The transition from the industrial topography of Siegen to the level plains of the Münsterland in August 2024 marked a significant shift in my daily environment. For several years, the morning routine involved navigating the particular geography of the Siegerland, mostly via cargo bike. Transporting children to school required negotiating heavy urban traffic or retreating to forest paths where the terrain consists of the saturated, heavy clay known locally as Siegerländer Werksboden. These journeys were frequently a struggle against the elements and the physical resistance of the mud, yet they provided a direct connection to the landscape that defines the region’s industrial character.
The 2024 Christmas card image captures a specific moment of atmospheric clarity amidst that friction. Taken from the Lindenberg looking towards Giersberg during a school run, the composition focuses on the characteristic radio mast that punctuates the horizon. The visual tension relies on the interplay between the warm, artificial glow of the city lights and the deep, cold blue of the early morning sky. A fresh layer of snow serves as a unifying element, dampening the industrial noise of the valley and providing a rare sense of stillness.
Technically, the final image is a composite of two frames captured on a mobile device, a choice dictated by the spontaneity of the conditions rather than a planned setup. This approach allowed to capture the complete scene. And while the move to Telgte has simplified the school run – replacing the mud and inclines with the quiet efficiency of Münsterland cycle paths – there is a distinct absence of the dramatic vistas found in the Siegerland. It is a reminder that technical and logistical ease often comes at the expense of a certain visual grit.
