Dakota, nine years ago today. Dakota was almost 3 and I was 29. Dakota hasn't changed much, but I'm different now. I find that time can be really confusing. Nine years isn't really a lot, but somehow it is.

🌸 A few pink poppies grow here every year. But it's rare that I spot one with all its petals. So beautiful and delicate! 😊

📸✨️ I avoid leaving the path for my photos. But if I do, I always check beforehand whether and how I can do it without trampling too much. My pictures are an expression of my love of nature and are therefore almost exclusively taken from the side of the path. Love is based on mutual respect and understanding, not possessiveness.

🐁🪰🚜🌾 The meadows and fields belong to both the farmers and nature. They serve as a basis for life for all of us. Leaving the path can have many negative consequences: dead, injured, displaced or disrupted animals; destruction of vegetation; soil compaction; copycats; financial damage to farmers and foresters; loss of biodiversity.

🪱 Please remember this and stay on the paths to preserve the beauty and health of our natural environment.

What I see ✨️

Chico! 🦎

Why so cute?🙃

🦗 Sickle bush-cricket nymph,
Phaneroptera species

🌼 Oak-leaved hydrangea,
Hydrangea quercifolia

A picnic beetle! 🪲 They are called picnic beetles because they often fly at you outdoors. After the end of the Second World War, Glischrochilus quadrisignatus spread from Berlin to almost all of Europe. They originally come from North America, where they already played a role as a plant pest, and were then probably introduced to Germany via supplies from the Western Allied airlift. While in America the damage to corn, tomatoes and various types of fruit (apples, pears, apricots, peaches, raspberries) can be quite high, in Europe the species has so far only appeared as a corn pest to a much lesser extent. The beetle bites into the young, still milky grains and eats them. Well, then fly on, little conqueror!

🌸🐝 The fall-blooming anemone (Eriocapitella species) is already opening its flowers.

The Peace Linden 🌳

When I look into the canopy of leaves, my experience is intensified by the interplay of light and shadow, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the vibrant hues that shift with the changing light. This sensory immersion creates a fuller, richer image in my mind than any photograph could ever capture. The movement within the thicket blurs the gaps a photo might capture, and the living space between the branches is filled with a sense of vitality due to the gas exchange and microclimates that contribute to the dynamic ecosystem.

The linden tree, with its deep cultural significance, ignites a cascade of thoughts and associations. This tree, revered as sacred and planted as a symbol of peace, is deeply woven into my cultural heritage. The sight of the linden tree evokes memories of ancient Germanic legends, intricately decorated old books, and the hero Siegfried. The unique shape of the linden leaf and the historical gatherings of Germanic tribes beneath its branches to make important decisions further enrich my perception.

This profound connection to the linden tree cannot be captured in a mere photograph. The image I seek must convey not just the visual beauty of the tree but also the powerful emotional and cultural resonance it holds for me. The photograph should aim to encapsulate the living essence of the tree, the depth of its historical significance, and the personal associations that make it so meaningful to me. Only then can it begin to approximate the powerful experience I describe.

Expressionist realism combines the accurate depiction of reality with subjective, emotional, and often intense expressions. When a photo is edited to capture not just the external appearance of the subject but also the deeper emotional and cultural meanings it holds for the viewer, it creates a connection between the real world and the inner world of the viewer, which is a central aim of expressionist realism.

Rudolf Kortokraks would have turned 96 today. He was an influential artist of expressive realism. The photo shows him playing with his cousin, my grandmother Gabriele (also a realist painter).

Recently his daughters became aware of me. Anna sent me this photo and I already knew it from my grandmother. I colored it and removed scratches.

He was a student of Oskar Kokoschka and later taught at the Summer Academy in Salzburg, which was founded by Kokoschka. Rudolf Kortokraks was associated with the "School of Seeing," also initiated by Kokoschka. This is an approach to art education that emphasizes direct observation and the intuitive grasp of reality.

Here are some of the core principles:

1. Direct Perception: Central to the philosophy is the ability to see and capture the visual world. Students are encouraged to develop their skills in observing the world around them with fresh eyes and to authentically depict what they see.

2. Emotional Experience: Alongside visual perception, emotional experience plays a crucial role. Art should not only represent what is seen but also convey the artist's inner feelings and reactions.

3. Individual Expression: The "School of Seeing" promotes personal style and individual expression. There are no rigid rules or prescribed styles; artists are encouraged to find their own paths and realize their own visions.

4. Intensive Nature Studies: Nature and reality are key sources of inspiration. A deep engagement with nature and a careful study of forms, colors, and light are central to the practice.

5. Holistic Learning: Art is seen as an integral part of human life and thought. Interdisciplinary approaches and the interplay of art with other areas of life are encouraged.

Sometimes it just rains all summer long 🤷‍♂️