Photographer Denise Berge has released her eleventh annual Rotenburg calendar for 2026, marking over a decade of capturing the picturesque German town through her artistic lens. This year's edition features a notable departure from her previous work, showcasing lighter colors and a fresh aesthetic approach that reflects her ongoing artistic experimentation.

Berge, who co-owns Buchgalerie Berge bookstore with her husband Stefan, has produced 13 atmospheric photographs that highlight Rotenburg's most scenic aspects. Unlike the clear, vibrant colors that characterized her previous calendars, this edition is dominated by softer, more subdued tones. "I'm currently experimenting with my style a bit," explained Berge, whose passion for photography began two decades ago.

The photographer's journey started modestly with mobile phone cameras. "Back then, with phone cameras - you know how the quality was - you couldn't make proper calendars from those images," she recalled with a smile. The turning point came when she acquired her first professional camera and began photographing everything that caught her eye. What initially began as a collaborative project among several local photographers evolved into Berge's solo endeavor eleven years ago.

"I simply started photographing eagerly," Berge described her transition to the independent project. Her husband Stefan added, "The pictures were already beautiful back then." Over the years, Berge has continuously evolved her photographic style. "The longer I photograph, the better my eye becomes for individual motifs," she explained.

Despite the calendar's popularity and established tradition, the 2026 edition will have a smaller print run than usual. While previous years typically saw editions of 200 to 250 copies, this year's production is limited to just 150 copies. "I always have something to do, and so production started later this time," Berge admitted as the reason for the reduced quantity.

The calendar remains a genuinely regional product, with production handled by a local print workshop, ensuring both short delivery routes and artisanal quality. "It's quite a bit of work, but I enjoy it," Berge said about the effort involved in creating each annual edition.

For the Berge family and their bookstore, the calendar has become an integral part of their business and community connection. "Often people give them as gifts to former Rotenburg residents, as a memory," Stefan Berge noted, highlighting the calendar's role as a piece of hometown nostalgia.

The 2026 Rotenburg calendar, featuring Berge's experimental lighter color palette, is now available for 17 euros at Buchgalerie Berge. The bookstore also stocks other regional calendars alongside Berge's annual creation, which continues to serve as both an artistic endeavor and a cherished local tradition.