Berlin | Fragments of light

By Adam Docker

Every so often, you find yourself somewhere that feels like stepping back in time.

I was filming in a studio tucked away in the backstreets of Berlin, a place that had remained largely untouched since the Cold War. The textures on the walls, the old furniture, the muted colours and the way the light entered through the windows. Everything felt as though it belonged to another era, somewhere in the 1970s.

The atmosphere immediately reminded me of Todd Hido's photography. Those dark, moody interiors, the quietness of empty spaces and the way a small amount of light can transform an otherwise ordinary scene.

Just before filming began, I grabbed my camera and wandered around, capturing whatever caught my eye. Even the exterior had something magical about it. It was a beautiful, crisp morning, with hard sunlight filtering through the trees, casting fragments of light across the buildings and pathways.

Looking back at the photographs, I realised they were all connected by the same thing. Small pockets of light breaking into shadow, revealing colours, shapes and textures that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Sometimes you stumble upon a place that inspires you without having to look very far.