Reichstag Berlin at Night | Black and White Photography
German Flag Above the Reichstag Rooftop in Berlin
The flag was moving just enough to become part of the photograph.
I made this image in 2013 from the roof terrace of Berlin's Reichstag Building, turning away from the more familiar views and concentrating instead on one of the building's historic corner towers. Illuminated against the night sky, the stone structure stands almost alone, with the German flag blurred slightly by the exposure above it.
That movement is what first caught my attention. Everything else in the scene feels remarkably solid—the heavy masonry, the geometric paving underfoot and the bright glass structure cutting horizontally across the lower half of the frame. Then the flag breaks that stillness.
Black and white suited the scene immediately. Without colour, the photograph becomes a study of light, architecture and contrast. The old stone tower rises from the darker roofline while the modern glass surfaces below glow almost white. Farther away, contemporary Berlin appears only as a scattering of buildings and lights along the horizon.
I have photographed Berlin many times, and I am always interested in the way older architecture and modern design coexist within the city. From this rooftop viewpoint, that relationship became unusually clear.
For me, the photograph is not the grand exterior view normally associated with the Reichstag. It is something quieter and less expected—a nighttime architectural detail, a moving flag and a brief view across one of Berlin's most recognizable rooftops.
© Dan Kosmayer, 2013
Premium Archival Fine Art Prints
Each photograph is produced using archival pigment inks on premium fine art paper, chosen for excellent tonal depth, fine-detail reproduction, and long-term image stability.
The refined surface provides beautiful detail while reducing distracting glare under normal indoor lighting, making it particularly well suited to both color and black-and-white photography.
Each photograph is sold as an unframed fine art print, allowing it to be framed according to your space and personal style.
Every print is made to order specifically for you.
Free Shipping
Shipping is included with every fine art print at no additional charge.
Your photograph is carefully packaged for protection during transit and shipped directly to your delivery address.
Tracking information is provided when your order ships.
About My Fine Art Photography
Every photograph in my collection comes from my own travels, explorations, and years behind the camera.
I create my work as photographic art rather than mass-produced decoration. From street portraits and abandoned places to landscapes, architecture, and the unusual subjects I discover along the way, each image begins with something that made me stop and look.
My photographs are available in multiple sizes so the same image can work in anything from an intimate wall space to a large statement installation.
