Garzweiler, Hambach and the towns that are disappearing.

Garzweiler is a large open-pit lignite coal mine located in Germany. Situated in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, near the towns of Grevenbroich and Bedburg, Garzweiler has been a prominent symbol of the country's energy industry for decades. The mine is operated by RWE Power AG, one of Europe's leading electricity and gas companies.

Covering an area of approximately 48 square kilometers, Garzweiler is one of the largest open-pit coal mines in the world. Its vast scale and impressive machinery make it a truly remarkable sight. Enormous excavators, known as bucket-wheel excavators, tirelessly dig into the earth, extracting lignite coal—a type of brown coal that is used for electricity generation.

A truck in a almost desert like landscape inside of the Garzweiler coalmine

However, the operation of Garzweiler has not been without controversy. The mine expansion has resulted in the displacement of entire villages and the destruction of valuable agricultural land. It has also drawn criticism from environmental activists and local communities concerned about the ecological impact and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

In recent years, Germany has been transitioning towards renewable energy sources and phasing out coal-fired power plants to combat climate change. As a result, the future of Garzweiler and other similar coal mines is uncertain. The German government has set targets to close all coal mines by 2038 and has been working on plans for the just transition of affected regions.

Despite the debates surrounding its existence, Garzweiler remains an important symbol of Germany's industrial heritage and the challenges faced in transitioning to a more sustainable energy future. It serves as a reminder of the complex trade-offs involved in balancing economic development, energy needs, and environmental considerations.

The Hambach coal mine is another significant open-pit lignite coal mine in Germany. It is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, near the town of Niederzier. The mine covers an area of around 33 square kilometers and is operated by RWE Power AG. The Hambach mine has also faced controversy due to its environmental impact and displacement of nearby communities. It has been a focal point for protests by activists advocating for the transition away from fossil fuels.

Manheim

Manheim

The displacement of towns in Germany to make way for coal mines has indeed left behind a haunting and ghostly atmosphere. One such example is the town of Immerath, located near the Garzweiler coal mine. Immerath was gradually abandoned and ultimately demolished to make space for the expanding mine. Today, all that remains are empty streets lined with derelict houses and overgrown gardens, creating an eerie and desolate ambiance.

Similarly, the village of Manheim near the Hambach coal mine faced a similar fate. Many of its residents were relocated, and the majority of buildings were torn down. The remaining structures stand as a ghostly reminder of the community that once thrived there. Empty houses with broken windows and crumbling facades can be seen, giving the impression of a town frozen in time.

These towns, once vibrant and full of life, now wear the cloak of abandonment. The absence of human activity and the encroaching vegetation lend them an eerie aura. Streets are empty, playgrounds are deserted, and silence dominates the air. The remnants of daily life—fallen signs, broken furniture, and overgrown weeds—stand as silent witnesses to the communities that once inhabited these spaces.

The sight of these ghost towns serves as a stark reminder of the human cost associated with the extraction of fossil fuels. They embody the complex and often challenging choices between economic development, energy needs, and the preservation of communities and their cultural heritage.

Pictures in this gallery are taken in Manheim and Morschenich. Shots taken on June 1st 2023.

Wehebachtalsperre, Germany

The Wehebachdam in Germany in the municipality of Hurtgenwald is the third largest and probably the most original dam in the northern part of the Eifel. It offers hikers a variety of hiking trails and a spectacular way to experience water. It is easy to reach from the towns. The Wehebach dam has been operated since 1983 and became a building for flooding and drinking and industrial water supplies.

There are strict protection rules. For this reason some area in and around the dam are fenced off, and are not reachable at all. This means that the nature can develop undisturbed.

This is a drone photo looking north, with the water extraction tower in the bottom left.

The reservoir of the Wehebachtalsperre has three arms: in the west the valley of the red Wehebach, in the east the valley of the Wehebach (also called white Wehe) and in west-east axis the valley of the Thönbach

Before getting to the actual reservoir and dam I stumbled upon this little forest stream. Which was beautifully lit with some warm and just gorgeous light. So I did spend some time there shooting some typical long exposure shots and smoothing out the water in the forest stream.

Beautiful forest stream on the way to the reservoir/dam. Well worth a little stop.

