Zaanse Schans Windmills Photo

Photographer’s Note

Outside of Amsterdam, Holland

Scene
Three classic Dutch windmills are sitting on the shore of the Markenmeer, once the Zider Zee. This is a tourist village of Zaanse Schans demonstrating the Dutch rural life, wooden shoe manufacturing, cheese making, and farming.

Background
My wife and I had been in Amsterdam five days and were tiring of the city and were looking for places to go. We really hate bus tours, but we took one just to get out in the countryside and see what Holland really looked like. Part of the trip was to Zaanse Schans tourist village. The main reason to stop here was to visit the wooden shoe demonstration and spend money. After seeing the wooden shoe display we started roaming and visiting the houses and windmills. Our scheduled stop was for one hour and we almost missed the bus because we were visiting rather than spending money. I could have spent several hours here taking pictures and meeting some of the Dutch people manning the displays in the village.

feather, dareco, avene, Didi, pablominto, Wandering_Dan, plimrn, asajernigan, xuaxo, gunbud has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

MBWhite (102) 2009-06-26 11:25

Hi John,

You captured the color and clarity nicely. We visited on a rainy day but also found it to be a beautiful and interesting place. We walked and explored as you - not so much shopping.

Best Regards,
MB

stego (22352) 2009-06-26 11:35

Hi John,
I have already thought that you could be Dutch, considering your talent for compo and your skilful control of light, so it's no surprise that I find this typical Dutch view much achieved and attractive. In other situations, maybe I would regret the grey weather, but I think that here it is part of the charm. Anyway, lately I am much adept of grey sky, God know why.
Regards,
José

feather (49860) 2009-06-26 13:53

Another excellent shot from your time spent in Holland. I've seen images from here before, maybe from Fulvio (I don't think it's Henk) Just like your previous post from SD there is an implied diagonal from the tops of the windmills. Great sky in the background and a well composed image. You even included the patch of grasses in the fg for added depth.
Kath

akm (700) 2009-06-26 21:05

Hello John,
The windmills themselves may be classics but so are your diagonal composition and the shining grey water and sky. Beautifully done.
Regards,
Mary

wolf38 (12765) 2009-06-26 23:34

Hello John. A photo worth seeing from the beautiful Zaamdam. It is ideal for TE. Regards, W.

dareco (17104) 2009-06-27 23:16

Very nice repetition, depth and colors!! This is a beauty!!! The details are very sharp. I must add this to my favorites. I love it!! TFS

anesugur (16858) 2009-06-28 14:27

Hi John,
Wonderful scenery.
Perfect quality and beautiful colors.
I like the POV and composition.
Thanks for sharing.
Best regards. Uğur

batalay (20920) 2009-06-29 15:14

Hello John,

This is a lovely triple architectural portrait of the windmills, set against one of those lovely Dutch skies. Jaap Polak (carper) has been introducing us to both of these elements of Holland, and I can see that you have done a superb job complementing his gallery. Warm regards,

Bulent

avene (10982) 2009-06-30 5:29

hello John,
the unmistakable Dutch sky :) love the puffy clouds, they look a little like chunks of whipped cream created by the windmills. excellent composition, the little wooden poles in the foreground nicely mimic the line of the windmills, the strong horizontal lines add a sense of great depth to the scene. great shot, my compliments.

best,
Kristine

Didi (36084) 2009-07-04 11:11

Hi John
Typical dutch ambiance, very nice colours and good lights management in spite of the clouds.
The mills in France are not so beautifull.
Best regards

pablominto (40634) 2009-07-04 22:22

Hello John,

This is a fine com position, where you make well use of the principle of three!
The frame has good lines and a fine feeling of depth, good clarity in colours on a cloudy day...

Greetings,
Pablo -

jmcl (13795) 2009-07-06 7:35

Hi John,

Love the windmills .. and the way the water gives a sense of the wind that relates to the mills .. As much as these windmills have such an immediate sense of place .. it is that wonderful Dutch sky that grabs me .. and it has such a sense of dimension and distance from the windmills .. I think from the way clouds feel on an opposite diagonal to the line of the windmills .. really wonderful.

take care, John

Wandering_Dan (3221) 2009-07-11 10:54

Hi, John -

I'm just back from a couple of weeks in Israel and catching up. This one is nicely subtle to my mind, soft colors and great lineup of the repeating windmill theme, the "Dutch sky" that others have talked about. I was put off by the bit of plant in front at first, but I find it provides frame and place, so I'm cool with it.

Best,
Dan

Flavia (10202) 2009-07-12 5:54

Hi John,

Nice windmills! The magic tree works well and the green,red combination as well. Smart compo in diagonal, just think the bush on the foregrond a little distracting.

Regards,

Flavia

plimrn (19624) 2009-07-26 7:42

Hi John,
Wow, you've improved on the classic shot by lining it up perfectly with the clouds and adding FG detail. It really enhances the DOFrings out the detail of the windmills, The sharpness and exposure brings out the windmill detail better than I've seen it before; and this against a background that varies widely in required exposure. And of course the sky is also captured with perfect exposure all of which makes it a favorite for me.
HLJ, Pat

asajernigan (14132) 2009-08-21 2:56

John,
Your composition is nice here using the windmills to create a repeating pattern in the shot. The angle of the shot works well giving the scene a sense of depth and direction. The lighting and colors are fine with nice sharpness and DOF. Too bad you could not get a nice blue sky, but you captured the clouds very well.
TFS,
Asa

xuaxo (5719) 2009-08-22 8:40

Hi John,
Lovely classical view. I like the silver water, owing to the clouds.
~
You had a good idea to leave Amsterdam for a while.
If you don't like bus, I may suggest you to get a train somewhere; I'd say, anywhere. In a couple of hours you may be in the other corner of the country.
Greetings,
F.

gunbud (27851) 2009-08-27 19:51

Hi John,
Lovely shot of these three beauties seen in uniform descending order.
The old mills enjoy a lovely dramatic sky to stand out against.
Excellent sharpness and clear colors to this traditional Dutch landscape.
Regards, Tom

Waylim (10781) 2009-10-19 13:35

Hi John
This is a classic landmark of the Netherland, a post card like image of the area. I haven't yet a chance to visit. As we know there are just too many places and too little time and money to see them all. This is just what I imagine it to be, better yet, you have some very nice clouds as a beautiful background and the rural setting is just perfect to caputre these three windmills. Thanks John.
Way

Urs (2840) 2009-10-26 16:39

Hi John

In your gallery there two similar photographs, one showing skyscrapers lined-up like this windmills. Possibly the the nice cloud formation made me click the latter, but I liked very much that you used the same concept to present the skyscrapers and the windmill, however as they are not in the same picture not even the same country, I had to choose. We also do not like to take guided tours and have not done so since decades. When taking this picture was there rain coming up? It looks like that. Despite the not so good light you produced vibrant color hues with high sharpness. Well done

Best regards
Urs

kiks (6067) 2009-10-30 7:50

I see you visit one of the most famous atraction of Holland you had also the luck to get the typical dutch clouds and you catch the scene in a beautiful way using a digonal line.
Lovely end result.
Best regadrs
KIKs