Mysterious atmosphere on the wintry banks of the Oder dyke

by Silva Wischeropp

I discovered this magical, mystical water landscape in the enchanting, wild Oderbruch in the small village of Zollbrücke. The dramatic, dark cloudy sky lends the image a mysterious atmosphere.
The Oderbruch is located in the Brandenburg region of Märkisch-Oderland, close to the Polish border. After a sudden, heavy downpour, the winter sky over the waters of the River Oder appeared in its strong dark and grey colours.
The rural, tranquil water scene appears mysterious and slightly surreal. The combination of the dramatic cloudy sky together with the bare tree trunks of the willows on the banks of the river lend the East German nature motif a mystical atmosphere.
The reduction of the colour values to classic black and white conjures up a timeless, graphic and elegantly dramatic mood.

The photographic landscape motif with a magnificent weather spectacle was taken on 7 March 2019 in the late evening hours with the NIKON D90 (lens: NIKKOR 18.0-70.0 mm f/3.5-4.5).
Zollbrücke is a residential area in the Zäckericker Loose district of the municipality of Oderaue in the Märkisch-Oderland district. Oderaue is administered by the Barnim-Oderbruch authority.
The village of Zollbrücke came into being after the regulation of the Oder. In 1755, the first settlers built a wooden bridge over the Oder and demanded tolls for crossing the bridge. The village was named after the bridge. The farmers from Zäckerick (today Siekierki) used the structure to access their land in the Oderbruch.
An ice flood destroyed the bridge in 1806. It fell into disrepair and was replaced by a ferry. The ferry ceased to operate in 1945 after the Second World War. The embrasure remained as an opening and became a symbol of flood defence in the Oderbruch.
The flood in 1997 severely damaged the residential area. After the flood, the dyke was moved around six metres towards the Oder at the height of the dam master's house.