Sometimes a new artistic direction doesn't begin with a grand plan, but with a single image. A photograph taken almost by chance, one that only reveals its true significance much later.

"Along the Orange Line" is exactly that kind of photograph. A historic tram on Mallorca, a fleeting moment during a journey – and the unexpected beginning of my Painterly Collection.

A Moment in Port de Sóller

The original photograph was taken during a trip to Mallorca, in the picturesque harbour town of Port de Sóller. The historic orange tram has been part of the local scenery for many decades, connecting the harbour with the town of Sóller.

The photograph was neither planned nor carefully prepared. The tram was in just the right position, the light was favourable, and for a brief moment, nothing obstructed the view. No passers-by stepping into the frame or distracting from the composition.

Sometimes photography simply requires a little luck.

The vibrant orange of the tram, its dark wooden details, the palm trees and the Mediterranean architecture created a scene that already had a distinctive character in the original photograph.

A New Camera and a Little Luck

There's also a small personal story connected to this photograph. I had actually received the camera used to capture "Along the Orange Line" as a gift just the day before.

Apparently, I had been exceptionally well-behaved in the preceding weeks. I can't think of any other explanation. 😉

The new DSLR was originally intended to make my studio work easier. I finally wanted a camera that could connect via Wi-Fi to a large monitor, allowing me to review photographs directly during a shoot.

Little did I know that this very camera, used on Mallorca barely a day later, would produce the photograph that eventually inspired an entirely new artistic direction in my work.

The Original Photograph

As with many of my photographs, the original version of "Along the Orange Line" remained largely untouched. Apart from standard image development, only a few minor retouches were necessary.

Two distracting manhole covers were removed from the scene, along with the tram crew in the driver's cabin. Small details that would otherwise have drawn attention away from the main subject.

The lighting, colours and composition remained unchanged. After all, it was precisely this combination that had made me press the shutter in the first place.

An Idea Begins to Take Shape

My photographic work has always focused primarily on people. Portraits, fashion, boudoir and Fine Nude Art have long been among my preferred genres. Landscape and travel photographs, on the other hand, were usually taken along the way, during holidays or occasional excursions.

As a result, only a relatively small number of these photographs appeared on my website. At some point, I began wondering whether I should simply remove the few remaining travel and landscape images from my portfolio.

But then another thought occurred to me.

What if I presented these photographs not merely as traditional images, but gave them a new painterly visual language? One that would take them beyond their original documentary character?

The historic tram in Port de Sóller became the starting point for this idea. "Along the Orange Line" was my very first Painterly interpretation.

Between Photography and Painting

The painterly interpretation of "Along the Orange Line" draws inspiration from the visual language of Post-Impressionism, complemented by Impressionist influences.

While Impressionist painting often focuses on the fleeting impression of a moment, natural light and the atmosphere of a scene, Post-Impressionism takes this approach further. Colours, shapes and textures become independent elements of artistic expression.

It is precisely this combination that defines the character of my interpretation.

The vibrant orange of the historic tram remains the visual centrepiece. Yet the outlines become softer, the architecture in the background partially dissolves into painterly areas of colour, and the Mediterranean surroundings take on an almost nostalgic quality.

What I find particularly appealing is the contrast between the clearly recognisable historic vehicle and its increasingly painterly surroundings. The photograph does not entirely lose its original character, but gains an additional visual dimension.

The Beginning of a New Visual World

Looking back, "Along the Orange Line" holds a special place among my works.

Not necessarily because it is my most elaborate or accomplished painterly interpretation, but because it marked the beginning of an idea that gradually developed into a collection of its own.

What started as an experiment with a travel photograph opened up new possibilities for exploring my images beyond traditional photography.

And so, a chance photograph of a historic tram on Mallorca became, in a way, the first stop on a new artistic journey.

These are exactly the kinds of stories I want to share through Behind the Art. Stories of photographs whose true significance sometimes only becomes apparent long after the shutter has been released.

Discover "Along the Orange Line" as Wall Art

The Painterly interpretation of "Along the Orange Line" is also available as Wall Art. If you would like to explore the finished artwork in more detail or bring a touch of Mediterranean atmosphere into your own home, you can find it in my PICTRS Art Shop.

Discover more stories behind my photographs and their artistic interpretations in my Behind the Art project.

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