Impressionist The Hague Photo

Photographer’s Note

Impressionist The Hague

This is my second picture from the TE-meeting last month in Den Haag, with Bert (bertolucci), Rob (alvaraalto) and myself. It's a reflections photo captured along de Koningskade (King's Quay), not far from Den Haag Central Station.

Although Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands, it is not the seat of the Dutch Government. This is Den Haag (The Hague), which therefore also has the nicknames Hofstad (Court City) or Residentiestad (Residential City).
It is home for de Staten Generaal (States General), consisting of de Eerste Kamer (First Chamber, Senate/Upper House) and de Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber, Lower House), almost all the ministries are located in Den Haag, including het Ministerie van Algemene Zaken (the Ministry of General Affairs/Prime Minister's Office).
Den Haag is also the city where the Head of State of the Kingdom of the Netherlands lives and works (currently Queen Beatrix).
Apart from domestic politics, Den Haag is also home for international organizations, like the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the European Police Office (Europol).

Den Haag was founded in 1248 by Willem II, Count of Holland. It's the third-largest city in the Netherlands (after Amsterdam and Rotterdam) with more than 475,000 inhabitants. It's located in the west of the country and is capital of the province of Zuid-Holland. A more formal and older name of the city is 's Gravenhage.

In the last years Den Haag got a real skyline with the construction of a couple of office towers, often used as ministries. Here you can see two of these towers, located in the quarter called De Resident. The one at right is the 88m-high Zürichtoren, completed in 1999. The other one is the home of het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports).
Both towers are here presented in an impressionist reflection photo.

Another reason why I post this photo today is, that it was one of the most important days in Dutch politics: the third Tuesday in September or Prinsjesdag (Day of the Princelings), when the Queen addresses a joint session of de Staten Generaal in de Troonrede (Speech from the Throne), situated in de Ridderzaal (Knight's Hall) in Den Haag. It's the official opening of the new parliamentary year, when the government sets out the plans for the upcoming year. It's also a day full of traditions.

I hope you like this view from Den Haag, that will be added to my reflection-theme too.

alvaraalto, emjleclercq, guillaumejm, leonorkuhn, siolaw, hgupta, zeca, Emile, riclopes, danyy, feather, vero07, abulafia, Tort, singuanti, AiresSantos, jhm, Guenther, danos, papagolf21, aloyho, syd1946, UlfE, jmdaoudal, Henryk_Bilor, delic, dip, bakes888, brevbrev14, clio, gneufeld, Didi, atus, Yffic, kiwi_explorer, pasternak, Hendrika, Traveller, smash2707, Jean-Luc, Trekki, avene, kibele66, azaf1 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Traczewska (7275) 2007-09-18 13:37

That is an amazing reflection with pure illusion of marvelous impressionist-surrealist painting! Great observation and colours!
with regards, Agnieszka

Just-A-Guy (331) 2007-09-18 13:38

Hi Lars,

This is indeed a wonderful impressionist style photo, that actually looks a lot like a painting. Good catch!

mirarer (4423) 2007-09-18 13:40

Hola Lars:
Impresionismo en estado puro. Muy conseguida.
Felicidades.
Amazing shot.
Regards.
Mirari.

mems (130) 2007-09-18 13:43

Goden avond Lars,
Dat is een buiten gewoon mooie foto. Zowie olieverf.
Gr,
Mehmet

alvaraalto (5303) 2007-09-18 13:50

Hallo Lars,
Het is dat de gebouwen te modern zijn, anders was dit een meesterwerk van een impressionist.
groet Rob

kapthakan (196) 2007-09-18 13:55

Hi Lars,beautiful composition,beautiful colours and beautiful reflection well done.

Regards,Hakan

emjleclercq (14498) 2007-09-18 14:02

A very well chosen title for this different kind of reflection, less photographic nad mre reminiscent of a painting.

All the best,

Emmanuel

guillaumejm (30) 2007-09-18 14:06

hello lars,
Yes impressionist is the right word. Very nice composition with beautifull soft colours. The leaves on the water surface brings a lot to the scenary.
Best regards
JMarc

paura (39202) 2007-09-18 15:51

Lars,
Amazing composition here. Wel balanced lighting and colours for the excellent outcome. To my favourites.

