Montpellier – and its trams
But Montpellier can also be different than narrow streets and sandstone. The neighbourhood around Saint-Roch station is cosmopolitan and progressive.
Montpellier Saint-Roch – the contrast to the old town
Gordes is one of the most famous towns in Provence and towers over our favourite region, the Luberon. We found the stone town by chance years ago and have been visiting it regularly ever since, strolling through the steep and mystical alleyways in the evening. This includes a photo of the illuminated Château de Gordes before heading back to our accommodation.
The Château de Gordes in the evening light
Modern cities want infrastructure, architecture, car parks, shopping – a lot of space for a lot more. This was obviously different in earlier times, when this need simply did not exist. People took the time to lose themselves in details, for example when paving.
Street scene in Malcesine (Lake Garda)
Photo Parade 2024,
Category Mountains
During our Provence trips, we passed Sisteron several times. Although we were always fascinated by the Rocher de la Baume, the incredible rock formation on the Durance, we never found time to visit it. In 2024, we changed that and stayed there for two days. The citadel undoubtedly offers the best view of the Rocher de la Baume.
The Rocher de la Baume near Sisteron
The Camargue may seem unspectacular and flat, but we love this wonderful landscape. Whilst travelling along canals and lagoons surrounded by reeds, we experience soothing relaxation and deep tranquillity. By the way, flat is relative in the Camargue: the salt mountains of Aigues-Mortes are visible from afar and, if you climb them, offer a magnificent panorama over colourful expanses of water.
A different kind of mountain world
Back home. The road up to the Stelvio Pass not only offers 48 hairpin bends, but also an unrivalled view of the Ortler massif. What the eye does not recognise from a distance becomes visible through the telephoto lens: masses of debris once piled up by mighty glaciers and held in check by permafrost now come loose in heavy rain – with dramatic consequences for the valley below.
All good things come from above? Unfortunately not in this case …
Photo Parade 2024,
Category Above
High up on a trip along the Route des Crêtes du Verdon: the walls of the Gorges du Verdon drop vertically up to 700 metres into the abyss. Even after a dozen visits, I still feel a fear of heights here. Apparently not everyone has this problem …
Soon at the top: Climbers in the Gorges du Verdon
With 700 metre high rock faces, there are some really exciting perspectives. In 2024, this colleague fulfils a long-cherished wish and sails through the gorge just below me. Vultures from above? Check!
Master sailors in the Gorges du Verdon
On my first visit, I didn’t notice the giants of the Provençal skies – I was too busy riding my motorcycle to find the opportunity to look up at the sky. I was all the more amazed when I spotted vultures for the first time the following year. In spring 2024, dozens of them were finally circling overhead.
A sublime moment.
Looking upwards: Vultures in the Verdon Gorge
Photo Parade 2024,
Category Surprise
Sunset on Lake Garda: the camera is on, the tripod is stable, the remote shutter release is wired up and the play of colours on the water can begin. I had no idea that three graces would suddenly pose in front of the camera. Surprise: the ‘test the remote shutter release’ photo turns out to be one of the best of the session.
A surprisingly successful snapshot
Springtime is ‘flower photo’ time. With my SR/F from Zero Motorcycles I set off in search of special flowering plants. Whilst driving along the Vinschgau Sonnenberg, I notice a patch of red amongst the apple orchards on the valley floor. Surprise: apple trees apparently don’t just blossom in white.
Colourful blossoms in the middle of the Vinschgau Valley
Photo Parade 2024,
Category Black and White
There are hardly any black and white photos in my media library, this type of photography has not yet reached me. Lightroom helps me out – a sailing boat photographed in the blue hour on Lake Garda becomes a black and white photo in no time at all.
Lonely sailor at Lake Garda
Lake Garda once again. This car park on the western shore almost always has free spaces. I usually take photos from here across the water – but this time I stayed on the shore: the time-honoured Citroën DS demanded my attention; viewed favourably, this picture fits well into the „Black and White“ category.
Time-honoured black and white on four wheels
I recently summarised how I take photos in my post „Insights into MotorProsa photography“: I use SmartPhone, Compact, ActionCam or the big kit with several fixed focal lengths and tripods. I manage and edit my photos with Adobe Lightroom. Photoshop is only used for special requirements.
And now: Click over to the photo parade of „Erkunde die Welt“ – it’s worth it!
Perfectly matching:
Stelvio – Count from 1 to 10!
Have fun looking at them!
The “Light painter” Uli Biggemann: a portrait
Tried it out: Professional Line photo book from Saal Digital
