Bye, Bye Berlin! No, don’t worry, I’m not going to leave this city anytime soon. But the combination of backlights, the ICC and the Radio Tower always reminds me of trips I’ve taken outside of Berlin. Whether by car along the highway or via coach from the central bus station around the corner – often the trip started here on the western end of Berlin.
The International Congress Centrum ICC, one of the largest in the world, has closed its doors since April 9th. To capture it one last time, I visited the area around the Radio Tower just after capturing the sunset over Olympia Stadium in March. It’s uncertain how long the ICC will remain illuminated as they lack a concept for its future use. However, it’s certain that it won’t be used in its previous purpose.
The Radio Tower, which stands at 368 meters, is the tallest structure in Germany and the fourth tallest freestanding structure in Europe. It was built between 1965 and 1969 and is used for broadcasting FM and TV signals, as well as for observation decks and restaurants.
The ICC, which opened in 1979, was built to accommodate large events, including conferences, concerts, and trade fairs. With its futuristic design, it quickly became an iconic landmark in Berlin. However, the building has been largely unused since 2014 due to structural problems.
Technical Details
Camera: Canon EOS 500D
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm @ 16mm
ISO: 100
Exposures: 9 in steps of 1 EV
Aperture: 13
Exposure time (middle): 2s
Tripod: Manfrotto 190CXPRO4
Date: Taken in March 2014
Location: Bridge on Neue Kantstraße in Berlin
Software: Lightroom 5.4, Photoshop CC, Photomatix Pro, NIK Sharpener Pro 3, NIK Define 2, NIK Color Efex Pro 4
Interesting links regarding the ICC Berlin
» ICC Berlin: Homepage
» Funkturm Berlin: Opening Hours
If you’re planning trip to Germany make sure to check my travel guide with many useful tips on photography.
