Woman recreates Europe vacation pictures in same spots 30 years later

Lisa Wemer is recreating her past by retaking vacation photos in the same spots 30 years later.

A photographer by profession, Wemer was a student at a German language school in the 1980s and photographed her travels across Europe. In 2017, Wemer returned to the continent, exactly 30 years later and recreated some of her favourite pictures from the 1980s.



"I thought it would be a fun photography project for my YouTube channel," Werner told CNN Travel. "I was amazed at how little these places had changed."

Before she began her journey, she chose 13 of her favourite images. Once she reached Europe, she tracked down the exact locations in the pictures and mimicked her pose. She showcased her project on her YouTube channel and blog.


Her travels range from Strasbourg, France, to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. "I easily remembered exactly where all the locations were," the photographer said. "I wish I had scanned more than only 13 old photographs."

Thirty years later in Heidelberg, Germany. PHOTO: LISA WERNER

The most noticeable aspect in the pictures is how little her backdrops have changed. The European city centres remain intact -- the only difference seems to be in the foliage which has been planted or grown significantly since the 1980s.



"It was the camera capabilities that improved," said Werner. "Back then it was film camera, now it's an iPhone."

Thirty years later in Strasbourg, France. PHOTO: LISA WERNER

Werner also commented on how the pictures mark a change from selfies that have become popular. "People have commented that nowadays we take selfies but back then we were placing ourselves within the locations, featuring the places more," she said.

The photographer who has traveled all over the world for her profession holds a special spot for Europe, especially now that she has whole new set of memories. She also plans to return after another 30 years and recreate her images again.

"I plan to reshoot each one again when I'm 87," she further said.

PHOTO: LISA WERNER

This story originally appeared on CNN