It's been a slow week, meaning recovery from all sorts of sicknesses, getting used to increasingly cold and wet weather in Berlin (can't even imagine a -20°C kind of winter with a toddler, argh), missing N who went to Eastern Europe for two days (oh shoot, I was so jealous!), dealing with a mess of an apartment but so thankful for a happy, active mini-me keeping up the spirits all week long.











All photos: Carolin Weinkopf

I have been wanting to post this for decades, here's pt. II of our trip to India.

After spending a week in Delhi, we packed up mini-me and our stuff and travelled up North with our dear friend Rosie. After a daytrip by car on a busy and neverending country road and some headspinning curves up into the outskirts of the himalayas, we arrived in the mountain town of Mussoorie and stayed for a few days, which was picturesque - but loud, busy and a whole lot more touristy (at least for Indians, not Westeners) than we had expected. The highlights of the town (like a vintage cable car and the flanery mall) were under construction and therefore pretty much out of order. Besides "shopping" and some hiking, there was actually not much to do and the relaxation wouldn't come, so we decided to move on and went a bit further up the hills into a more quiet area, did a homestay and really loved it up there, walking in the woods, observing wild monkeys and eating really, really good food. Unfortunately time was flying, so soon enough it was time to pack again and say good-bye.

After a short car ride into the next main town, we boarded a 1960's night train back to Delhi. Our luggage was carried by an old Indian guy who put all of our suitcases and bags (three people AND a baby!) on his head all at once and only wanted a few pennys for that. But that's yet another story to be told.


























All photos: Carolin Weinkopf

I completely failed in posting my iPhone Diaries on a regular basis since months, so I'll just do it more free now, on a "life lately" basis. It's still hard to take pictures with my proper camera right now, at least when I am not working, and the phone is always handy, so these are a whole lot more representative of what is going on here. (You can also just follow me on instagram if you like.)

(What you cannot see here are dark circles from non-stop sleepless nights, a few wonderful evenings out with friends, a lot more good food, visits from the grandparents and everything else...)

Enjoy.
















All photos: Carolin Weinkopf via iPhone

I love my life in Berlin, as a photographer, as a friend to such amazing people and as a mom of mini-me. Though, in my heart, I am a traveler. 2011 was my year as a traveling photographer, having the amazing opportunities to visit Norway, Nepal, Paris ( 1 2 3 4 5 ), Vienna ( 1 2 3 ), Barcelona ( 1 2 ) and the Costa Brava, Morocco, Oman and Nepal again. One day after I found out I was pregnant in February 2012, I took a flight to Macedonia via Istanbul, a few weeks later I spent some time in Israel and Palestine ( 1 2 3 4 5 ), and just briefly before mini-me's birth I went on my last trip to Spain ( 1 2 ). With the new born baby in tow I went to Oxford in January this year, spent two weeks in Delhi and North India in February and March and went to Oxford once again this Spring. This summer, we took three easy going trips, to Bodensee, Müritz and Catalunya.

If I had the choice, I would tie mini-me on my back, let my boyfriend carry all the luggage and travel the world all year long, photographing for jobs and personal projects, exploring and adventuring. I must admit that it's not as easy as I thought. Traveling with a baby is not as easy. It's stressful, it's demanding, it's nerve-breaking. For me, first of all, it usually means traveling solo with a baby, because N. has a proper office job here in Berlin and can't take off work for every single one of my crazy trips. And being solo with a baby is definately a challenge on it's own. It means carrying at least the double amount of luggage as usual (at least), it means stopping where you usually wouldn't, it means planning ahead instead of being spontanious, it means not being able to take that striking photo, because the camera is in the bag while your baby is sleeping on your arm, or it might mean risking your stroller (and your baby) to roll away while you try to snap that very moment. How many times has the camera bumped into mini-me's head while he was sitting in the carrier, and how many times did he start complaining when it was just the perfect light and setting for the perfect photo? Definately it means spending a lot more money on doing a lot less. Period.

I'm in a serious conflict these days, trying to figure out how my career will proceed with a baby. And plus, didn't I want a second baby, like... soon? How is solo traveling and photographing going to work with one baby on each arm...? Can you tell me? Lucky enough this wasn't a job I was forced into, or something that was based on a career decision, it was more like a calling and it's a must. And I will have to figure it out. I'm not sure if I'm the kind of person who could leave my babies home while I travel (at least not regulary), nor do I see myself traveling with a nanny all the time (the more people, the harder it gets to take good photos, plus - do you think I could afford a nanny plus her or his travel expenses? Eek.). Is this the reason why there aren't that many female documentary photographers who have kids? Or am I wrong? Does it get easier when they get older, or is this an illusion? So far it's definately gotten harder. He is not the tiny, sleepy, super relaxed baby no more. He jiggles and wiggles, he knows what he wants, and he demands it, not giving in or waiting for me to just take a few more shots before I pay him attention.

Is there anyone out there with a solution for me? How should I do this on the long run? This is my business and I love it to death. I cannot give it up.

