Photographs full of depth, atmosphere and expression: the pictures of week 40

Photographs full of expressiveness that make moods tangible, emotions visible and perspectives clear.

(Image: analoochjehtooch)

Oct 4, 2025 at 8:00 am CEST

5 min. read

c't Fotografie

By

Volker Briegleb

Photographs full of depth, atmosphere and expression: the pictures of week 40

This week, the photographers in our gallery not only invite you to marvel but also tell little stories that go beyond the visible. The motifs encourage us to take a closer look and discover the subtle tensions between light, form, and mood. This creates impressions that are not only visible but also tangible and give us access to atmosphere, transience, and inwardness. In this way, snapshots become visual narratives that pose silent questions and allow us to find our answers.

Blue butterfly in front of the setting sun

A butterfly is resting on a blade of grass, while the setting sun creates a successful stage behind it as a glowing disc. Photographer Elisabeth Krimmer merges the delicate blue butterfly with the warm evening atmosphere. For this picture, she spent several evenings out and about in a local meadow, where insects seek the stalks as a place to sleep. Supported by the camera's internal flash, which slightly brightens the butterfly, she succeeded in emphasizing the delicate details. The large aperture brings the sun into the picture so impressively.

Siesta

In a narrow, cobbled alley, a cyclist rides towards the light. The high walls of the old houses cast long shadows, creating a calm, almost timeless atmosphere. Flowers on the balconies and decorative lanterns lend the scene a touch of nostalgia, which is further emphasized by the black and white effect.

Nadine

Bathed in warm evening light, the silhouette of the artist Nadine appears, floating in an artistic pose on the vertical cloth. The sun is perfectly positioned behind her, creating a dramatic spotlight. The contrast between the clear contours of her posture and the soft golden tones of the background lends the image a painterly quality. A photo that combines artistic aesthetics and acrobatic precision.

Starfish

Gallery photographer Aenne Winter discovered a light-colored starfish on the wet sand, which appeared to be on the run. The traces in the fine sediment indicate a slow but determined movement into wetter areas—a silent race against time as the sea recedes. Small shell fragments and grains frame the scene and reinforce the rough, maritime impression.

Red wall-blue stripes

Strong color areas and clear lines dominate this photo and give it a clear graphic character. The vertical blue and white stripes enter into an exciting dialogue with the red façade and its horizontal structure. The small lamp with its striking shadow sets an accent and breaks through the rigour of the geometric surfaces. Addi Beck's reduction to just a few elements creates a minimalist image that transforms architecture and photography into an abstract visual language.

The photographer reports on his shot: “I deliberately decided not to take a large camera and only took my Redmi Note 11Pro with me to practice taking photos. I noticed these contrasts in our community hall and took several pictures. You can see some of them in my account. The photos were taken in 'mobile phone raw format'. I converted them to TIF format on the PC and edited, aligned, and cropped them in the Adobe Raw Converter. The final adjustments were made in Photoshop.”

Simply red

Intense orange-red feathers dominate this animal photo. The yellow eye of the Cuban flamingo stands out in high contrast and forms a focal point in the image. The gentle transitions of the feather colors from strong red to delicate shades of pink and white lend the composition a harmonious depth. The tight framing reduces any distraction and impressively emphasizes the elegance of the animal.

Gallery photographer Jörg Franzen comments on his picture as follows: “The Cuban flamingos at Cologne Zoo form a striking splash of color on their assigned meadow. On the day the photo was taken, they were standing very close to the low fence. They also make great photo subjects in their resting position with one leg retracted. The animal in the picture caught my eye with its almost horrified look. Added to this was the flamingo in the background, which also bathed the rest of the picture in a pink color. I was able to create a suitable crop with the telephoto zoom.”

The lonely tree

A steep rock rises impressively into the sky and is crowned by a solitary tree. The black-and-white photography emphasizes the hard contours of the rock and the fine structures of the treetop, creating a strong contrast. The combination of the massive, earth-bound rock face and the fragile-looking plant at the top is particularly impressive.

The pictures of the week at a glance: