No, it's not in Africa Photo

Photographer’s Note

As you may know, there are many pools of different sizes that have beautiful names such as Stappersven – Wasven – Groote Meer en Kleine Meer – Biezenkuilen. It goes without saying that the border park management is focused on preserving these pools. The only way to do so is to keep the (rain-) water in the area as long as possible and to improve the quality of the water of the pools. Small interventions, such as closing drainage canals, can be done immediately. To be able to control the dropping groundwater level, cooperation between the relevant public departments is necessary to come to a long-term solution. Measures have to be taken to improve the water quality of the pools. To prevent the soil from becoming acid and dry, coniferous trees surrounding the pools have to be cut down. Also nitrate and phosphate rich water should be kept out of the pools as much as possible.Through restoration of the water levels and especially through improvement of the water quality, pools with ‘original’ bank vegetation will be obtained, as well as the transitional vegetations from humid to wet heath that go with it.

Nowhere in the heath are more animals around than in and near the pools. Dragonflies and damselflies hover over the water; more than two thirds of all species noted in Flanders have been spotted here. Pools are teeming with life under the surface as well, too much to mention all here. Furthermore, the pools are important places of reproduction for rare amphibious species such as moor frogs, palmate newts and natterjack toads. But the pools are also territory for many birds. Eleven different sorts of duck have been observed, half of which breed in the reserve. Other birds can mostly be seen while passing; waders like green sandpipers, common sandpipers, wood sandpipers, common redshanks, common greenshanks and spotted redshanks all fancy the dried up pool banks.
for the whole note you click

here

This backlight shot was not easy. I am happy to tell you that the use of a learning book, about photoshop CS2, from the author Scott kelby, has good result to my photo's. Before I had a lot of image noise, now with learning some tools out the program, well iI realy can say that I made progression since I used Photoshop CS2.I realy can recommended the book and the program.
I hope you like the shot.
gr. jaap

berek, singuanti, ChrisJ, thor68, Signal-Womb, aznegrao, Xalkida, imrek, kdien, red45, jhm, ALIRIZA, IvarsU, nwoehnl, Albrecht, bertolucci, Fixfocus, lukas, papagolf21, rabani, HOBO, P-S-I-G, feather, elihesamian, plimrn, mortijo, capthaddock, cjmm, balatrek, riclopes, josepmarin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

IvarsU (2499) 2006-04-06 12:32

Hi, Jaap!
Amazing color contrast. Well balanced scene of powerful compo. I like light on top of sky!
Regards,
ivars.

ALIRIZA (16197) 2006-04-06 12:32

Hi Jaap ,
Very nice landscape. Point of view, depth of field, framing and colors are wonderful . Congratulations...
Ali Rıza

jhm (83446) 2006-04-06 12:47

Goedenavond Jaap,
Ik ben geen specialist met photoshop, maar hoe dan ook de wolken vormen hier een prachtige hemel, door van donker over te gaan naar lichter en zelfs de blauwe hemel toont u uw kennis van opstelling.
De bomen tonen een beetjes het tegenlicht waardoor er een donkerde zone ontstaat, maar het lange gras in de voorgrond zorgt dan opnieuw voor wat gouden kleur.
Mooi werk Jaap!
Groeten,
John.

red45 (1633) 2006-04-06 13:37

Are you sure Jaap ;-) ? It looks like Africa to me ;-) Amazing landscape with all these waving grasses and big piece of sky. Really good job my friend!

Gerrit (36325) 2006-04-06 13:38

Dag Jaap,
Mooie foto met prachtige onweerslucht en rijtje grove dennen. Goede lage POV.
Knap werk.
Dank en groeten, Gerrit

tjanze (5674) 2006-04-06 13:56

Hi Jaap!
Good depth on photo.Clouds are amazing.They look like 3D.Beautiful color contrasts. Regards.

dkeus31 (26399) 2006-04-06 13:58

Hello Jaap,
Well I first thought at the Fagnes - Venen!
Nicely framed with the tree rows.
Regards,
Didier

nicole80 (2162) 2006-04-06 13:59

Hello Jaap,
Here is a very well composed picture with the différent grounds. I like the orageous sky with the silhouettes of trees. The brown grass is a good perspective to the trees !
Very well done !
Friendly,
Nicole

jafadabret (40387) 2006-04-06 14:17

Jaap, peu d'éléments mais excellente photo !
J'aime ce premier plan d'herbes rousses puis ces arbres qui montent le garde devant un ciel fabuleux.
Merci pour le spectacle !
Jacques

imrek (4) 2006-04-06 14:29

Hi Jaap,
I like a lot picture like this... pretty landscape with very powerful sky and this footway gives a lot depth of field, nice composition and colours!! Well done!!
best regards,
imre

Ann75 (0) 2006-04-06 14:32

Hallo Jaap,

Prachtige foto met schitterende kleuren. De silhouetten van de bomen tegen die dramatische lucht is schitterend. De voorgrond is prachtig en het licht hier is ook enorm mooi. Mooie compositie met vele details! Prachtig werk, Jaap!

Groetjes,
Ann

danyy (69539) 2006-04-06 14:39

Bonjour Jaap,
tu as trouvé dans les Flandres, un équivalent à nos Fagnes qui elles aussi ont des allures de savane africaine.
J'aime beaucoup le ciel très impressionnant et dramatique, des contrastes très fort entre les nuages blancs et noirs et ce soleil derrière qui aimerait se montrer.
Parfaitement cadrée , ces quelques silhouettes d'arbres bien nettes font tout leur effet.
Best greetings.
Daniel.

xavshot (63137) 2006-04-06 15:19

Bonsoir Jaap,
Très belle photo avec une bel équilibre donné par cet alignement d'arbres. J'aime beuacoup et le titre est bien vu
Beau travail
Xavier

Xalkida (11740) 2006-04-06 16:09

Hi Jaap

Indeed I thought it was a landscape from Africa. Very nice shot, surprising the viewer with these trees on the background. Superb sky and colors. Special lighting. Very nice.

aznegrao (10246) 2006-04-06 16:16

Woww fantastic shot Jaap!!
Interesante tiro com elementos bem distribuidos no quadro criando uma bela composição e uma atmosfera dinamica.
Rgds.
Friend.
aznegrao.

Signal-Womb (11755) 2006-04-06 16:27

Very nice Jaap, fantastic sky and well balanced composition. Love the silhouettes of the trees and the brown tones of the long grass with the lead lines. Very good job, well done.

thor68 (5537) 2006-04-06 17:42

hello jaap,
this must be africa! *g*
there are elephants behind the trees, really.
at least you could have left us thinking that...
excellent capture - not only the savannah-like
nature but a dark cloud, white clouds and
blue sky all in one shot! :-)
amazing job, thor.

dominique (11414) 2006-04-06 17:48

Superbe ce cumulo nimbus , j'aime la vue impressionnante sur ce monstre , le decor est puissant aussi , il manque juste un peu de lumiere sur l'herbe jaune devant mais ca ressemble incroyablement a l'Afrique . Beau travail .

singuanti (15240) 2006-04-06 22:00

Hi Jaap. I can certainly see why you'd title this shot as such. What a striking and beautiful landscape. Watch out for the noise in the dark part of the cloud. tfs Jaap.

berek (29049) 2006-04-06 23:42

Hi Jaap,
Incredible sky show. I like picture of the sense . very good framing and composition. TFS
B.Erek
Meaning Sense :-)
Framing :-))
Idea :-))

jjcordier (25256) 2006-04-07 1:52

L'effet est assez saisissant, avec en plus ce ciel très tourmenté. la prise de vue est belle mais je pense que le traitement de l'image sous photoshop apporte beaucoup et est bien réussi.
Amicalement
JJ

ChrisJ (70443) 2006-04-07 3:33

Hi jaap

I like the repetition & graphism, of the row of trees, on the horizon. The track through the grass adds perspective, & the tonal range in the sky is superb.

nwoehnl (120) 2006-04-07 5:02

Well, it almost looks like Africa, Jaap - the colors and the scenery in this type of weather and light are not immediately attributable to the Netherlands. Good details and a well-placed low horizon to increase the impact of the cloud cover. Greetings from Kyoto.

Albrecht (11229) 2006-04-07 5:47

Hoi Jaap
Ik heb inderdaad enige tijd geleden zo'n plaatje uit Afrika gezien, maar het is toch wel duidelijk;de kleuren en de lucht zetten je weer in de klei.
~ groeten Albrecht ~

bertolucci (12014) 2006-04-07 6:48

Hi Jaap, prachtig werk en je haalt hier erg veel uit dit tegenlichtschot. Zeer goede belichting om mee te beginnen en zeer goede PP. De kleuren, de compo, de rijkdoortekende lucht, het interesaante patroon van de bomen.... xcellent!
Goed weekend,
Bert

hdl (6737) 2006-04-07 7:32

Prachtige lucht/grond verhouding; het wolkenspel is werkelijk indrukwekkend. Heel mooi genomen met respect voor het heide landschap. Zeer goed gedaan.

Fixfocus (9377) 2006-04-07 13:35

Dag Jaap,
Het lijkt inderdaad een beetje afrikaans..
maar de prachtige wolken zijn hier zeker de stars.De contrast tussen de landschap en de lucht is uitstekend mooi.
Prettig weekend,
Hermann

lukas (2027) 2006-04-07 14:06

Dag Jaap
Knappe foto en mooi afgewerkt. Zeer mooi licht/donker contrast in de hemel. Leuk en eenvoudig onderwerp. Goed voorbeeld van 2/3 regel.
Luc

rosaline (0) 2006-04-07 14:54

Nice windswept scene jaap. The dynamic clouds are particularly impressive. Good composition and colours. Great feeling of nature here.
Well done
Aubrey

rhizomes (15325) 2006-04-07 15:53

Hi Jaap,
Very nice picture !! Great colors and impressive sky !!
Congratulations !
Christophe

