Christoph Papenfuss Photography

A few days in Tavira

Ringo the Flamingo Is that a flamingo? Boy, I was surprised to see a flock of these awesome birds stand in a tide pool close to Faro airport in Portugal as we made our final descent. Quite a fun sight. And that was a nice and surprising way to start to a short vacation close to the town of Tavira. Tavira Tavira might not be the most popular city in Portugal but it is well worth a visit. The town itself is quite nice with a ton of small alleys to explore. But the true highlight of this region is …

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GoPro as a photo camera – overhyped or cool?

The GoPro Just a few days ago, GoPro announced the latest version of its iconic Hero action camera. No doubt, the new Hero 12 will turn heads but also receive criticism on the internet for a perceived lack of new features. Time for me to add my 2 cents again. However, I do not want to comment on the outstanding video quality but rather on its ability to capture photos. As I have written before on this blog, the GoPro is not only a great video device but also a very capable photo camera. But as any photographer can attest, …

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Vík in iceland

vík í Mýrdal  2023 has been a special Iceland year for me. My wife and I went there in mid February and I ended up returning at the end of July to watch the recent Lili-Hrutur volcano eruption. Vík was high up on our list for both trips. A nice benefit of going there in winter and summer is to see the stark contrast between both seasons. We first visited Vík during a strong winter storm that unleashed not only ferocious winds but which also dumped epic rain on us. The winds were so strong that our hotel was rattling. …

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Iceland in summer

Iceland Just a short update today. It’s been raining cats & dogs here in Bavaria. Perfect time to get caught up on photo & video editing. Earlier in August, I posted some photos from a visit to the Little-Hrutur volcano in Iceland. Following those two days, I went on a whirlwind five day trip along the South Coast of Iceland. The crazy abundance of beauty wherever you look has a drawback though: People like me are easily tempted to create more footage than you could realistically deal with later. Sifting through that and cutting it was a bigger task than …

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A herculian challenge in A Coruña?

A Coruña There is a magnificent gem located in the North West of Spain. It seems to have gone somewhat unnoticed by the millions of tourists that flock to the South every year. The gem is a sparkling city on the Atlantic. It features picturesque alleys, an abundance of amazing restaurants and a number of fantastic sites/ views. I am speaking of the city A Coruña. After traveling there for work on a number of occasions, I finally had the opportunity to spend a full day in this place. Equipped with the trusted Fuji X100V and the GoPro 11, we …

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Fire dances – A rendezvous with Litli-Hrutur

Volcano: Litli-Hrutur Do you have a bucket list? I certainly do and there was one item all the way up on that directory: to experience a live volcano. The closest I have come to fulfil this dream was to fly over Mt St Helens on a clear day in 2004 during a brief period of activity. But that was like watching a video. It was therefore exciting to see the mesmerising footage from the recent volcano eruptions in Iceland that started in 2021. But Covid prevented me from traveling there. However, on July 10th of 2023 a new fissure appeared …

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Unearthly Beauty Meets Unearthly Charm – Gozo: The Island that Stole My Heart!

Gozo, Malta Hey fellow wanderlusters and photography enthusiasts! Today, I’m taking you on a side-splitting journey to a land where azure seas and captivating landscapes meet the quirkiest, most charming island inhabitants. Buckle up and grab your snorkels, for we’re diving headfirst into the wonderland known as Gozo! Gozo is a smaller island located in the tiny country of Malta. While most visitors will remain on the main island, Gozo is by far the nicer place IMHO. The Joy of Pronunciation When you roam the island, you will encountered places that that seem impossible to pronounce. Names like “Dwerja”, “Mgarr-Ix-Xini”, …

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A photowalk through Passau

Intro A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful morning roaming the quiet streets of Passau. My trusted Fuji X100V accompanied me per usual. The city of Passau is located in the Eastern part of Bavaria. It is known for each unique geographic feature: three rivers meet at the tip of the old town and merge into one: Inn & Ilz unite into the mighty Danube. Old Town Passau The old town of Passau is a popular spot for tourists. Its cobblestone streets and narrow alleys are quite picturesque. It’s fun to roam around and get …

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The Storm

The alarm Once in a while, you just need to be in the right spot at the right time. This happened to me in April of 2023. I was riding my bike on the island of Mallorca. It was a fine and really quiet morning. Suddenly my Garmin GPS started beeping and gave me a ‘Marine weather warning’. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this and finished my ride as planned. The storm Two hours later I caught a glimpse of the ocean from the restaurant of my hotel and realised what Garmin had been trying to tell …

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Look at those beaches!

