NikonGear'23

Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: the solitaire on April 30, 2016, 17:35:10

Title: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on April 30, 2016, 17:35:10
Since this is what I photograph most I would like to share a few impressions here.

I do not know the rules for this subforum yet, so if in violation, please let me know.

I live in Northrhine Westfalia, Germany since 2005 and spend a lot of my free hours walking/hiking through the landscape and forests in the region. Most of the time I am accompanied by my girlfriend who is also a talented (more then I am) photographer and uses a Nikon D800 and mostly AF lenses.

Personally I prefer older manual Nikkors on my D3 which I still consider a ver capable camera.

Here is a photograph made with the D3 and 105mm f2,5 Nikkor-P

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/23486495723_2df489c2f0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/BMqqVr)DSC_2873 (https://flic.kr/p/BMqqVr) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

One of our two belgian shephards, also with the 105mm

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5694/23817397930_2dcb0a1a0e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ChEoBU)DSC_3081 (https://flic.kr/p/ChEoBU) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Taken with the D3 and 16mm f3,5 fisheye Nikkor

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1572/23486216733_b29e9c36e6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/BMoZZg)DSC_3094 (https://flic.kr/p/BMoZZg) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

55mm f1,2 at f5,6

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/728/22651189655_8d5eb458d2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/AvBgwF)DSC_0650 (https://flic.kr/p/AvBgwF) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

135mm f2,8 Nikkor-Q.C

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1452/24244446213_af055cea18_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/CWp8ck)DSC_3921 (https://flic.kr/p/CWp8ck) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Mike G on April 30, 2016, 18:30:10
Lovely Fallow Deer stag.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on April 30, 2016, 23:45:34
Very capable handling of all of these lenses esp the fish. I also like the  dog strolling towards the light.

Love the D3 still and will keep her. Yet she is outperformed in every respect by the D500.

The D600 only beats her IQ wise.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: John Koerner on May 02, 2016, 16:40:29
Beautiful shots, all.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 03, 2016, 08:30:50
Thank you for the kind comments.

The D3 is not the most modern camera and technology moved on, but I really like the file sthe camera provides. They are easy to work with, DR is good enough to mak eme worry less about the perfect exposure (getting within a stop or two is normally close enough to work the file, even though I generally do not adjust the exposure more then +/-0,7 stops) and I like the colors this sensor gives me.

What neither the D600 or Df give me is the handling and ergonomics of the body and what the D500 does not give me is the full frame sensor, so good as they all may be, the D3 will still stay with me until I can upgrade to a D4 or D5.

I am not sure if it is appropriate to continue such a thread, but here are a few more impressions I would like to share.

Taken with the 105mm f2,5 Nikkor-P

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5621/20805508631_19afb064e8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xGvES4)DSC_9521 (https://flic.kr/p/xGvES4) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

With the 180mm f2,8 AF-D and my girlfriends D800

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/503/20302417671_d9f714b19a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wW4crZ)DSC_0700 (https://flic.kr/p/wW4crZ) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

With the D300 and 24mm f2,8 (incorrect EXIF)

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8777/18236548216_275d304514_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/tMv5r7)_DSC4744 (https://flic.kr/p/tMv5r7) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr\

And a last one with the D300 and 14-24mm f2,8

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8790/18199854881_51e0f844af_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/tJg1Mp)_DSC7991 (https://flic.kr/p/tJg1Mp) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Jakov Minić on May 03, 2016, 10:26:12
Buddy the horses are very much to my liking.
Always nice to see a successful photo made with a wide angle lens!
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on May 03, 2016, 10:36:38
The birches and the horses are wonderful shots, really love them.

As for rules, that are written down somewhere: You can add anything you like to the threads you started as long as it is photographic and not politics or religion or format/brand war.

If you should want to open the thread for others to add their impressions, you could change the topic to: "[Theme] Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany"
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 03, 2016, 21:43:31
Thank you Jakov. The wide angle horse group portrait was a lucky shot. These are wild horses and we were walking in the area where they live. Most ofth etime these horses are fairly shy and we saw them from a distance away, across a creek. When they saw us they fled at first, which for horses is not uncommon behaviour.

We decided to walk into the evening hours to see the sun go down and just enjoy our stay there. And all of a sudden we saw this group of approximately 30 horses slowly come our way. The horses in the picture formed the vanguard and came to size us up. I made one more photo with the 14-24 before I walked up to my girlfriend and used mostly my hands and shoulders to inch horses away because we were surrounded and they were very curious about how cameras and dogs taste.