Paulo

siolaw (25830) 2007-09-18 16:31

Hi Lars,
I like reversed reflections, and this is no exception... It looks really impressionist, with nice color tones and beautiful texture...
Good work
Laurent

batalay (21193) 2007-09-18 16:45

Hi Lars,

Well done! The shimmering reflections in the water are precisely those effects that the Impressionists were trying to create. And indeed, using hitherto unseen pigments created in the exceedingly hot furnaces of the Industrial revolution, they produced colors seen in your photograph.

Warm regards,

Bulent

leonorkuhn (13989) 2007-09-18 16:59

Hej Lars,

Like father, like son.
Excellent and creative composition, I like very much this reflections "a la Monet". Nice soft colors.

Well done!
Hilsner
Leonor

hgupta (1321) 2007-09-18 19:39

Just one sentence.......
"This is creativity at its best"

Wow...awsome....
Great work
Regards,

Hemant

zeca (20026) 2007-09-18 20:16

Very nice work, Lars! The textures are beautiful, the lights and colours are great and we can see even the nice architecture. Very creative and artistic shot.
Regards,
Zeca

Emile (20117) 2007-09-18 22:13

Hola Lars.
Superb reflection, it looks like a paint, very well captured from a good POV. Very good colors contrast.
Well done. TFS.
Best regards.

Graal (58714) 2007-09-18 23:29

Hi Lars,
amazing reflections, similar to painted image, really impressionist. Good idea and realization. I like it. Good work.
Gr., Aleksander

UnTrained (0) 2007-09-18 23:56

Hej Lars,
that is a wow-capture because of its impression and the turned view not detectable directly. Maybe those area of painters was my favourite one. You ask for joining them?
Good note in addition which gives me some more information about national political structure.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

Valerka (8159) 2007-09-19 0:15

Hi, Lars
A very handsome a bit off the beaten track and yet, still classic view of a classic building.
A nice play of light.
Indeed, totally in the spirit of les Impressionnists, my favourite art trend.
Bravo
TFS
Valerka:)

vincz (19045) 2007-09-19 0:30

Very artistic image. The textures you got there are fantastic. An excellent work.

riclopes (33131) 2007-09-19 2:22

Wow, this is one of your best reflections, Lars. The impressionist result on the architecture is really good and the leaves (not only the yellow ones) are fantastic to complete the intended mood. Congratulations for this great shot - I really like it.
Groet,
ricardo

John_F_Kennedy (31994) 2007-09-19 3:25

Excellent shot, I love the composition. Great colours and sharpness. POV and the reflection on the water is superb.
Best wishes,
Achim

Mikos (4324) 2007-09-19 6:06

Dag Lars!

Wow I am totally impressed about your composition, such an interesting idea you have had, and not only this, you have done it in a very attractive way, it really seems an impressionist painting!
I just can only say, chapeau!
Congratulations Lars!

Cheers, take care! ;)

Miguel

danyy (69417) 2007-09-19 6:15

Bonjour Lars,
j'aime beaucoup ce genre d'originalité, certes, on ne voit que peu de détails des batiments photographiés, mais en contre partie, l'esthétique est au rendez-vous, dans les lumières et les couleurs , mais aussi dans ce frétillement de la surface de l'eau.
Excellente initiative.
Regards.
Daniel.

feather (50144) 2007-09-19 6:28

You're right Lars; it is like an Impressionist painting. In fact it is very much like something by Monet himself. I'm sure you and your Dad go around looking for perfect reflections. :D. Good choice to rotate the image to emphasise the painting analogy.
Kath

vero07 (1747) 2007-09-19 7:02

Hi Lars,
Excellent and original shot with amazing reflections. That's the kind of shot that I like very much.
A perfect composition.
Thanks for your useful information.
Very well done.

