Donkey Waltz Expedition (2024)

30/11/2023

Amidst the mountains, clouds draped low,
Where silhouettes of trees do show,
Through veils of mist, their peaks arise,
In moody greys and cloudy guise.

The birds, they dance in sheer delight,
Their songs, a symphony in flight,
In this realm where joy takes wing,
A playful orchestra, they sing.

And nestled in this misty shroud,
A Toucan sits, both bold and proud,
His beak a splash of vibrant hue,
Defying nature's somber view.

Mockingly, he gazes down,
Amidst the grey, a splash of crown,
His colors vivid, out of place,
A vibrant note in muted space.

Yet in this scene of gloom and height,
His presence adds a vivid light,
A touch of whimsy, a playful jest,
Amidst the mist, a colorful zest.

15/10/2023

Do you have this best travel buddy?

Rabea, a really significant person in my life with whom I have probably grown more than any other person. Although she lives in Africa now she came to visit me in Portugal for a few weeks. And like back in the days when we hang out together we truly live to the fullest. We are an amazing team and I am thankful to have her in my life. I guess everyone has this one friend with whom you can indulge in the most extravagant gourmet avidities, haha. That's totally her.

I have not been posting very often in the last months as I am very busy with life and work at the moment. So many stories waiting to be told. But this one I felt had a priority.

11/08/2023

The overwhelming vastness of the Atacama desert. It makes you dizzy. It makes you ponder. It makes you starting to believe that this once used to be a laboratory of god bouncing ideas of how to shape the most breathtaking miracles of nature on this planet.

.chile

21/07/2023

From sunrise to sunset. I hear a lot of people saying that Spain is not the nicest van life destination. Some van lifers skip Spain entirely on their way to Portugal, just driving through. I think thats completely unjustified. On my first road trip through Spain in 2012 I desperately fell in love with the country. Ever since that time I have spent a lot of time in Spain, living in Madrid for half a year in 2017 and exploring the country on several road trips in the last five years. The more time I spend in the country the more amazing places I would discover. Embalse de la Rambla de Algeciras is a powerful place. Together with Lisanne and Fridolin I spent 3 days there in pleasant peace, doing Yoga, meditating, cooking amazing food, reading, taking a swim in the ice cold water and experiencing the most epic sunsets and sunrises. If you happen to be in the area don't miss it.
Spotted w/
Shoot w/

31/05/2023

My dearest .ranft.art on an obscure and seemingly mysterious quest.

These images mean a lot to me. Creating art and telling a story with photographs is one thing. Photographing someone you love with all your heart is a whole other world. I have known Sascha for a very long time and we have really been through a lot. He never liked being photographed although he is such a talented model. It was so much fun capturing these jewels. Don't miss out checking his art!

.magazine .deutschland

09/05/2023

Definitely one of the most epic living room views during these last years

.magazine .deutschland

19/04/2023

Times of sandy hair, blazing sunsets and intimacy. I had a staggering lucid dream about Tabea the other night. A dream that preoccupied me for days. A dream that included physical sensation that I never felt before in a conscious state. I wondered about dreaming so much lately. Always I’ve been fascinated about it. Sometimes, like with this dream the other day, I am inclined to believe that all this cannot be solely a product of your own imagination, of your own brain. I like the idea that we connect to a universal ether when we dream. What if dreaming is not only the processing of events, motions and emotions. What if we actually receive from the ether? Anyway, it inspired me to collect and share some very personal moments with Tabea.

27/03/2023

Full moon surf. The magic of the moon light and the knights of the swell. Something that rarely plays together. It was a lot of work but I am very happy how it turned out. What do you think?

18/03/2023

The old corny social media question: beach vs mountains? As much as I love beaches I personally prefer the dramatic perspectives on and around mountains. The clean air to breathe and the unbeatable sunrises. Beach photos are mostly boring. This one in Southern Spain however is one of my favourite places in Europe. Every time I am there I disappear for hours into this seemingly infinite duneland.

16/03/2023

Pondering nights with both wide thoughts and horizons.

When the sun bowed out the day, a mysterious silence is creeping into the world. Embedding the cliffs and lush hills in a soft, dark-blue blanket. The little things become louder. Not only the gentle winds whisper. Tranquility blandishes the heart. The lines get blurry. The contrasts fade. We focus on the light.