About half an hour later we were surrounded by 30 wild horses doing their thing, foals running and jumping around us and some of the adult horses decided to roll over and take a sand bath. I made quite a few photos with 55 and 105mm lenses, but the good light was pretty much gone and the pictures look a bit pale, even after PP.

Not too long after this we packed our stuff and walked to back the car.

Frank, I do not yet feel confident enough here to open a new theme/topic, but I do not mind other people sharing impressions here. I will relabel this thread, and as soon as I feel a bit more confident there are one or two themed threads I would like to start because I have an interest in seeing what other people do as much as I take interest in hearing what other people think of my photographs.

Thank you for clarifying how these things go on Nikongear. Shouldn't this thread then be moved to the themes and portfolio series subforum?
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on May 03, 2016, 22:18:47
You can always show one shot or a series of shots of your own in your "own" tread.

My experience as a user (I am no admin, just a user) is, that a thread stirs more interest if it is interactive.

Look at Gary's "old stuff" thread for example. Only Gary's photos but a nice interaction with "one photo per day" and "thank you photos" ...

A theme/topic is always good whem a lot of people have tried the same before or are currently interested to develop things further.

A good topic would e.g. be: "wild horses"

A less sucsessful "under my sink"

*ggg*
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Jakov Minić on May 03, 2016, 23:51:32
Buddy, just listen to yourself and your feelings just like you are doing with your lovely images :)
Feel free to post as you have been doing. We are all enjoying it very much.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 05, 2016, 00:58:36
Thank you for the vote of confidence Frank and Jakov.

In that case I will just leave this thread as-is and open up a theme thread in the appropriate subforum one of these days.

Some more recent photographs. This one with the 28mm f3,5 PC Nikkor at about 6mm shift

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7761/26811176125_b63ce2ea08_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GRdhzk)DSC_7550-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/GRdhzk) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Also with the shift lens, this time at 11mm shift

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/26538695270_6f05591fed_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gr8Kvy)DSC_7644-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/Gr8Kvy) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

16mm f3,5 Fish-eye Nikkor

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1470/26688474512_0a07aa1eda_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GEnpEh)DSC_7536 (https://flic.kr/p/GEnpEh) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

With the 5cm f2 Nikkor-S

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/26810189515_22115a804b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GR8ehP)DSC_7703-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/GR8ehP) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Same as above

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7659/26810143645_3c2de48e09_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GR7ZDX)DSC_7756-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/GR7ZDX) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Going down that road, 28mm f3,5 PC Nikkor at 7-8mm shift

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7708/26537963040_fd507d3486_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gr4ZQU)DSC_7783-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/Gr4ZQU) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on May 05, 2016, 01:08:25
Seems we encouraged you. Keep them coming. Great you are here.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 09, 2016, 00:12:03
Today I took a lot of photographs for a paid assignment, but also found the time to photograph a few landscape impressions

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/26899302305_fe7a889a1c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GYZXqe)DSC_8622 (https://flic.kr/p/GYZXqe) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Peter Connan on May 09, 2016, 11:03:20
Great colours and saturation throughout!
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 09, 2016, 12:44:48
Thank you Peter. I just noticed that I linked the wrong picture in my last post

It should have been this one, taken with the 16mm f3,5 pre-Ai

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/26805836562_683d3d5b9f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GQJViU)DSC_9000-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/GQJViU) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Which falls in line with your comment on the nice saturation :)

I often find that saturation plays a part in how a photograph is received. Nicely saturated greens and some warm yellows just give me a good feeling because they remind me of some of th emost beautiful moments I experienced while hiking through the forests and landscape. Because of this I rarely reduce saturation in my iamges and sometimes even enhance it a bit.

With Nikons D300 and D200 I found that enhancing saturation often led to problems in the display of red surfaces. With the D3 this has become far less of a problem.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 11, 2016, 23:58:32
A few photos of nature reclaiming an iron smeltery in Meiderich, Duisburg, Nortrhine Westfalia. The former smeltery stopped production in 1985 and was formed into a public park in the 1990's. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and left to be reclaimed by nature this is a very interesting photography location with many photographic opertunities. I did not use them all, but I do intend to go back there soon

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/26354506323_b7b9b2a3f4_b.jpg)

Birding with a 28mm PC lens. Is that even possible?

