Florian Sedlmaier 1974-2009

June 25th, 2009


Yesterday, when I got home, Petra told me the news with tears in her eyes: Our friend Florian did not wake up after a surgery in the hospital. He had had a broken toe that was almost healed and was asked to perform a standard procedure to correct some minor issues he had experienced. At first he had resisted the surgery in his typical fashion, with a wide smile - “it’s getting better, it’s not that I can’t walk” - but the doctors convinced him to do it. And then, during the surgery, a problem occurred. It’s not yet clear what happened exactly after he entered the surgery room; the details are under investigation. But whatever it was, Florian did not get back into life again.

And at 35 years, he had a full life. Known as the “Party Flo”, Florian was where the action was, and the action was where he was. In his spare time, he organized the biggest parties for his friends, ranging from simple BBQs at his home to dozens of tables at the Oktoberfest and wonderful ski meetings in the Alps. It was next to impossible to imagine him sitting alone on the sofa at home watching TV (except when his favorite soccer club, Bayern München, was having a match). We always joked that he should quit his day job to do event planning and event management full time. That was his true designation. Yes, he enjoyed life to the fullest.


Munich, 18th August 2007

I first met Florian two years ago when he was a new colleague of Petra. He had joined Petra’s company, and he was planning the wedding with his lovely wife, Daniela. At first they did not think about hiring a wedding photographer. Then Florian saw my work and the couple decided to go for it. It was one of the biggest and most joyful weddings I ever photographed, thanks to the friendly families and numerous friends attending the ceremony and party. And over time I enjoyed to become also one of Florian’s friends.

If the joy he found with Daniela could be topped, it was the birth of their daughter Marie two months ago that actually did this. Following Marie’s birth, Florian became even more relaxed than before. He had a very natural way of handling the kid - it all looked so easy with him. If you told others how naturally Florian had assumed his role and responsibility as a father, people were stunned. Despite of the new family member, he did not need to give up too much of his previous lifestyle, though, and so the tiny Marie appeared as a silent admirer on various smaller events with Florian and Daniela. It was all just natural to them.


Munich, 13th June 2009

Like they did about two weeks ago. The small family attended a Munich “Waldfest” (a pre-runner to Oktoberfest), where Florian was playing with his traditional Bavarian folk band under a clear blue sky on a warm sunny day - a perfect day for this kind of fest. Florian, Daniela, and Marie, were again a joy to see, and it was once more clear that this small family was a match made in heaven. Both Petra and I are very glad that we attended this Waldfest to enjoy yet another good day with Florian, Daniela, Marie, and their families.

That Florian is gone forever, taken in the middle of his full life and way too early, is unbelievable to us. It feels weird to know that Florian will not return, that he will not anymore bring his joy to others, in his unselfish style. No, that can’t be. I guess it will take us a long time to get used to that thought. There will be many times when I will start a thought involving Florian, and then stop it in shock and deep sadness, realizing that Florian is not among us any longer.

We will miss Florian, and our thoughts are with Daniela and Marie.

Isar River in Munich. Flooded.

June 24th, 2009

Following four days of massive rain, the Isar river in Munich has got out of its normal bed. Over the past 24 hours the river has been rising by about 15-20 cm per hour, leaving now just one Meter until major streets will be affected. Weather forecasts are promising for the next few days with temperatures up to 30° C, but as I write this it is still raining.

Anyway, here are a couple of outtakes from todays shooting at the Isar.


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress

Bianca 27 zu verkaufen

June 17th, 2009

Our apologies to English readers - this post is in German language because it is only relevant for Germany. English readers may want to have a look at the Google translation of this article.

Mein Schwiegervater wird im nächsten Jahr 70. Und so hat er sich schweren Herzens entschieden, aus Altersgründen seine schöne Bianca 27 zu verkaufen. Nachdem er nun zehn Jahre lang die Ostsee damit besegelt hat, meist von Mitte Mai bis Mitte September, geht damit nicht nur für ihn, sondern auch für uns “Kinder” eine Ära zu Ende: Schluss mit den Sommern ohne den vagabundierenden (Schwieger-) Vater, der cool die Ostsee besegelt. Aber eben leider auch Schluß mit den lässigen Segel-Trips auf der Segelyacht vom Vater (”Yacht” klingt immer gut). Petra und ich waren gemeinsam drei mal für jeweils eine Woche dabei, Petra alleine sogar noch ein paar Mal öfter. Und es war jedesmal eine ungewohnte, unbekannte, schöne Ablenkung vom stressigen Alltag.

Tja, was soll man nun dazu sagen? Schön war’s, und schade ist’s. Aber wat mutt dat mutt, wie wir Schleswig-Holsteiner gerne sagen (selbst, wenn wir in München leben).

Die technischen Daten für das gutmütige Schiff lesen sich unspektakulär - Baujahr 1975, Länge 8,25 m, Breite 2,44 m, Tiefgang 1,40 m, Verdrängung 3,2 t, robuster 20 PS Dieselmotor - aber dieser erste Eindruck täuscht! Mit ihren vier Kojen ist die Bianca 27 perfekt für kleine Familien mit einem knappen Budget geeignet, ideal für die Sommersaison auf der ganzen Ostsee. Die Abmessungen führen in vielen Häfen zu den günstigeren Liegeplatzgebühren, und mit dem geringen Tiefgang findet man einen Liegeplatz in den Ecken vom Hafen, wo die großen Yachten gar nicht hinkommen. In der Ausgabe 17/2008 hat die Zeitschrift Yacht die Bianca 27 ausführlich getestet - ein guter Test, und ein interessanter Bericht.

Das Schiff wurde mit viel Liebe vom erfahrenen Eigner selbst gesegelt. Es liegt z.Zt. an der Schlei, ist segelklar und komplett ausgestattet. Die Ausstattung ist sinnvoll und an der Praxis ausgerichtet. Und ja, wenn Petra und ich nur segeln könnten, dann würden wir die Carina wohl sofort übernehmen. Aber ohne Segelschein bleibt das eigene Schiff wohl erstmal ein Traum. (Bei Google gibt es weitere Informationen über die Bianca 27.)

Wie gesagt - ein schönes Schiff ist in gute Hände abzugeben. Weitere Informationen und Photos gibt’s auf der eigens eingerichteten Webseite www.bianca-27.de.

Hier noch ein paar Photos - zum einen der Link zu den Photos von 2004, und hier weitere Bilder von unserem schönen Trip mit der Carina von Kopenhagen nach Heiligenhafen in 2007:

Uwe Gorber Sailing
Mark Zanzig/zettpress

Christians Havn Copenhagen
Mark Zanzig/zettpress

Rødvig Denmark on the map
Mark Zanzig/zettpress

Compass
Mark Zanzig/zettpress

Sailing Baltic Sea
Mark Zanzig/zettpress

Petra Zanzig Sailing
Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress


Mark Zanzig/zettpress

Artists Reject to Work For Google For Free

June 15th, 2009

Is the tide finally turning against search monopoly Google? According to the New York Times, the Californian giant offered some artists to promote their work as part of Chrome, Google’s web browser software. Google apparently did not offer any monetary compensation for the artworks. Not so surprisingly, some of the artists who were approached by Google rejected the project because of this. The artists just did not want to work for free, at least not for a company that earns billions every year. And yep, I think they are right.

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