N and mini-me have caught the chickenpox and I (immune) have not left the apartment in almost a week, squeezing work in wherever possible while trying not to burst out in tears over all of this. The outside shots were taken last wednesday, on the way to a job. Shortly after, I found the first blisters on my baby. Dear 2014, please stop being so damn sick. The only good news are that I am going to Dresden and Leipzig for two days next week, sans bébé, but working around the clock.

(I am annoying myself with all the "we're sick... blabla..." updates. Seriously. From next week on, we'll be healthy and happy ever after.)








All photos: Carolin Weinkopf via iPhone

Photo: Carolin Weinkopf

Dear Pentax,

it's been a long love story between you and me. You were the first analogue slr camera I picked up as a teenager and actually felt comfortable with. You were with me from the beginning on. With you, I took my first shaky selfies in the bathroom, back in the US during my exchange school year. I love your handling, I love your look and I love the photos you give me, over and over again.

We went digital together, after our first analogue baby got stolen in southern France. I was always happy with you, and I have never cheated on you. I used you until you died, over and over again. And I recommended you to anyone who asked me for advice on a really good camera. I believe in you. In a really desperate moment right before going to Macedonia in the summer of 2010 when my old baby broke, you even decided the project was worth your support, and you gave me your flagship model camera, for free, and to keep. This christmas, we got myself your newest flagship model, because it felt so right. The noise and the autofocus are so much better, and I'm actually quite happy with it. BUT.

I feel like I need to go fullframe. I am hitting the limits here, and the price was not so low that I could ignore the fact that you crop off all my photos on the outside. You've done that for years, and I thought I didn't mind, but just now that I have used my friend's fullframe camera on a project, I realize what a difference it makes. Why have you slept so long? For the first time in our relationship, I think I might have to break up with you. It breaks my heart. But I feel like you are limiting my potential. Please tell me Pentax, are you going to release a fullframe camera soon? Because if not, I cannot waste my time anymore. I will leave you. And since leaving you will cost me a furtune, when I am gone, I won't come back. I am the only professional photographer I know who doesn't shoot with the big C or N. I am sure there are a few other ones out there, but probably they are losing faith in you, like me. I don't have the time to count on rumors. And I am impatient, because I feel enchained. I was loyal to you for 14 years and I still love you dearly, but why have you slept so long? You really need to start working a bit harder to keep me as your friend. Are you? Or no? Because if no, I will be gone very, very soon. And now Pentax, it's your turn. Tell me, because I'm serious.

Waiting for your response,
Carolin

So after the sick week follows an almost healthy one. I worked my ass off these past days to catch up and actually got most of my stuff done. I spent a sunny saturday on a boat crusing Müggelsee and the lakes around with a group of drunken girls, which was absolutely amazing and so (!) relaxing. April will be good to me job-wise and will even involve a little bit of travelling. While editing the past week's photo shoots, I'm boosting my immune system with yellow, red and green smoothies and I really enjoy the beautiful weather outside. My eye is still red and swallen, but I hide it behind dark shades and just hope it's getting better soon. Have a wonderful week and stay healthy, y'all.

(And mini-me slept through the night last night. Believe it or not.)








All photos: Carolin Weinkopf via iPhone

Ten days of sick mini-me have tied my hands last week and explain why I am one week late on life-latelies. The week was totally uneventful and exhausting, though I just love cuddeling up all day so what's there to complain? Sigh... Now I have caught my share of an eye infection, so hi there, sickness, once again.







All photos: Carolin Weinkopf via iPhone (vsco and/or instagram)

I found this blog years ago and loved it but just recently rediscovered it and thought I'd share. It's no biggie shows self-drawn animated gifs of every day life scenes, brought to you by Berlin based artist Thoka Maer. Simple and yet so powerful. Check them out.






All animations: Thoka Maer via it's no biggie.

I get lost in these for hours.

Dear Mini-me,

you are one and a half today. After 10 days of bronchitis, an additional superinfection with nasty bacteria, an eye infection, four doctor visits and a whole lot of non-loved medicine, you are finally ok again. I am so exhausted from the past week and a half that I don't find the right words to write you a long and loving letter.