A surprise Some people consider Fuerteventura to be the most boring island in the Canaries. There are certainly some stretches that are somewhat dull. Vast parts of the landscape are covered in greyish lava remnants with little to no vegetation around it. But what the island is lacking in some areas, it is most definitely making up with some of its amazing beaches. The South Earlier this summer, I spent a week exploring the South of Fuerteventura. Equipped with my Fuji X100V, the GoPro 11 and the fabulous DJI Mini Pro, I set out to capture at least five decent …

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Malta sunrise

Patience One of my favorite features on the newer DJI drones is the pano photo option. DJI automatically takes a series of up to 24 photos which can then be stitched into a gigantic pano using software like Adobe Lightoom. Malta mornings In the summer of 2022, I spent a few days near Golden Beach in Malta. The coast line is very dramatic and the sunrise usually dips this beauty in gorgeous light. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to produce an iconic panorama. Little did I know at that point that I had opened a can of worms. The …

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Cascais: Where Sun, Surf, and Secret Agents Collide!

Intro Today, we embark on a thrilling journey to Cascais, a picturesque coastal town in Portugal that has captured my heart and even caught the attention of international spies. With my trusty Fuji X100V & GoPro cameras in hand, I set out to explore the gorgeous town and its beaches while also looking to walk in the footsteps of 007. Cascais – A Slice of Paradise Nestled on the western edge of the stunning Portuguese Riviera, Cascais boasts breathtaking natural beauty and a rich historical heritage. The town exudes a laid-back atmosphere, making it a perfect retreat from the hustle …

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A spooky postcard from La Gomera

The rainforest on the Spanish island of La Gomera is simply magical. It’s difficult to describe its beauty. best of all, it changes its appearance literally minute by minute. You arrive surrounded by crystal blue skies and within minutes you are wrapped in dense fog and potentially light rain. The atmosphere is amazing. Earlier this week, I was lucky to encounter the scene below. Spooky, isn’t it? You can see more images of La Gomera in my portfolio. Also, you can find a video about this awesome island here. It was filmed a number of years ago with my very …

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Mallorca: Gorgeous views

Mallorca still remains one of my favourite destinations for road cycling. The infrastructure is almost perfect: little traffic, well maintained roads and dedicated cycling routes, gorgeous landscapes and a variety of terrain. Up until now, I have had little time to dedicate to photography on this island. This needed to change. Alcudia Over the stretch of a view days, I decided to get up at the crack of dawn to capture the sometimes gorgeous sunrises in the Alcudia area. The weather in early March of 2022 was quite volatile. Every morning was a different experience. It started with early morning …

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Sa Calobra

The fabled Sa Calobra climb

Sa Calobra The cycling community is ripe with discussions about famous mountain passes and climbs. Pretty much every athlete either dreams of conquering specific climbs or has stories of mountain passes to tell. Some climbs are (in)famous for their difficulty. Others are beloved because of their beauty. The Col dels Reis on the Spanish island of Mallorca belongs to the latter category. Better known as Sa Calobra, the road twists and turns through a rugged mountain landscape like a snake. The top features a crazy loop at the top called ‘the tie’. Riding the pass with the GoPro Hero 10 …

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Schlegeis

Cycling the Zillergrund & Schlegeis dams

Zillergrund & Schlegeis Last weekend, I decided to head to Austria to ride two beautiful mountain passes. The region of Mayrhofen is usually known for its skiing and hiking. Few people know that there are three massive dams hidden in the valleys behind the town. Built in the 80s, these dams are pretty impressive and they offer gorgeous views. GoPro Hero 9 & Max mod I captured the ride with my GoPro and the Max mod attached. This extra lens is actually pretty cool for cycling. It has a feature called horizon lock and allows you to capture neat footage …

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