The Beats of Beograd

Charlene making magic for her In Transit project on the no. 2 tram

Charlene making magic for her In Transit project on the no. 2 tram

Beograd, the white city, the capital of Serbia. Charlene and I have spent a few months in Beograd this year, and I am still trying to make sense of it all. I am not sure I ever can. There is much dramatic history, it would take decades to even scratch the surface and understand parts. As our 20-something guide from the awesome Belgrade Walking Tours said to us “I have lived in 4 countries so far in my life yet I have never moved from Beograd!”. Throughout it’s very long history, Beograd has been fought over again and again, torn down, burned down, bombed, rebuilt, bombed, rebuilt again. This is one resilient city and people!

We had a great time in Beograd, it is a highly recommended city and we definitely will return again. The Belgrade fortress with the location by the 2 rivers, Sava and Danube, is probably my favourite part, truly stunning. And all of Beograd is walkable, and very safe, we spent many hours walking around at night (in July it is stinking bloody hot, so air-con in the day, outside at night!). And if one needs a break from walking, there is the wonderful old trams.

Like my thoughts on Beograd, heck, like my thoughts on anything, this is one big messy blog post with a lot of random pictures! Mostly about my 3 favourite things in Beograd, documenting Charlene and her magic work on the trams, the Belgrade fortress and those amazing trams themselves. I am not a street photographer, I just shoot totally random things that instinctively cause a “shoot this” reaction to me. Here this is a small view into my chaotic Beats from Belgrade.

The view from the tower at Belgrade Fortress shows the incredible location of Beograd with the Sava and Danube rivers.

The view from the tower at Belgrade Fortress shows the incredible location of Beograd with the Sava and Danube rivers.

Long shadows at the fortress.

Long shadows at the fortress.

They are here.

They are here.

A school backyard on a rainy night.

A school backyard on a rainy night.

Sometimes it Rains in April

Sometimes it Rains in April

Walking at night around the fortress is one of my favourite things to do in Beograd.

Walking at night around the fortress is one of my favourite things to do in Beograd.

The setting sun casting long shadows at Belgrade Fortress with the skyline of Novi Beograd in the background

The setting sun casting long shadows at Belgrade Fortress with the skyline of Novi Beograd in the background

The view from our flat, a melting pot of different buildings and time periods.

The view from our flat, a melting pot of different buildings and time periods.

A #SorryAnton portrait of Charlene at the Beograd train station

A #SorryAnton portrait of Charlene at the Beograd train station

Beograd at night with all kinds of amazing architecture on display.

Beograd at night with all kinds of amazing architecture on display.

We took a 12 hour train ride to Montenegro one weekend, a classic and most spectacular (and somewhat long!) train journey through the mountains.

We took a 12 hour train ride to Montenegro one weekend, a classic and most spectacular (and somewhat long!) train journey through the mountains. If you are in Beograd and have the time, this is highly recommended although I think breaking the journey up into 2 legs is probably wise!

Ahhhh rakija, my favourite way to consume fruit!

Ahhhh rakija, my favourite way to consume fruit!

On the No. 2 tram

On the No. 2 tram

I got a chance to shoot Dubfire play at the Barutana venue at the fortress, insanely awesome location.

I got a chance to shoot legendary Dubfire playing at the Barutana venue at the fortress, an insanely awesome location.

Sometimes it Snows in May...actually white fluffy stuff being blown off the trees.

Sometimes it Snows in May…actually white fluffy stuff being blown off the trees.

The 100 Dinar note is possibly the coolest in the world.

The 100 Dinar note is possibly the coolest in the world.

Because...shutters (geddit!)

Because…shutters (geddit!)

The streets of Beograd are a never ending fascinating mix of old and new and are especially awesome at night.

The streets of Beograd are a never ending fascinating mix of old and new and are especially awesome at night.

Doing a #SorryAnton portrait of Charlene in front of the Palace of Serbia

Doing a #SorryAnton portrait of Charlene in front of the Palace of Serbia

Tram stop in Novi Beograd.

Tram stop in Novi Beograd.

Rivers run through it

Rivers run through it

Because...dinosaurs!

Because…dinosaurs!

Things that go bump in the night.

Things that go bump in the night.

2 Comments on “The Beats of Beograd”

  1. Mega fed tråd og flot nyt site! Kan du fortælle om hvordan du er nået frem til det smukke resultat i billledet “Long shadows at the fortress” – er det taget sådan, så evt settings eller post process? Jeg ville gerne lære lidt 🙂
    Elsker iøvrigt dine Anton Corbijn skud – du har ikke noget at “undskylde”…

    1. Tusind tak Jesper. Der er ikke megen post-processing magi i Long Shadows at the Fortress, det meste er allerede lavet af den skarpe lave sol 🙂 Dernæst er der blot hamret ekstra kontrast på i Lightroom så skyggerne bliver kulsorte. Men det eksisterende lys er magien, det virker kun fordi lyset var så super fedt til at starte med!

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