For these long exposure photographs I have used Kase Filters. The K9 kit paired with the magnetic CPL, and a ND1000 for longer exposure times in the bright daylight. Find out more about Kase filter by clicking the logo

 
 

So after spending some time at this little stream, and after completing the hike I reached the reservoir.
A view over the barrier and parts of the lake is offered by an elevated vantage point directly at the dam. The only recreational activities allowed are hiking and cycling, as the lake is not open for water sports due to its character as a drinking water reservoir. Due to its location in a densely wooded area, the reservoir offers the opportunity for mainly ornithological nature observations.

Long exposure shot of the reservoir with the water extraction tower in it.

Another long exposure shot of the reservoir. It was quite windy, so the movement in the sky really helped getting this cool effect.

Since October 2011, a through-flow turbine with a nominal output of 0.053 MW has been operated for energy recovery. It is located in the outlet structure of the dam. With a flow rate of 100 to 200 litres per second, the annual consumption of up to 100 households can be covered

Here’s a few extra shots that I took at this beautiful spot. Nice forests surrounding this reservoir.
Again, make sure to click them to see them in their original size, and in a bigger size.

Thanks for checking out my blogpost, hope to see you around for me next one. That will be online in a few days. And is dedicated to a special place in Iceland.

Thank you!

Dalheim, and I am now a Kase Filters Ambassador!

Dalheim

Today I went out for a little trip in Germany. Packed with my camera, some filters and my drone and I headed out to Dalheim. This place is located directly on the German/Dutch border and is beautiful. It has some beautiful forests, marshland, a little lake and a small stream running through the forest. There is also a watermill. The Dalheimer Mühle.

Krebsbach, the lake by the watermill.

Some more information and background about the watermill. The Dalheim mill was mentioned for the first time in a document from 1231 and could therefore be the oldest water mill between the Meuse and the Rhine.

During secularisation in 1802, Napoleon destroyed the monastery. The farm buildings of the monastery were not destroyed. When the monastery was sold around 1806, the mill went to the Schippers and Zardingen families from Dülken. In 1899 it was resold to the Count of Schaesberg-Tannheim.

1999 to the present day: The Willemsen family bought the Dalheimer Mühle after it burned to the ground.After almost ten years of renovation work, the Dalheim Mill was reopened in September 2008. Today the mill offers more than 150 seats on the outside terrace and another 110 seats inside.

Dalheimer Mühle. A beautifull watermill.

There’s some beautiful forest in the area, perfect for a wander and a stroll

There’s some beautiful forest in the area, perfect for a wander and a stroll

Dalheim is just so pretty. The perfect place to wind down, escape your everyday life for a bit. And enjoy nature. The watermill is now a restaurant, so you can enjoy a nice meal at the end of your day. Looking out over this pretty lake. Please watch this video I shot in Dalheim below. It has some nice drone shots, and shows off the area really well.


Kase Filters Benelux - brand Ambassador

It is with great pride and a lot of excitement to announce that I am now a Kase Filter Benelux brand ambassador. I’ve been using Kase filters myself for the past 1,5 year and ever since day one I’ve loved the quality and ease of use of these professional filters. I am very much looking forward to represent this great brand, and work together with all other talented ambassadors.

Kase is a fast growing worldwide filter brand with professional filters that guarantee excellent quality. Especially landscape photographers who are on the road a lot will have a pleasant experience with Kase. The filters are made of High Defenition glass that ensures an unprecedented clear image. Because with the Kase Wolverine filters the glass is also toughened, it can take a beating and you will never suffer from scratches or other damage.

My workshop participants will be able to get a nice discount on any Kase products with a special code that I as Ambassador will hand out.

Click the logo to go to the webstore (in Dutch)

Colours that deviate because you use a filter? Not with Kase. The ND filters give you optimal colour control, so that all colours come into their own in your photos. The Nanotech coating on the Kase filters prevents unwanted reflections and repels water and oil. This way, the filter is easy to keep clean. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Lightroom Preset: Blue forest

I have been playing around with creating my own presets for Lightroom. This preset actually comes from another preset that I recently made. Have you seen the blog post about the band shoot I had with the guys in Probation? Yes? Noticed the tones, and the look of those shots. Now take a look at these. Right! It basically is the same preset. I have only tweaked it a little bit to just fit a little bit better for landscape/outdoor shots. 

As I was fooling around with the preset I applied it on some older shots. These shots were taken on a dayytip to Germany back in Januari. What do you think? Do you think it works?

What kind of look and tone would you give these shots? Let me know in the comment section below. Also, I am giving away this preset for free. All you have to do is send me message on facebook and share this post on social media!