NikonGear'23
Travelogues => Travel Diaries => Topic started by: John Geerts on July 21, 2015, 17:41:17
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A sort of project: As a kind of an ''ambassador" of a nature-area, Regte Heide, and one of the administrators of a Facebook group 'Friends of the "Regte Heide" (https://www.facebook.com/groups/regteheide013/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/regteheide013/) I post on a regular basis photos in the group, mainly to show it's beauty and get perhaps volunteers on board for all kind of nature-maintenance jobs, organized by 'Brabants Landschap', the owner and caretaker of that region. At least once a month I try to visit the place (it's a two hour bike-travel and have no car).
The landscape is unique, there are prehistoric grave hills (approx 2.000 BC), a Moore on high grounds (and an old river-bed of the river 'Maas' very long ago), rain-based lakes (vennen) and a small river which has been restored into a valley with high water-levels) and cannot be trespassed. As it is close to the Belgium border, a kind of no-civilisationground, the whole area has been saved over the centuries. There are not so many visitors during the week and the views of the surroundings can be spectacular and calming.
In May / June the 'Iris pseudacorus' turns up, luckily in increasing numbers.
D700 - Nikkor 28mm 1.8G F/11
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Wow, nice one John.
Perhaps nice to join up sometime and go shooting together. I do have a car, so that should ease things ;) I'm in the Eindhoven area.
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Iris pseudacorus is a nice species, true. I always enjoy photographing it. Sometimes I find it beneficial to shoot it in unusual directions due to the highly asymmetric flowers.
It is beautiful in UV as well.
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John - Regte Heide
explain why that name? what does it mean - real Heide (which is a flower as far as I know) ?
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Wow, nice one John.
Perhaps nice to join up sometime and go shooting together. I do have a car, so that should ease things ;) I'm in the Eindhoven area.
Thanks, Hans. Well, good idea. Eindhoven is pretty close. And I know the area.
Iris pseudacorus is a nice species, true. I always enjoy photographing it. Sometimes I find it beneficial to shoot it in unusual directions due to the highly asymmetric flowers.
It is beautiful in UV as well.
Ah, didn't know that, thanks. It's growing in wetland here, and to get real close a pair of boots may be a comfort trying different angles ;) - in this case I wanted the Iris pseudacorus to look 'natural' as a recognition-point for visitors.
John - Regte Heide
explain why that name? what does it mean - real Heide (which is a flower as far as I know) ?
Heide has a double meaning, as it's also in english, I believe. Firsty it's the area were Moore or Heather grows, and secondly, it's the plant. Ericaceae in Latin to be precise. 'Regt' it's an old dutch word for straight, like a straight road, or something. It has more meanings.
At least two sorts of Ericaceae are growing in 'Regte Heide'. The Erica tetralix with flowers in June and is more solitary and the Calluna vulgaris which makes a beautiful purple glow in August. I shall enclose some pictures, first one is the Erica Tetralix.
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The grave hills or Tumulus, and their history are very interesting. There are seven of them, six on the highest point, on the west-side near the small river 'Oude Ley'. They were constructed around 1.600 - 1.800 BC by a kind of Celtic people who lived around in that area.
There were three reasons those hills were constructed. Firstly to bury their people in or below it (humain remains have been found there). Secondly it was therefor a kind of sanctuary, here they worshiped and sacrificed. And thirdly, and that is a bit vague, they are all build along 'energetic lines' (Leylines*) in the landscape. It is also said the hills were constructed to turn the negative energy into a positive one.
In the case of the Regte Heide it is on the line from Stonehenge to Cologne. Another line goes from Paris (Antwerp) to Nijmegen (Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum in Roman Time) and further North. Later the Romans constructed the roads also based on those lines (in the meantime roads, I presume). Any way. It may be true or not, but each time I visit the place I get 'energized'. The enclose picture is one of the hills with wooden poles, they are the oldest. Other forms are a circle ditch with a hill in the middle.
