Amsterdam Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

A Canal in Amsterdam

Scene
On a canal and at a shopping corner in Amsterdam between the city center and the Rijksmuseum. What caught my attention with this scene is the red boat, the lights on the bridge and in buildings, and the calmness of evening.

Background,
Earlier in the day my wife and I were out and about around the flower market and Rembrandt Plein, but after lunch the skies opened and it rained. Rain is an understatement as it poured all afternoon. We spent the afternoon back at the hotel catching up on some much needed down time after two weeks on safari and two days catching the sights in Amsterdam. As the sun went down the rain stopped and the sky lifted so we went out to capture some photographs during the blue hour. We had walked by this scene several times in the days we had been in Amsterdam and I thought it might make a good image under the right conditions.

dtsarpalis, dareco, stego, jhm, plimrn, gunbud, lucasgalodoido has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (37324) 2009-06-13 14:17

Hi John,
Very nice scene from Amsterdam, with good pov and perfect light.
Wonderfull reflections and nice soft colors.
Good and usefull info's as well.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

dtsarpalis (398) 2009-06-13 14:54

With your camera i couldn't expect anything else. Bright well focused photo. The boat on the right is just in the right place.
Have a nice WE.
TFS
Dimitris

dareco (17104) 2009-06-13 21:31

Very nice composition and awesome colors and reflection! This is really beautiful!! TFS

feather (50168) 2009-06-14 14:55

Look who's here! You already know this is my favourite of your Amsterdam images. I love the combination of artificial light and dusk. Particularly eye-catching is the resulting circles made from the bridge arches highlighted with lights, and of course the red boat.
Speak soon
Kath

Wandering_Dan (3297) 2009-06-15 10:00

Hi, John -

(Yes, I'm still here. And flattered that you added me to your favorites!)

This is a nice composition showing off the blue hour; we often underestimate the opportunities rain can provide. But I think you overexposed it a bit - 2 seconds! I posted a WS with a bit of Curves work; hope you don't mind.

Best,
Dan

[workshop] [compare] +

stego (22482) 2009-06-17 17:01

Hi John,
You made a masterful use of the light here. That clouded sky would probably cut my inspiration, but that doesn't seem to have any adverse effect here. The compo is also spot on the money, like you say, amazingly well balanced and very pleasant to the eye, with the triangular fuzzy reflection of the building and the rear of the boat on the FG rendering an effective, yet subtle sense of depth. The name of the boat gives a natural caption to the photo.
The only flaw is the inclination of the building, but surprisingly it doesn't bother me a bit.
Regards, José.

batalay (21213) 2009-06-18 21:28

Hello John,

The red hull of the boat creates a lovely highlight for the image, rich in pastels. The inclusion of the boat's name "Amsterdam" is a masterful touch. And of course, the bicycles parked on the opposite bridge and shore make this an unmistakable view of the beautiful city.

Warm regards,

Bulent

jhm (83378) 2009-06-19 4:55

Hello John,

Absolutely early in the morning get we these lovely images in a city as Amsterdam.
I like the enlightenment of the buildings and bridge, splendid reflections too.
You play very well with light and shadow.
Very well captured and nice composed. TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

plimrn (19740) 2009-06-20 7:34

Hi John,
Well you certainly caught it in the right conditions ath the blue hour with the sidewalks cleared of traffic by the rain. Your time to think about the composition really paid off. The framing is great, The lighted circle, the peekaboo view, the boat title, all the bicycles and the sidewalk cafe come together to capture the ambiance of this unique city.
HLJ, Pat

Flavia (10202) 2009-06-22 6:35

Hi John,

Perfect postcard from Amsterdam! The light is great and the composition is perfect with the baot name on the foreground. Really nice to see the bridge and its reflection son the water making a circle of light.

Regards,

Flavia

jmcl (14149) 2009-06-24 9:30

Hi John,

The stillness and play of light on the water is great .. and you didn't photoshop in the name of the boat? .. the water, all the bicycles .. quite an immediate sense of place .. I love the control of all the light. very nice. take care,

John

gunbud (28165) 2009-08-23 17:49

Hi John,
Stunning late cay capture of this lovely Amsterdam canal.
Love the red and white boat reflecting along with the light in the tranquil canal.
Beautiful background of bicycle and lovely architecture.
Regards, Tom

lucasgalodoido (16831) 2009-10-19 18:01

Hi John,
beautiful shot of Amsterdan sunset, and I like of the soft water reflections and light. Good composition too, my friend.
Regards,
Lucas