pablominto (41340) 2007-09-19 7:12

Hello Lars,
A lovely reflection has been captured!
Wonderful colours as water reflections always make colours appear richer, great inclusion of reality in the form of floating leaves and wwaterplants...
Personally I'd prefer a 180 degrees rotaion but I guess that's a matter of taste!
Greetings,
Pablo -

abulafia (4802) 2007-09-19 8:17

Hi Tue
It does indeed look like a painting, I think you should have framed it somehow, I believe it could work very well on this kind of shot.
Very nice work
Harry

xavshot (63125) 2007-09-19 9:46

Bonjour Lars
excellente composition et beau rendu de ces reflets. On a vraiment l'impression de se trouver devant un tableau. C'est du beau travail.
Xavier

Stepan (27175) 2007-09-19 14:22

An excellent idea, very well composed and realized. You saw that right, you dit it well.
Stéphane

Tort (2266) 2007-09-19 14:27

Hi Lars
Fascinating image, the composition is very attractive. I like the fine reflection and the spectacular details. Lights are beautiful, clarity superb. Well done
Best regards
Juan Tort

singuanti (15240) 2007-09-19 19:08

Hey Lars. I just love the surreal feeling you have here. Having the leaves in the reflection is so creative and unusual and maybe my favorite part of it all. I've never seen this composition with The Hague. Great shot Lars!

toto (18755) 2007-09-20 1:31

Belle photo de ces reflets de batiments dans l' eau.jolies couleurs qui ressortent bien de ces reflets.
ces feuilles sur l' eau seblent cacher légèrement vos reflets, très légèrement, juste de quoi nous faire se demander si dans peut de temps, ces reflets ne serons plus visibles, l' automne arrive donc déja?. Si ce sont des feuilles de nénuphars, elles pourraient aussi cacher ces reflets, alors il était temps de la prendre votre photo. Amitiés Thomas
je reviens

AiresSantos (42844) 2007-09-20 2:03

Hi Lars
amazing reflections in the water, nice effect of the leaves and excellent colours
Very well framed and done
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

jhm (83298) 2007-09-20 3:10

Hallo Lars,

Deze was mij gewoon ontsnapt tussen de zo veel andere, maar nooit te laat zo te zien.
Een zeer aangename weerspiegeling van dit prachtig gebouw, de lelie bladeren samen met de gekleurde afgevallen bladeren krijgen wij een mooie nuence over dit beeld.
Mooi gedaan.

Groeten uit Vlaanderen,
John

jurek1951 (26136) 2007-09-20 6:09

Hi Lars
Nice colours, good interesting cpature with these refelctions of houses.
Georg

Guenther (6859) 2007-09-20 7:51

Hi Lars,
excellent immage of reflection, the merge between the slightly blurred reflctions and the floating leaves are very attractive... very well done and seen, thanks for sharing!

jafadabret (40315) 2007-09-20 9:13

Lars, j'aime beaucoup cette composition qui s'apparente à une peinture. Tout est pour le mieux, couleurs, lumière... du grand art.
Jacques

danos (33240) 2007-09-20 9:44

Hello Lars,
really this shot looks like as an Impressionist painting. Excellent the shape of the King's Quay through the sun lounge.Well done Lars.

Regards,Danos

Gerrit (36259) 2007-09-20 17:34

Dag Lars,
mooi deze impressionistische reflectie van de grote moderne gebouwen. Het romatisch effect van de bladeren in deplas werkt zo helemaal goed vervreemdend.
Groeten Gerrit

papagolf21 (56733) 2007-09-21 2:01

Bonjour, mon ami Lars,
C'est tout l'impressionnisme qui est présenté dans cette composition.
J'aime beaucoup cette réalisation qui s'apparente vraiment à une peinture.
Comme d'habitude, une note d'accompagnement très intéressante.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

Budapestman (42780) 2007-09-21 5:11

Hi Lars,
Magnificent image, its so than a painting from Monet. Composition is refined and fine, details are beautiful. This is a splendid observation and creative realization, Very well done! Have a nice weekend
George

aloyho (6109) 2007-09-21 6:16

Hi Lars,
If Claude Monet is around he must be scratching his head for having missed this place. You indeed showed the essence of an impressionist. I love the visual effect, the overall composition and colours and most of all getting exactly what you wanted through your lens. Brilliant shot!!
Have a great weekend ahead.

syd1946 (17965) 2007-09-21 15:07

Hi Lars,
What a beautiful composition!You find a great opportunity to take a shot and made an excellent work.The style of work that I like very much.
It could be an artwork of an impressionist artist!Great work!