26/12/2022

Exploring the world from above has become quite a passion of mine. The freedom to go everywhere like a bird opens completely new perspectives on familiar sceneries. It keeps fascinating me how beauty unveils just by looking down on things. I am glad I haven't crashed my drone yet after countless video game like adrenalin moments.

26/11/2022

I originally wanted to post this image on Fridolins birthday, the 10th of November, but I have been so busy these last weeks. Now here it is a little belated. It’s one of my absolutely favourite portraits of Fridolin. He’s been very brave these last weeks, bearing with me constantly working, hassling and having mental breakdowns.

Very demanding times at the moment. As you may have realised, I sold Karlchen. So I am in a little bit of an abeyance situation, commuting from friends’ couch to couch until Christmas. At the same time I am in the middle of the Christmas market stress, basically standing in my booth vending every day until late. Besides I am trying to finalise some photo projects, settling my life in Germany and preparing the big expedition. One of the biggest struggles is getting Fridolin to Argentina without quarantine after arrival (I would not be allowed to see him for two weeks after an already traumatising 13 hours flight, not being able to control where he is, what he eats, where he sleeps, how much run he gets). It’s incredible how much documentation, deadlines, restrictions, red tape and other hurdles are involved. Not an easy business to get a dog across the globe without devastating quarantine.

20/11/2022

Mirrored. In my mind I always used to paint a tacky, romantic story around these old Portuguese fishermen. Stubborn, obdurate and patient. Defiant to wind and weather. You’d find them at any time of the day, in the most secluded places, climbing the rocks and casting their fishing rods. A taciturn dialogue with the ocean.

I had conversations with many of the fishermen these past years. Sometimes they would present me some of their capture or invited me for dinner. Most of them do not rely on fishing anymore. They do it because they cannot do without. They have always done it. The magic doesn’t seem to fade. Just as it appears. How do they perpetuate the bliss?

04/11/2022

Light paints. Wind paints. Thorns’ pain. From intimidation to fado.

14/10/2022

Definitely one of my favourite spots ever. I posted a couple of other images from mesmerising Carrapateira already. I spent so much time there. Whenever I think about Portugal now a strong longing for that unique lagoon magic is emerging. Its such a powerful place. These massive dunes, no noise except for the ocean rustling behind the big desert like lagoon, some birds singing and the smell of cistus.

.photographers .algarve.portugal

06/09/2022

Furnas. Milky Way. Cosy Karlchen. And other van stories.

I wanted to take this photograph forever. Yet I missed Milky Way a hundred times. Or weather, clouds, moon or a combination of them were bursting the venture. I remember that day as if it was yesterday. I spent it with Merle and Philine () and that night we would cook in Karlchen together with a friends 7 years old son. We had so much fun together and laughed a lot. We couldn't sit outside as it was too chill that night. When the others went to bed I first realised Milky Way being majestically enthroned right above Furnas beach. Hauntingly beautiful. Second thought though was 'too cold to take long bulb photographs now. No motive, too many other vans. I can't be bothered'. Then I went to bed and it nagged in the back of my mind. I wouldn't find rest so after 10 minutes I got dressed again, took the tripod, camera and gloves (for first and only time ever in Portugal) and took the photograph(s). The image is composed out of 4 exposures (Milky way, Karlchen, puddle and interior) and stacked together in Photoshop. The motive is not what I wished for but until today it remained the only time that I got Karlchen in front of Milky Way without any disturbances.

.algarve.portugal .of.germany

27/08/2022

This portfolio without having cast some light on Lisanne would not at all live up to representing my past two years journey. Lisanne accompanied me for some time in different phases and took on a special role in my life indeed. With her I learned a lot about myself, my needs and shadows. Her vulnerability, sensuality and healthy optimism has been a great source of inspiration. I am very grateful for everything that we have experienced together. Look at her challenging the sun with her powerful charisma.

.made.in.germany .shooters .portraits .shooters

24/08/2022

The last fond regard of the sun upon Lac du Salagou before it would heavy-heartedly turn away for a little while.