*)Leylines = name for energetic paths of energy where Christians and pagan peoples their sanctuaries (and also alignments) placed on . It is a specific kind of energy lines!
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What an atmospheric capture! I like it a lot.
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Thanks, Susanne.
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After a two hour one way ride ... I'd be tired, not energized. You are a much better man than I John Geerts. If I rode two hours, the only thing I'd want to do is rest for the ride back ... not photography. Thank you for the in depth explanations of the area. It is all very interesting and I want to hear and see more.
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After a two hour one way ride ... I'd be tired, not energized. You are a much better man than I John Geerts. If I rode two hours, the only thing I'd want to do is rest for the ride back ... not photography. Thank you for the in depth explanations of the area. It is all very interesting and I want to hear and see more.
Thanks Gary.
The ride is interesting, there are a dozen ways to get there and usually have some stops to arrive (relatively) fresh (Shopping in Belgium for instance as chocolate, beer, gas & cigarettes still cheaper there). I think it can be done within an hour in 'racing-mode'. ;)
Below one of the roads if you approach the area from the north.
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Halve Maan - ven (a Ven is small undeep lake created in the latest Ice-age) close to the Belgium border. It has the form of half a moon, hence the name. (HalfMoon Ven) The historic name in the 17th century was ''Swarthoolven' which means Black Hole Ven)
Nikon D700 -- Nikkor 20mm Ai F/3.5
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A great series, with very informative comments... :-) Thanks for sharing...!
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really cool summer feel to the first one. Are you happy with the slightly cool mixdown / white balance?
love the second one too, esp. the daring graphics that make the impression stick. Very nice!
Keep them coming....
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Thank you Jacques and Frank. Yes, despite the strong light, the 28mm, mid-day and shadows, I wanted to have a summer feeling with a light soft ultramarine blue sky in combination with the sweet yellow of the Iris.
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Great place, and pictures.
It would be nice indeed to join up. From Brussels by car, it is still a shorter ride than what you do on the bike :)
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wonderful series keep them coming, said so on fb 2 :)
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Thank you Fons and Bruno. Time to fix my bike ;)
This is from 2013.
D700 - 85mm F/1.8 G
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A song has been made about Regte Heide with one of my photo's on the cover.
(http://www.antonkwantes.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Anton-SLIMCASE-Het-Pad-Small.jpg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzEOCoFxkw0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzEOCoFxkw0)
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Bravo John!
Really happy for you!
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Thank you, Jakov ;)
From May till October a sheepflock is 'maintaining' the area.
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I like the sheep better and they would have made the album cover much better :)
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The sheep pic looks great.
But considering the album title (het pad = the path) the actual cover pic seems to fit better.
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Great photos John! I am impressed by the number of different lenses you brought along by bike :)
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All wonderful shots. The BW's stick out for me. Especially the sheep. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~ :)
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Thanks Jakov, Danulon, Chip and Mike. Each trip a different lens is a kind of challenge ;)
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The low sun
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A pity the tree didn't fit in :D
The colours are super nice :)
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Thank you, Jakov.
Well, the 'problem' is, the same tree, which is rather prominent near the grave hills, has been captured 'in full' many times ;)
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a beautiful series, John!
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Thanks, Peter!
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The view on the area of 'Regte Heide' seen from the top of the highest building in Tilburg, Westpoint (140 meter). A windscreen blocks the 'perfect view'.
D700 AF 80-200/2.8 at 200mm
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In 2009 we had a lot of snow. This is one of the markers of a hiking route.
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I am enjoying the entire series. Love the color of the latest image!
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Thanks Tristin.
Forgot to mention this was shot with the Nikon D80- AF-S Nikkor 17-35/2.8
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I like that composition and colors. It tells the story of a relaxing walk on a cold but sunny day.
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Thanks Peter.
Halve Maan ven.
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John, I only now noticed this thread and read the 3 pages of interesting background and enjoyed the photographs. Exactly my kind of terrain!