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7634/26864610582_c4a9cb8378_b.jpg)

Nature and industrialization form a stark contrast in this area

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7548/26353406854_6d33e094d5_b.jpg)

Walking through main smeltery #5

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/26685181560_0e9e294c0f_b.jpg)

I need to edit some more of the photographs I made here today. Updates will soon follow
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: HCS on May 12, 2016, 21:24:02
A few photos of nature reclaiming an iron smeltery in Meiderich, Duisburg, Nortrhine Westfalia. The former smeltery stopped production in 1985 and was formed into a public park in the 1990's. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and left to be reclaimed by nature this is a very interesting photography location with many photographic opertunities. I did not use them all, but I do intend to go back there soon

Perhaps the next (after Maastricht) NG event? Perhaps to link to a Photokina visit?
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: HCS on May 12, 2016, 21:25:02
And ... great stuff !
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 13, 2016, 11:14:49
Perhaps the next (after Maastricht) NG event? Perhaps to link to a Photokina visit?

That would be a really nice idea. Although, we were there during the week. During weekends 2 things are different.

1: There are more people there
2: As soon the sun goes down the whole installation is lit by various colored lights

The following link is in German, but the slide show shows some pictures of the park with lights

http://www.landschaftspark.de/der-park
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: John Geerts on May 13, 2016, 19:37:41
Great stuff,  and yes, looks like a nice location for an NG event.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 22, 2016, 12:20:14
A bit of a different subject matter compared to the industrial setting from our last excursion.
This time we went to the heathland near the Dutch/German border. Spring has most definately arrived there.

Along with photographs I want to share this short (cellphone) video to show what our photo hikes generally look like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAf8GecVBCw&feature=youtu.be

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/27125008696_4ae206c1df_b.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7529/27158137275_c9f96334b0_b.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/26552178794_8b3bb71c3a_b.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/26883711170_3b1ac65078_b.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/26552142034_b0a010486c_b.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/27158022455_3604d0877c_b.jpg)

All of these were taken with the 55mm f1,2 Nikkor-S.C wide open on my D3. There are just so many photo opertunities there that I feel sorry every time we have to leave the area, but at some point the dogs want to go home and go to sleep. I guess that is one of the responsibilitie sthat comes with pets :)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Danulon on May 25, 2016, 22:28:50
Seeing your photos, I feel that you really missed out on the Scotland event.  ;)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on May 26, 2016, 08:17:18
You have a very special way to work with light.

The forest almost looks translucent in your pictures.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: armando_m on May 26, 2016, 15:53:55
What a beautiful series !

Thanks for sharing your images

I like how the images connect with nature
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: BW on May 26, 2016, 16:16:37
Agree with the former comments. Outstanding pictures and definitely your own style. That I like :)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on June 07, 2016, 10:35:10
Guenther, I feel that I missed out in that indeed. The area would have offered many fine oportunities.

Frank, this translucent appearance is, in part, the magic of the first green leaves that are nearly that. Translucent.

Armando, thank you. I feel humbled by those words, because when I'm there I too feel connected to nature, and it means quite something to me if others can recognise this in my photos.

Thank you Børge. This style is just me trying  to show what I see the best I can. Style develops as I learn more about photography and processing :)

On our last trip to "Tor 9" I brought the new-to-me 80-200 f4 Ai-S zoom to see if that can replace the 135 f3,5 and 200 f4 in my bag.
Here are some photos taken with this lens.

(https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7635/26908938983_69bdcdbdd8_b.jpg)

(https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7253/26907874964_ee9d131ccf_b.jpg)

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7196/26907801224_c2f4dd484e_b.jpg)

One of the nicest features of the lens is the close minimum focus difference

(https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7309/27444611871_7e96e04d3b_b.jpg)

And the ability to let dogs appear out of nowhere ;)

(https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7496/27482429396_8376318009_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on June 07, 2016, 11:31:34
The more natural look in the last set appeals to me. Lumi jumping through the trees. Fun shot and perfect definition.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on June 07, 2016, 11:54:52
Thank you for the kind words Frank.

There is a place and time for everything, and even though I really like my fast primes, this zoom certainly gives me some depth of field that sometimes really works for a scene like this.

For the past 5 years I tended to use f1,4 and f1,2 lenses wide open for this kind of photography, but I also really liked th elook the 135mm f3,5 gave me a few weeks ago and now with the slow 80-200 zoom I am bound to go through another transition in the way I observe and study the scenes I try to capture.

