This dataset contains a collection of high-resolution photographs (3299 files for 26 cases) captured during a series of field trips to urban waterfronts across German cities (in Sachsen, Thüringen, Anhalt, Bayern, and Baden-Württemberg). The field trips took place between September and October 2024 as part of the TransConnECT project, which aims to document and analyze the environmental, social, and architectural characteristics of urban waterfronts in Germany. Each image captures diverse aspects of waterfront areas, including landscape elements, urban infrastructure, public spaces, and ecological features, providing a comprehensive visual record of waterfront conditions across varying urban environments. The dataset is intended to support research in urban planning, environmental studies, and sustainable development, offering valuable insights for understanding the current state of German waterfronts and their potential for ecological connectivity and urban resilience. The study will be extended via a second expedition between 25 November and 06 December 2024 across 20+ urban waterfronts in Hessen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Rheinland-Pfalz. The data will be enriched with new visual documentation following the new field trips. This study developed within the scope of the project “TransConnECT- TRANSversal CONNectivity of European Cities’ landscapes to Terrestrial surface waters”. TransConnECT has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 899987.