.photographers .exec

09/08/2022

Rugged southern Spanish desert landscapes at sunrise. I spent weeks roaming around the Andalusian backcountry in spring this year and I tried hard to not miss a single sunrise. It's mostly been super cold nights but I never regretted getting up early to experience the warm morning sun beams assaulting the harsh rocky landscape. So beautiful!

.photographers .exec .tourism_ .vacations

01/08/2022

A cloud lay cradled near the setting sun
A gleam of crimson tinged its braided snow
Long had I watched the glory moving on
Over the still radiance of the ocean below

.algarve.portugal .algarve.portugal

03/07/2022

Sunset polarization.

.photographers .exec

26/06/2022

Memories. Stories. Numerous versions of Now. What's your time worth?
.photographers

31/05/2022

Remember that smell? The smell of pine forests. A heaping flattery of sweetness, summer and freedom.
⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
.photographers .explores .portugal .algarve.portugal

12/05/2022

Perspectives. Must be an ancient art project of Pachamama.

If you like it, I would be grateful if you supported the donkey waltz project by following and engaging. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

.photographers

30/04/2022

My flying sunshine Fridolin aka Mister Maus. He keeps brightening my life and I am overly grateful for his company, entertainment and love. He keeps being super patient with me and inexorably shares his affection both on the good and the bad days.

If you want to support the project and keep posted, follow the .waltz project!
⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠.

.algarve.portugal .lovers .photographers

19/04/2022

Blue hour seascaping. A fancy name for a very joyful thing that I love doing. Playing with the water and the elements, trying to capture the mysterious twilight mood around the blue hour. Sometimes at first glance one might cherish an illusion to identify mountain peaks breaking through the clouds, and only after slowly apprehending the picture but still being vague about the proportions of things. A delusively peaceful stretch of time, much lighter, more detailed and stirring than ever perceived with the eyes.

You like it? You would help a big deal if you supported the project by following, engaging or saving .waltz.
⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
.algarve.portugal .photographers

10/04/2022

The nobility of trees. These days in the old cork oak forests in Alentejo are the most magical experiences. Ever since I am a child I loved being in the woods. My dad took me to the forest every single Sunday until I was about 12 years old and realised that my priorities obviously shifted to girls, skateboarding and computer games. Nowadays I am trying hard to spend as much time in the woods as possible. Apparently forest bathing is a thing now ;-)

If you like it support the project by following, commenting and saving .waltz
⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
.photographers .explores .portugal .algarve.portugal

08/04/2022

Again the bulb exposure of Murração beach at zenith sun (around 1pm). I already posted the image but for some reason it disappeared from the grid. I liked the experiment of trying to shot a soft image at the harshest light and I find the creamy outcome quite captivating.

Many weeks I spent at Murração. I actually wrote parts of my thesis in the van on the rock just above the beach - super emotional and memorable times. It is definitely one of my favourite spots in Portugal. I added some monochrome photographs of the beach to give you some complementing perspectives. Leave a comment if you are interested in how the bulb exposure image was created and post-processed.

If you like it, I would be grateful if you supported the project by following, engaging or saving .waltz.
⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
.algarve.portugal .photographers

01/04/2022

Karlchen the vintage recreational vehicle in his best shape surrounded by verdurous eucalyptus forest. Sometimes it can be hard to find good spots for the night or even to set camp at. Especially in Portugal during season its getting increasingly tougher to find quaint spots or silence. I always had good experiences with taking forest roads to find the most mesmerising places far off the grid somewhere in the nature. Most of the time its worth to take the extra mile and be rewarded with nothing but lush-green peace and the twittering of birds.

If you like it support the project by following, commenting and saving .waltz
⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
.photographers .algarve.portugal .of.germany

26/03/2022

A traveler on the dusty road Strewed acorns on the lea; And one took root and sprouted up, And grew into a tree. Love sought its shade, at evening time, To breathe his early vows; And age was pleased, in heats of noon, To bask beneath its boughs; The dormouse loved its dangling twigs, The birds sweet music bore; It stood a glory in its place, A blessing evermore.

by Charles Mackay

If you like it support the project by following, commenting and saving .waltz
⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠ .photographers .exec

Donkey Waltz Expedition