Golden reflections

A lesson in perseverance for David as planning and waiting for better conditions pays off in rainy Düsseldorf

- DAVID CLAPP

Lens Exposure Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM 1/8 sec, f/8, ISO100

Medienhafen, Düsseldorf. 08:21 pm. 22 June 2011

When planning a trip, it's very easy to fall into a dream of photographic success, but we all know that the result can be far from the truth. There we are imagining precious moments bathing in great light, with full flashcards and big smiles. These are the optimistic thoughts that keep us focused in those early planning stages, or when travelling to our destinations. Yet more often we get dealt a hand very far from this conception.

I arrive in Düsseldorf in the grey. This city contains some of most interesting examples of modern architecture in Europe, with Neuer Zollhof, a trio of incredible buildings by one of my favourite American architects, Frank O. Gehry. With five days in the city, I begin my trip with a wander around Medienhafen, a complex of modern glass and steel, my focus being these three incredible structures on the harbour side.