But I love you, dearly. More and more, every day. From now until forever.

♥

After a beautiful, sunny week with lots of outside time, some amazing shoots, a first slight sunburn from trying to steer steering a kite on Tempelhofer Feld alongside my lovely friend >>Lisa<<, it got cold and uncomfortable again. And of course, the weather swing made us sick, once again. Mini-me has an eye infection and an ugly cold and my throat is itching already, again. Sh*§! So once again, we are home, drinking lots of ginger tea and cuddling up. But what makes all that a bit more bearable is the one highlight of the past week: N. is back. Mini-me's reactions to being reunited with his beloved dad made my eyes watery and it is so so nice to be patched back up as the little family we are. We have been celebrating ever since.

Mini-me went to the potty for the very first time ever this morning and was so, so proud of his deeds. We are not planning to get through with this anytime soon, but it is so nice that he actually made the first step here and seemed so very happy about it. His new things are singing and dancing these days, my favourite toddler milestones so far! He definately got the groove, something I sadly can't say about myself. His tempers have calmed down a lot and he is very easy going and loving right now. I even dared to take a few walks with him this week and he neither tried to jump in the canal nor did he eat any dog poop. Yay!

I have some exciting jobs in the pipe and am happy to get back to getting things done for work now that I am not a single parent no more. Now we just all need to be more healthy. We are also planning a few days in Madrid sometime in April to visit >>Lily<< and are more than grateful for any insides or tips you might want to share in the comments... thanks!

(And a huge thanks to my friend >>Carmi<< who made it possible for me to blog today, because she managed to take mini-me on a romantic little date with her. Thank you, love!)












All photos: Carolin Weinkopf via iPhone

Besides a ton of work (and a bit of procrastination), a few nervous breakdowns about the CHAOS in the house and the arrival of SPRING in Berlin (!!), last week was dominated by huge milestones my chubby baby toddler took. Mini-me is a bit late with about everything, a late crawler, walker, teether and talker (except of mama, papa and HAAAALLLOOO which was actually his first real word, months ago!) - but last week he just started talking like a champ. I don't mind him being late at all, but I sometimes got frustrated when all my playing and teaching and reading let to absolutely no reaction with him, so this is quite huge.

Within a week he learnt so many words (favourite: "more" and "hiiiiiiiigh" - expecting me to yell "five" and high-five him) and a bunch of animal sounds, with his favourite being the pig's oink - a lovely favourite, indeed. He started jumping on the bed and falling over into the pillows on purpose, loughing dirty like an old drunken man, expressing his needs wants quite specifically, exploring his body more and more (with his belly-button being his favourite, no question: that's my favourite, too) and also (sigh!) really realizing that his dad has been missing for quite a while now. This is especially precious and heart-breaking at the same time. Whenever I open my laptop, mini-me comes running and whispers "papapapapapapapapa", looking at me with his big, dark eyes, expecting N. to pop up on screen via Skype. When N. is actually there, he hugs and pets and kisses the screen, even sharing his snacks with his dad's virtual face. ♥















All photos: Carolin Weinkopd via iPhone

Two and a half years ago, I took stills for the ZDF production "In der Überzahl" (English title: "Comrades of Fortune"). Written and directed by the amazing Carsten Ludwig and shot in the outskirts of Berlin, with two of my absolute favourite male actors of all time, Ulrich Thomsen and Max Mauff. It's not only an hour long duel between a teenage spree killer and his hostage but also a match between the two congenial actors.

The movie is part of the series "Das kleine Fernsehspiel", which gives aspiring directors the chance to realize movies with a bit less pressure to be commercially successful. I had a blast with a wonderful team and two absolutely beautiful subjects. And I am so happy to announce that the film will have its TV premiere next Monday, March 10th at 0:15am on ZDF. Watch out!




All photos: Carolin Weinkopf/ZDF

In February I met up with Jess and Denise - founders of the amazing Geekettes movement to connect women in tech - to take their portrait. They have been super successful in Berlin and Germany and are currently expanding the Geekettes all over the world. Cheers girls, and congratulations!


Photo: Carolin Weinkopf