Photography is a learning process. In the end, it is the journey which really matters, but it is always nice to bring a few souvenirs along the way ;)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Jakov Minić on June 07, 2016, 12:31:11
Buddy, I really like your style of mellow, hazy, pastel colored photos :)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: John Geerts on June 07, 2016, 12:35:19
Agree.  Nice examples indeed. The lens looks sharp, comparable with the 4.5 N  Last series I think. The earlier C versions are a bit rounder in their rendering (to my feeling as it's difficult to prove such a thing in a scientific and statistical way), think you can compare that with the first multicoated versions of the 85, 135/2.8 and 3.5 and 200.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on June 07, 2016, 12:56:12
Thank you Jakov. I think that my processing is just one of these ever changing things. Never really could settle for a single approach that worked for all images since I believe that each photo is a capture of a unique moment and with that it will be quite rare that different photos need the exact same approach when it come sto developing. Still though, I work with presets in Lightroom and recipies in NIK a lot because I do like using quick baselines that apply to certain types of photos. Maybe I should rethink that strategy and do the same Kristina does. Start from scratch for each single photograph. :)

John, I really do like the sharpness the 80-200 gives me, but I am not yet entirely certain that it is as sharp as the 200 f4 Nikkor-Q.C. I do believe it is sharper then the 200 f4 Ai-S though.

I do not hold much from trying to prove lens quality scientifically through lab measurements, computer simulations and test charts. Maybe because I am not a studio photographer. When out in the field a lens works or it doesn't. I found that for me lenses work while others find them horrible. Other lenses which are praised highly don't work all that well for me.

I can make comparison photos of the 80-200 f4 Ai-S sample I own against a 105 f2,5 Nikkor-P, a 135mm f2,8 Nikkor-Q.C, 135mm f3,5 Nikkor-Q.C and 200mm f4 Nikkor-Q.C. Will post them in a thread of their own. The only 85mm lens I own is the 85mm f1,4 AF-D which is in a league of it's own. It would be interesting to see how that compares to the 80-200, both at f4.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on June 07, 2016, 21:34:04
Some very different processing.

These are just the fields in front of our house, on the way to the nearest supermarket (still without a car)

(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7784/26918667163_5652cfb105_b.jpg)

(https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7571/27428283282_24dd1eb344_b.jpg)

(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7422/26918785123_04ea97edb3_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Jakov Minić on June 08, 2016, 10:46:00
Buddy, I like the thriller effect in your processing!
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: John Geerts on June 08, 2016, 15:52:52
Yes, pretty dramatic. Nice skies.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on June 10, 2016, 15:08:41
Thank you :) Yes, the skies looked quite dramatic that day. Not much after taking these fotos it started to rain again

Yesterday I took the 105mm f2,5 Nikkor-P with me again

The first shot is kind of ruined by the fly

(https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7323/27538690166_b4671b83f9_b.jpg)

The next photo came out more to my liking, even if it is somewhat darker then most of the photos you have seen of me this far

(https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7455/27538728266_98c45fa05a_b.jpg)

(https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7056/27573291165_aba515e7f2_b.jpg)

(https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7369/27538937036_978cfe1bc4_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on July 16, 2016, 21:39:39
Today I had to stop the car because i noticed how the light caught this little structure

(https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8587/27733766653_11099b2365_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: BW on July 16, 2016, 22:21:31
It was worth the stop. Very expressive picture of the small "church"?
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on July 16, 2016, 23:03:08
Wayside shrine if I read the inscriptions correctly :) Thank you for the kind words. It was indeed worth the stop
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: John Geerts on July 24, 2016, 19:30:11
John, I really do like the sharpness the 80-200 gives me, but I am not yet entirely certain that it is as sharp as the 200 f4 Nikkor-Q.C. I do believe it is sharper then the 200 f4 Ai-S though.
Yes it is. I have a nearly mint 80-200/4 AIS at the moment (one of the last serial nummers in the 3...)  and it performs better than the the 200/4 AIS in my view.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on August 19, 2016, 15:52:12
Moving into our new residence I did not find a lot of motivation to make photographs, but this is a typical Niederrhein view with atypical indian cattle

(https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8831/28533963750_854c811277_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: kruemmelkasper on August 20, 2016, 01:27:50
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5751/22671054405_a7e94e601f_b.jpg)

(https://c7.staticflickr.com/1/689/22657809462_5bd0bccd90_b.jpg)

Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on August 20, 2016, 03:45:15
#40.1 phantastic light and depiction of the mushroom. WOW
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 05, 2018, 10:00:55
Winter has come and gone. Bit of a slow spell for my outdoor photography because I was at work during the time there was something of usable light out.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/868/40286641155_dc3d425c5c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24nZyRi)DSC_9624 (https://flic.kr/p/24nZyRi) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

