I have wanted to explore the photographic opportunities of the German Rockwool HQ in Gladbeck, Germany, for a long time. Once again, the images I found en passant proved to be more interesting than those I set out to photograph in the first place.

Staples

Back in the day, Staples was the go-to place for all home office-related products. Teachers and parents flocked to it, convinced it was the ultimate one-stop shop. But guess what? Apparently, people found Staples’s offerings less appealing than I had imagined. I was astounded when I discovered that Staples Germany had gone bankrupt back in 2021. The Staples store right next to the Rockwool HQ has remained vacant ever since. It’s as unattractive today as the products that once filled its shelves. I used the former Staples parking space and stumbled upon a sign that reminded me of its past glory. I’ve always been drawn to scenes that capture the simultaneous and the unsimultaneous in one frame, so I couldn’t resist taking a picture.

Jumbo Logistics

After taking the Staples image, I turned right to cross the street and was presented with this scene.

Fortunately, I had brought my tripod to slow down and focus on the composition. Finding the right frame took a few minutes of moving left, right, forward, and backward, as well as zooming in and out. In a shot like this, it’s crucial to carefully consider what to include and exclude. I also felt it was important to ensure that the lines created by the truck’s edge, the concrete of the street, and the building in the background were straight and in the right positions. Once I had it, I waited a bit longer for a car to pass by so I could capture another version of this frame, this time with light trails.

Rockwool

I crossed the street and found myself next to the Rockwool grounds. However, taking the shot was challenging due to the substantial fence that acted as a significant obstacle. To overcome this, I had to extend my tripod to its maximum height and tilt my camera’s screen downwards to obtain unobstructed views. Half-expecting to be approached by security personnel, I took this image.

My fears were unfounded. No one took notice of me… or at least, those who did didn’t seem to care. So, was able to capture a number of frames, all sharing the subject matter of industrial details.

Three flagposts

I ventured a bit further down the road and stumbled upon these three bare flagposts in front of a plain and rather unassuming industrial building. While the building’s façade lacked any aesthetic appeal, it provided a suitable backdrop for the flagposts, particularly due to the striking color change visible on the right. When I photograph, I tend to approach the scene from an abstract perspective. I perceive the elements within the frame as graphical components that I can manipulate to create my composition. Consequently, when I composed and captured this photo, I didn’t photograph three flagposts; instead, I captured a set of vertical lines. I acknowledge that three flagposts may not be the most captivating subject matter. However, if this photo still piques your interest, it suggests that my approach was, to some extent, successful.

Off limits

I was returning to my car when I stumbled upon a metal door concealed behind a fence on my right. The paint had begun to crack and peel off the metal surface, evoking a captivating and slightly chaotic wabi sabi aesthetic. The sign nearby read, „Unauthorized access prohibited.“ Photographing the door through the fence was straightforward, but capturing the intricate details and contrast required a few additional clicks than anticipated. It’s quite easy to overprocess an image in post-processing. Here’s the result I came up with.

I find this photo strangely inspiring. Why is passing through this door forbidden? What secrets lie beyond, concealed in some dark passageway? I won’t allow myself to be drawn into this, but I leave you with the stories that are hopefully beginning to unfold in your mind right now.

Wind turbine in the countryside

I decided to move on to my next location. While driving there, I noticed a wind turbine standing on a field with a beautiful red sunrise with subtle clouds in the background. I pulled over immediately, which probably was only possible because it was still very early and I was alone on the street. I have always wanted to do this for a photograph. One more ticked item on my bucket list. Here is the photo I took.

What looks like an ordinary rural scenery was taken in what used to be a heavily industrialized area in the not too distant past. So, this photo is, in a way, a testimony of the fact that change isn’t always a bad thing.

Two Chimneys

I had just got out of my car when I noticed these two chimneys. Clear lines, no distractions, beautiful light, I just had to take a photograph, albeit lack of beauty in these two chimneys.

I’d like to highlight that this seemingly simple image underwent a significant amount of post-processing work. The gradient in the sky, which I believe is the key element that makes this image work, was absent in the original image. Adding it to the photo required precise masking, which even with the assistance of AI usually necessitates a considerable amount of manual effort. Additionally, I made the decision to darken the buildings in the foreground to reduce their visual distraction.

Two Power Pylons

It’s fortunate that not all photographs require excessive effort. Sometimes, a scene is simple enough and doesn’t demand much effort. This was the case with the two power pylons I stumbled upon while searching for an ideal viewing angle of a certain building I had wanted photograph for years. The photo below required only a few subtle contrast enhancements. The rest of its appeal lies in its composition.

Ikea Apocalypse

The next photograph is another random find. Again, it’s all about lines and shapes and textures. I also found the wood in the grass fascinating because to me it doesn’t give any indication as to what it once was. A bench? A hut? There’s no knowing. I have always liked a bit of mystery in my photographs. Photography, a visual art form, captivates us not just because of its visual appeal, but also because of the stories it evokes.

The Pilkington Egg

My hometown isn’t overly exciting. It really isn’t. However, there is one building that has been haunting me for years, one that I have always wanted to photograph. I have seen it from the motorway many times, standing tall in glorious light. I have imagined photographing it in all sorts of compositions and using long exposures with the clouds moving in the background. Its shape is almost alien and its purpose mysterious. Whenever I passed it,it kept beckoning me. “Come and photograph me!” The building I am talking about is the Pilkington Egg.

Of course, I’ll keep trying to find an angle. Perhaps there’s a chance from much farther away if I use my 150-600mm lens. There has to be a way, and I’m determined to find it – on one of these days.