The usually overrun historic city centre of Bamberg, void of tourists. Empty, peaceful, but ghostly. Shot on 35mm Ilford HP5 Plus pushed one stop.
Usually, the historic city center of Bamberg, since 1993 UNESCO world heritage, is buzzing with life. Some living within the city´s core would rather call this “buzz” by its name: Overtourism.
Having been fortunate enough to have lived in the very center of it all for a few years, I can say from experience that waking up to a loudly chattering, 40 plus people strong group of tourists from all over the world waiting underneath your bedroom window can be a bit nerve racking. Carrying your groceries through a tightly packed mass of tourists blocking the road, or even trying to use a car there, is another story.
The pandemic, however, changed things. Drastically.
On the other hand, the city is dependent on tourism, and the steady influx of money it washes ashore. Many small businesses relying on the continuous stream of new customers must fear for their very existence at the moment and right now, the immediate future seems uncertain, at best.
Although the empty city is beautiful beyond description, it is ghostly as well, and hopefully, it won´t remain that for too long.
With no tourists flocking into the city, and with her native inhabitants mostly at home due to lockdowns, the once busy and overcrowded streets are empty. Almost void. Silent. Yet, the apparent emptiness of the city’s heart reveals why it usually is never empty to begin with.
The beautiful ensemble of medievalesque baroque architecture, with its countless churches, picturesque facades, little alleyways and narrow streets is righteously a site of world heritage.
Lying empty, the city, with plenty space to breath reveals its true, unobstructed historic beauty to those few fortunate enough to witness and enjoy it.
On the other hand, the city is dependent on tourism, and the steady influx of money it washes ashore. Many small businesses relying on the continuous stream of new customers must fear for their very existence at the moment and right now, the immediate future seems uncertain, at best.
Although the empty city is beautiful beyond description, it is ghostly as well, and hopefully, it won´t remain that for too long.
About the author:
Ludwig Hagelstein is an editor at SilvergrainClassics and had the idea for this project while taking a walk through the empty city, wondering how things would be elsewhere.
www.ludwig-hagelstein.de
Do you have a story to tell, too ?
Project DOCUPAN is driven by the analog community, striving to record a history of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic through the lenses of analog photographers all over the globe. Click below and become a part of a project we don’t know yet how large it will grow.
Tell and share your story and help to record history in a project that has never been done before.
Do you have a story to tell, too ?
Project DOCUPAN is driven by the analog community, striving to record a history of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic through the lenses of analog photographers all over the globe. Click below and become a part of a project we don’t know yet how large it will grow.
Tell and share your story and help to record history in a project that has never been done before.
More from Project DOCUPAN:
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