wishes for the weekend,
Thomas

kLe (2039) 2007-09-22 0:19

Hi Lars,
with this picture you reached the top in reflections. Besides I like the blut caused by the movement of watet that adds a nice pointillism effect like in the paintings of George Seurat or Jacob Camille Pissaro.
Regards,
Clemente

UlfE (9158) 2007-09-22 9:27

Hi Lars,

Of all your photos of reflections I believe this is one of the best, if not the best. I has got such a wonderful feeling of an impressionist painting. The water lilies makes it look a little like a painting of Monet but then it has a touch of your own style. Excellent work. Have nice week end!

Cheers,

Ulf

jmdaoudal (82) 2007-09-26 16:05

I am happy you leave sometimes the rich architectures to enter the poetic world of impressionism !
Al is delicate and soft here, the reflet is well composed and the tonalities give a nice effect and moood.
I like it
Jean Michel

tabora (13640) 2007-09-27 9:25

Bonsoir lars,
Un monet en photo,impressionnant de beauté, bien équilibré.
Joli travail
A+ Joseph

jonathan_hart (22623) 2007-09-27 9:31

hello Lars
very interesting result, the title is perfect ;)
regards
jo

Henryk_Bilor (20371) 2007-09-28 5:07

Hi Lars
You are a great painter :). Lovely reflection among the leaves on the surface. Nice colours.
Regards

Leonie (8647) 2007-09-28 11:50

Hi Lars...2more points to make it 100!!! Such a nice image,soft and beautiful colours! Well done!

Best, Léonie

delic (6735) 2007-09-28 12:39

Hello Lars,
Indeed, this is one of the best impressionist reflections I've seen on TE. In fact, it's more like two pictures, one of the leaves and the other of the buildings. Very nice. Regards,
Hakan

jaywalker (12302) 2007-09-28 14:18

Hi Lars, A stunning piece of work, it looks like a Monet painting, the pastel colours are perfect & excellent light, the little ripple of the water creates a superb effect, TFS this well composed shot, kind regards Wilson.

dip (12844) 2007-09-29 1:03

Hi Lars,
a oil painting like reflection :)
you saw it good and you captured it very well,
Greetings,
Dimitris.

bakes888 (18327) 2007-09-30 0:40

Hi Lars. Great photo. Only the water lilies give away the first impressions. Excellent colour, composition and POV. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

jrj (34779) 2007-10-01 2:51

Creative work Lars and a most 'art' looking result this water puddle compo. Good use of the leaves there and also good idea to present it upside down.

cessy (13647) 2007-10-01 20:41

Hallo Lars

very well seen and very very nice capture of the reflection
beautiful, it looks like a painting

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-10-02 5:53

Hi Lars, good one!
i like a lot the reflection and what i like more are the leaves in the water..
a good game in this image!
well taken
ciao!
Valeria

clio (23021) 2007-10-02 14:29

Hello Lars
A lot of thanks for this fantastic " Den Haag nympheas".
Now there are the photos of the nymphéas of Monet and those of Lars! It is really beautiful. Congratulations.
Diane

gneufeld (15233) 2007-10-03 15:45

Hi Lars,
I love this expression of art by capturing a stunning reflection only to leave the viewer to imagine the full extent of the actual scene. Very good colors and most unusual details in the water. Very unique and different work and TFS. Gerald

markstaples (15670) 2007-10-07 11:56

Great reflections indeed in the impressionist style. Very much like the floating leaves. Nice one.
Best wishes
MARK

Didi (36434) 2007-10-09 10:42

Bonjour Lars
Une composition intéressante qui mérite bien son succès.
Je reconnais aussi que l'inspiration était au rendez-vous ce jour là.
J'appprécie beaucoup.
Cordialement.

atus (15476) 2007-10-09 11:56

Hi Lars,
I missed this wonderful masterpiece, which seems very artistical with the fantastic reflections of the impressive buildings surrounded by the leaves. Great one! Tfs and best wishes.
Attila

utkue (3420) 2007-10-10 0:36

Hello Lars,
Excellent composition and great capture.
Cadrage, contrast, colours and sunlight are wonderfull in this photo.
Congratulations.
Best regards from Ankara and have a nice day.
Utku

:) 1 hour later

Yffic (6106) 2007-10-12 4:50

Hi Lars.