(I originally started this post to announce that mini-me, a dear friend of mine (he's the unpaid nanny) and I are flying to Oman in October for a great, great job to photograph and that mini-me and I are going to Istanbul for a few days afterwards aswell. Maybe this is the way to go: I have no idea how I am going to do this, but I will. Peace.)



Deep sea fishing in Ålesund. Norway, 2011.


Twin lightning in Katmandu. Nepal 2011.


Boy fishing by Arniko Highway. Nepal 2011.


Girls in the Eastern Terrai. Nepal 2011.


Outside Kathmandu Valley. Nepal 2011.


Enlightment. Paris 2011.


Librairie. Paris 2011.


Archway in Rabat's Oudayas. Morocco 2011.


Camels Crossing. Morocco 2011.


Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Muscat. Oman 2011.


Traffic outside of Kathmandu. Nepal 2011.


The road to Mount Everest. Nepal 2011.


Pigeons. Istanbul 2012.


Transfer to Skopje. Istanbul 2012.


Urban backyards. Skopje 2012.


The Dead Sea near Jericho. Palestine 2012.


Crossways of Jerusalem. Israel 2012.




Streets scenes. Delhi 2013.


Oxford 2013.


In the Catalan mountains. Coforb 2013.

All photos: Carolin Weinkopf

Familie Herbst moved out of their apartment after almost one century. I wonder what remains if we are gone one day. Don't you?









All photos: Carolin Weinkopf

Two days before and two days after the wedding, we spent in Barcelona, sporting some lovely airbnb flats and exploring the city. Definately a lovely place on earth, I must admit, Barcelona is just not for me, even though I've been there soooo many times that it might make a different impression. I love the tiny streets, the balconies, the atmosphere, the food, and, oh yes, the shopping and the beaches, but there's something about it that 's just not for me.

Anyways, we had beautiful cook-outs with our friends also visiting for the wedding, sat by the beach with tapas and beers in the evenings and strolled around, exploring.

If you happen to be in Barcelona with your family or a group, just get in touch. I can give you a wonderful recommendation on a flat to rent, that's reasonably priced, charming, central, and definately feels like a home away from home.








All photos: Carolin Weinkopf

I met Max at the film set of "In der Überzahl" (for which he won the Max Ophüls film prize for up and coming actor this spring) along with the wonderful Ulrich Thomsen and a great team in Brandenburg in winter 2011/12.

A few weeks ago Max and I met up and went on a walk through Kreuzberg's backyards and I snapped a few pictures. His odd beauty is remarkable and I think it was caught very well in these particular two photographs.



Photos: Carolin Weinkopf

Dear Mini-Me,

one year ago I thought I'd die. It had been almost two days since my water broke, two weeks before your due date, I had been in inducted labour for almost 24 hours, I had been moved from the oh so natural birth house to the oh so hated hospital - and still you didn't seem to get out.

I was absolutely desperate at that very moment, starting to give up on myself, as my body appeared to be incapable to birth you. I have no idea how it eventually happened, with a lot of help of the doctors and midwives and two of the dearest people in my life, and a miraculous well of strength in absolutely dispaired exhaustion.

But suddenly, you were there, like you had always been. You were perfect, you were healthy, and you were mine. For minutes, you looked at me like a wise, old man, as if you already new it all, like you had already lived.

The past 365 days have been the most beautiful and the most exhausting of my life. I have learned to value time in a way I could never imagine before. I have grown quite a few grey hairs. I have never slept so little, I have never been so tired, ever before. Never in my life have joy and desperation been so close together. I have never been so proud of something I have accomplished as of you.

You are one year old today. You are the happiest baby I know. You are lively and social, you smile all day, you flirt with strangers on the street, you scream of joy and you have a very dirty laugh. You are shameless and demanding, you know exactly what you want and you are very skilled in getting there, no matter how. You steal hearts all the time. You give wet kisses to everyone you get a hold of. You have inspired friends and strangers to make babies. You tickle smiles out of miserable people. You can never sit still, wiggling and jiggling around. You have the most beautiful, (still!) toothless smile. You love dancing and you use everything as a phone. You are about to take your first shaky steps, to form your first proper words and truly start exploring the world around you. You drive me crazy. You make me proud. I love you so.

Happy Birthday, Mini-Me.

♥

















All photos: Carolin Weinkopf

We just returned from Spain, where we attended my friend's classy, laid-back, Skandinavian-style wedding in the lower pyrenees and also had a few days for a bit of proper vacation. After four days in Barcelona, with the wedding in between, we decided to return to the Catalan mountains for fresh air and silence.

A great decision, indeed.
































All photos: Carolin Weinkopf

Good-bye, love.

We miss you like crazy. We cannot wait for your letters, your stories, skyping with you and hearing about your adventures in Brazil and Spain.

I am terrified of the morning, when Anton will finally realize that his curly breakfast buddy is actually gone. And I am glad he will hopefully be destracted by the whole daycare adventure, because otherwise it might just break his little heart.

Come back, Lily. You presence added magic to our summer.

Thank you.

♥


Photo: Carolin Weinkopf