papagolf21 (56811) 2006-04-08 3:54

Bonsoir mon ami Jaap,
Auriez-vous un secret pour capturer des ciels aussi beaux ! comme il existe des endroits aux champignons. ! ;o))
Superbe composition où la nature est reine.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

fayeulle (26547) 2006-04-08 4:16

Hi Jaap
"Out of Africa" !!!
Yes it look like a lttle bit Africa and I like the way you captured it with this amazing sky. Obviously, I don't like the white line aroud the black trees (PP problem with sharpening).
Cheers
JP

rabani (9429) 2006-04-08 4:54

It does look like the savannah. Any moment now, you might see a pride of lions, stalking in the grass. Three different things make an interesting viewpoint Jaap. The bright blue skywork, the silhouette of the trees and the dark brown grassland. Not your typical Belgium countryside. Have a great weekend Jaap.
Bani

HOBO (5244) 2006-04-08 5:06

Good morning Jaap,
what a great view to this heath, must be a pleasure to stroll around or bike there. The sky you ordered for composition is outstanding...
That for perfect note and you opinion about photoshop.
Regards
Knut

P-S-I-G (24482) 2006-04-08 5:49

Hello Jaap,
Whaou! Great shot. I like it very much.
Wonderful sky and composition.
Best regards,
Fabrice

jmdaoudal (82) 2006-04-08 18:02

This sky goes well with the tourmented tops of the trees, and this is a stong image due to the shapes of the clouds and the detailed trees in the sky above a flat ground.
Great colors.
jean Michel

feather (50230) 2006-04-09 5:13

Another excellent composition from you. The slight depressions in the grass make good lead-in lines to the stand of trees on the horizon. Very dramatic sky.
KAth

elihesamian (26091) 2006-04-09 12:56

But This must be in Africa,Jaap !!!
:))
A great view with a fine composition,superp clouds formation and very beautiful in point of contrast of the layers from top to bottom,really great work,I like it,Jaap,Thanks,

Best
M

plimrn (19754) 2006-04-09 13:35

Hi Jaap,
Your composition presents a convincing arguement for CS2; the clouds have such wonderful depth that I want to play in them like snow. At the same time, you show wonderful light, color and detail in the grassed. The sharp tree sihouettes divide the the two parts in a pleasing way. Looking at your work, I know it was more than just the program; it also required your skill as a photographer. I had just viewed christophe's wonderful clouds and was imagining that the two of you were experiencing the same wonderful weather and then I looked at the date. Now I can imagine you both experiencing two such wonderful days :)
Regards, Pat

mortijo (12438) 2006-04-09 14:06

Hoi Jaap,
Dit is een hele mooie. En ik stop hem bij mijn favourites. Weliswaar heb ik niet CS2 maar ik heb Photoshop CS en, denk ik, het boek! En ook mijn foto's gaan er een hele boel op vooruit! Toch, je moet eerst de foto nemen!!! En daar ben je in geslaagd.

capthaddock (28640) 2006-04-09 17:13

Hi Jaap - simply wonderful composition, the sky is at your trademark optimum, and goes well with the silhouetted trees.

john_c (24635) 2006-04-10 11:01

Hi Jaap,
You made good decisions as to proportion in this interesting shot. The sky is well textured and large, and indeed I do not detect any noise. The foreground is rich in hue, but not oversaturated. The eye is led firmly to the line of trees. You also have achieved the perfect sharpness level with the grasses. A very fine result, Jaap, particularly as you were fighting some light issues here.
John

tabora (13640) 2006-04-12 14:15

Hi Jaap
Un mélange de fagnes et de savane qui donne un magnifique contraste, les silouettes des arbres se détachent admirablement sur ce ciel tourmenté.
A+ Joseph

greg64g (11193) 2006-04-24 4:54

hello Jaap

well this is again an impressive sky and tree, the tittle is perfect, it's almost africa with cold colors.
cheers
greg

cjmm (4019) 2006-05-18 12:57

Hi Jaap,

This image is amazing. The contrast between sky and terrain is fantastic.

I like almost everything about this photo, specially DOF, composition (almost a book example) and light.

(By the way, I have also been recomending Scott Kelby's book on the forums; it is very good!).

Best regards,
Carlos

balatrek (7419) 2006-06-11 13:36

Saludos Jaap,

Excelente imagen, realmente parece Africa, tiene unos cambios de contrastes muy buenos, el brillo del cielo es especial, buen trabajo.

José

riclopes (33135) 2007-04-21 3:24

Olá Jaap, love the title of this one. I guess that it could be Africa, indeed :) Incredible backlighting and sky that goes from a strom on the left to a beautiful sunny and blue day on the left. Great composition with the trees and this way through the golden field. A fantastic painting, as usual!
Have a nice weekend,
ric

josepmarin (34131) 2009-02-18 9:06

Hi Jaap,
you have reason, it was not an easy photo because of the back light, but you did a great work and obtained a splendid graphical result.
The clouds in the spectacular sky are magnificent and have a big strength in the set.
Excellent composition.
Best regards,
Josep