Frankfurt by Night: Europe’s Most Underrated Skyline
I spent about two hours on the rooftop of GALERIA Frankfurt at Hauptwache, where there is a restaurant with a terrace.
At just +5°C (41°F), I expected to be almost alone—but the terrace was completely packed! People were taking selfies, dancing, holding up signs, and had dressed up just for their photos.
The waiting time? 30 minutes, just to reach the edge of the terrace.
Why this scene is special:
Frankfurt is a city of contrasts—historic buildings meet a glowing modern skyline. With the right framing, the cool blue sky perfectly complements the warm city lights for a stunning color balance.
🚀 Challenges of the shot:
One of the biggest obstacles was the rooftop terrace itself, which is made of wooden planks. Any movement—whether from passing guests, shifting chairs, or even my own weight—caused slight vibrations.
Even with a tripod (Benro Cyanbird Carbon Tripod + FS20PRO head), it was impossible to keep the camera perfectly stable, as the wooden floor transferred every little shake.
To ensure a sharp final image, I took around 200 shots and later selected only the most stable ones.
Another challenge was that long-exposure shots make moving people disappear, which can make a lively place look empty.
To preserve the city's energy, I combined multiple exposures. This required extensive manual retouching, blending different light and shadow tones while keeping the human movement intact. In total, I spent over five hours refining the final image.
I had wanted to try this technique for a long time: blending long exposures with shorter ones to capture the vibrancy of a bustling city without losing motion.
This scene was perfect for it—but honestly? I’m not sure if I’d want to go through this process again anytime soon! 😅
🎥 Gear & Settings:
📷 Camera: Sony Alpha 7R V
🔭 Lens: Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM
📍 Tripod: Benro Cyanbird Carbon Tripod + FS20PRO head
🔍 Focal Length: 14mm
🌞 Aperture: f/8
🌙 ISO: 100
Frankfurt by Night: Europe’s Most Underrated Skyline
I spent about two hours on the rooftop of GALERIA Frankfurt at Hauptwache, where there is a restaurant with a terrace.
At just +5°C (41°F), I expected to be almost alone—but the terrace was completely packed! People were taking selfies, dancing, holding up signs, and had dressed up just for their photos.
The waiting time? 30 minutes, just to reach the edge of the terrace.
Why this scene is special:
Frankfurt is a city of contrasts—historic buildings meet a glowing modern skyline. With the right framing, the cool blue sky perfectly complements the warm city lights for a stunning color balance.
🚀 Challenges of the shot:
One of the biggest obstacles was the rooftop terrace itself, which is made of wooden planks. Any movement—whether from passing guests, shifting chairs, or even my own weight—caused slight vibrations.
Even with a tripod (Benro Cyanbird Carbon Tripod + FS20PRO head), it was impossible to keep the camera perfectly stable, as the wooden floor transferred every little shake.
To ensure a sharp final image, I took around 200 shots and later selected only the most stable ones.
Another challenge was that long-exposure shots make moving people disappear, which can make a lively place look empty.
To preserve the city's energy, I combined multiple exposures. This required extensive manual retouching, blending different light and shadow tones while keeping the human movement intact. In total, I spent over five hours refining the final image.
I had wanted to try this technique for a long time: blending long exposures with shorter ones to capture the vibrancy of a bustling city without losing motion.
This scene was perfect for it—but honestly? I’m not sure if I’d want to go through this process again anytime soon! 😅
🎥 Gear & Settings:
📷 Camera: Sony Alpha 7R V
🔭 Lens: Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM
📍 Tripod: Benro Cyanbird Carbon Tripod + FS20PRO head
🔍 Focal Length: 14mm
🌞 Aperture: f/8
🌙 ISO: 100