A very poetical shot.
The reflections are wonderful: it gives a really soft ambiance.

Best regards.

Yves

scroller (2883) 2007-10-24 8:14

Hej Lars
The title, the way it is presented its just so superb as possible.
Hälsningar
/Stefan

pasternak (13644) 2007-10-28 3:06

Very good, Lars. This shot breathes impressionism, so the title suits completely: first, the blurred-distorted reflection of the modern high towers of The Hague create this impression, and then, these water lilies make one immediately think of Monet... Nice work, compliments.

Cheers
Alexander

Hendrika (655) 2007-11-20 5:49

Ja Lars,
Soms moet je gewoon voor alleen de reflectie kiezen.
Heel mooie opname geworden zo.
TFS
Els

edal (6599) 2007-12-02 1:42

Hello Lars!
It's a very interesting idea and very well performed.
Anton

erguvan (759) 2008-01-26 20:27 [Comment]

Show Comment

Traveller (667) 2008-01-26 20:38

So creative, Lars! It really looks like an impressionist's painting. Very useful and informative note and a great observation. Congratulations with all the Dutch holidays! :)
Irina

capthaddock (28640) 2008-02-04 15:54

Wonderful reflections, indded it has a painting like quality, I especially like the scattered leaves.

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2008-02-11 0:30

Hi Lars,
It does look like an impressionist painting indeed ... this is an awesome capture and wonderfully presented. Great POV and creatively done. Well composed! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

smash2707 (2516) 2008-03-02 12:04

This shot is absolutely stunning. It will go directly to my other favorites. It really looks like an impressionist painting. Great reflection and beautiful colors. Regards, Yvonne

Jean-Luc (5488) 2008-03-16 8:58

Bonjour Lars,
Merci pour la visite qui me permet de découvrir une belle galerie.
Cette photo style "impressionnisme" a retenu tout mon attention et m'a fait une grande "impression" car je suis amateur de peinture (je peint un peu aussi).
C'est une excellente idée et surtout une grande réussite.
Bravo!
Amicalement,
Jean-Luc

Trekki (132) 2008-03-22 3:22

Fantastic!! Indeed more an impressionist painting than a water reflection - a lot of room for dreaming :-))
Happy Easter :-)))
Ingrid :-)

smartcat (835) 2008-03-24 1:25

Hi Lars!

Very nice composition!

Really, this reflection looks like an impressionist picture!

evanrizo (456) 2008-04-01 12:32

Hi Lars, a clever seen and done composition.
The effect is fantastic.
Congratulations for it.
Evangelos

avene (11136) 2008-04-04 4:11

hello Lars,
apt title, the photo does indeed remind of impressionist painting :) I like a lot the multiple layers in this photo - the sky, the buildings, the water, the reflections, the leaves, and the strong diagonal lines, I've always thought they make any photo more dynamic. this is very well seen and presented, my compliments.

with kind regards,
Kristine

kibele66 (2926) 2008-05-05 2:22

Hello Lars,
Impressionist and a bit surrealistic composition that gives the taste of visiting an art gallery full of oil-painting masterpieces.
One of the best reflection photos on TE I saw and has very soft and serene colors.
I always thought and imagined Hague as an offical, sober and a bit judicator city, but your photo reversed all my thoughts and imagination:))
Congratulations and best wishes
Sibel

zanzi (4778) 2008-12-23 6:11

Hi Lars
A truely gorgeous picture. The leaves, the reflexion and the tight movement of water make it a dream shot.
Bravo
Chris

azaf1 (15547) 2008-12-24 2:17

Good morning Lars
It is a poem! A unique creation with that wonderful reflection and the surface decorated too.
My sincere compliments and my best wishes for Christmas
Argiris

Baileys (677) 2009-03-30 12:27

This is really amazing... what I love about photography is how it shows well known places in a completely new way... the reflection of those modern buildings (I am always amazed btw how perfectly they fit in the old architecture of the city) really gives the feeling of looking at the impressionist painting.
Great picture, thank you for sharing. Hanna