But as the days grew longer, I found more opertunities to take pictures

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/41610028141_a0819cf84f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26oWgGi)DSC_0494 (https://flic.kr/p/26oWgGi) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

And do what I love the most. Be outside with the family

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/899/40899418704_8ecb0548a4_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25j9dgs)DSC_0499-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/25j9dgs) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/41856240761_b2b9dc5f99_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26LGb8t)DSC_0740-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/26LGb8t) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 05, 2018, 10:08:05
Here are a few from last Autumn that I completely forgot to post here

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4509/37522758450_3d05735222_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ZaKWPd)DSC_8900 (https://flic.kr/p/ZaKWPd) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4362/37407495262_f51c5d55fe_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/YZzc5S)20171001-DSC_8490 (https://flic.kr/p/YZzc5S) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4365/37438708351_3e0f1540c2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Z3kaDz)20171001-DSC_8476 (https://flic.kr/p/Z3kaDz) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4391/37407711652_a79aa237cf_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/YZAipJ)20171001-DSC_8460 (https://flic.kr/p/YZAipJ) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4483/36768571463_991ff8cff5_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Y27xii)20171001-DSC_8449 (https://flic.kr/p/Y27xii) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: afx on May 05, 2018, 20:35:40
Love the dog shots,especially the one with the parasol.
Did you get the dog to pose?

cheers
afx
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on May 06, 2018, 23:54:26
Yes Andreas, we had both dogs pose for the dog photos.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Fons Baerken on May 08, 2018, 08:59:04
Excellent thread which i had failed to notice!
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on August 06, 2018, 00:38:04
Frank, if you read this, here might be an urgent reason for a photo walk

Introductory photo, made with D800 and 50mm f1,4 K Nikkor

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/854/28915341267_47347b9384_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/L49FyF)DSC_1603-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/L49FyF) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Whenever the water level in the Rhine gets particularly low, like once in every decade or so, remains of a wooden ship become visible.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/42024046720_d5e93ab0f6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/272wdZE)DSC_1998 (https://flic.kr/p/272wdZE) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

This, once 35 meters long, single mast ship was called Do Hoop back in the days it was still operable.
In the winter of 1894, this ship, along with 5 other ships like it, were supposedto transport a large shipment of dynamite through Kleve to the Netherlands and from there on overseas to it's destination.

The winter of 1894 however was not kind, and the Rhine was all but frozen over. The pressure on the ships hulls was about to set off the dangerous load, and thus it was decided to stockpile the dynamite in a shed during the winter.

In March of 1895 the ice was gone, and the ships were loaded again. The first two ships (De Hoop one of them) were already stocked with dynamite, and the Elisabeth already had 1400 barrels of dynamite on her when the load exploded. Barrels of dynamite flew through the air, setting off on shore, and on the decks of the other ships. Miraculously, the shed with the remainder of dynamite remained untouched.

De Hoop was ablaze and drifted to the Rhine shore where it hit the banking and remains there until this very day.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/859/43832218161_3d21cf27ef_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29Miznk)DSC_2015 (https://flic.kr/p/29Miznk) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/929/29962629628_2cee6d2214_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MDGiUy)DSC_2012 (https://flic.kr/p/MDGiUy) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1812/43115599534_571a8bc84d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28FYHBL)DSC_2009-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/28FYHBL) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/932/43115614704_10c02d98cd_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28FYN8j)DSC_2008-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/28FYN8j) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/935/29962584578_5bb40674de_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MDG5vQ)DSC_2031 (https://flic.kr/p/MDG5vQ) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/42023878220_8004aba245_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/272vmUu)DSC_2042 (https://flic.kr/p/272vmUu) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on August 06, 2018, 21:41:22
I am flattered by your recent comments.

I love to meet you very soon.

I am back from my long planned vacation on 20th of August.

I hope the chance to take photos with hostoric value will still exist then.
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: the solitaire on August 08, 2018, 09:10:51
I think the water level will remain as low for the next 3 to 4 weeks at least. And I will have a week off from work starting the 20th
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Bent Hjarbo on August 08, 2018, 14:14:41
Excellent thread which i had failed to notice!
I fully agree with Fons, super thread, very good photos.
Inspiring both on motives and the use of MF Nikkors :)
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on August 08, 2018, 19:45:16
that sounds like half a plan already. I want to see the wild horses too
Title: Re: Niederrhein; Nature in Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Post by: timh on August 08, 2018, 21:55:57
Just discovered this thread filled with beautiful atmospheric moments. The light and the dogs are wonderful. Inspiring!