I didn't know the Regte Heide as such. Areas I visit frequently however are Millingerwaard, which starts just on the Dutch side of the Dutch/German border at the height of Arnhem, and of course my beloved Groote Heide/Heronger Heide near Venlo/Nettetal. Again on the Dutch/German border.
Both areas do not have this many permanent water features, most likely due to their geographical position.
Another area I like to visit from time to time, but which is more of a mix of pine/leaf forests speckled with heathland and moorlands is the Meinweg which spreads out all the way from Roermond/Wassenberg (Dutch/German border) south to the Brunsummer Heide. That is the area I grew up in.
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John: I like to go to a nature place to shoot animals and landscape. A quiet meeting in the landscape ... like wetlands by a huge river like the Rijn .... Buddy, you are in?
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John: I like to go to a nature place to shoot animals and landscape. A quiet meeting in the landscape ... like wetlands by a huge river like the Rijn .... Buddy, you are in?
Frank, if we form up a small group (I would even be in if we formed several small groups split up over a few weekends) then I do know a place or two where we could walk around and take pictures. And I would love to see new places too.
Smaller groups do work better in my opinion because when out in such an environment we would move a lot. Getting the good shots would mean we would have to wait for others to complete theirs before moving on too far. I know that for me, when walking through nature, I find myself in a state of mind that could best be defined as "in the zone" for lack of a better description, and if we organise something like this I would want to give everyone a chance to find their state of mind as well.
Sounds complicated, is simple. Find location, find ech other, keep groups small and be prepared to walk a lot. Carrying a light bag helps there. I normally carry no more then 10 kilos on such occasions. When with Kristina, she carries the dog supplies, I carry the camera gear. We normally travel about 10 kilometers in 4-5 hours time, which includes kneeling down, sitting down and lying down to get the shots we want.
Yes, I would most certainly be in (as soon as the car is fixed). :)
As far as animals go, Millingerwaard has wild horses, Stevensweert has wild cattle. Both are quiet approachable, as long as you are cautious. Kristina and I spent an afternoon surrounded by 40-50 wild horses in Millingerwaard. That was a "once in a lifetime" experience as the horses grew so accustomed to our presence that they rolled thorugh the dirt, let their foal come within arms length of us and behaved as if we were not there at all. At one point I had to carefully shove the horses away from Kristina who was sitting down and was surrounded by horses. As with all animal encounters, I can not guarantee that we would meet them on a next visit.
I will use the occasion for a single picture in what I do consider to be Johns thread. For that reason, I'll post the link only.
https://flic.kr/p/sMj7Az
Ok, here is another one
https://flic.kr/p/tJg1Mp
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Thanks Buddy. The Regte Heide is a kind of unique area. Water (river), wetlands, high grounds, Keltic graveyards, woods and lakes.
Frank, I agree with Buddy about the smaller groups. And what is important too, never on a Sunday, as it may be too busy. I usually pick the moments when it's as quiet as possible.
Perhaps it's best to open a special topic about a nature-landscape-animal walk. I am certainly interested ;)
'a Saturday walk'
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Good. Buddy. John. Kristina. Frank. The Dogs. I have a car that works reliably. Dogs can sit in the open trunk.
I am weather resisant. Within 10 Kilos I can take 3 bodies, many lenses, water, food.
In nature I can make a tripod from natural artefacts.
More via PM.
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John. Perfect shot in #39
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Thank you, Jakov.
Well, the 'problem' is, the same tree, which is rather prominent near the grave hills, has been captured 'in full' many times ;)
very special edit!
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I would be interested too. I usually do this kind of walk alone when looking for animals but I guess landscape or nature would work well in a small group. Regte Heide looks very interesting.
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Thanks Frank.
Fine Bruno, always welcome. Sometimes a guide can be helpful ;)
One from today, same subject as #1 Iris pseudacorus nearly one year ago.
But now with D600 and 17-35/2.8
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John, you know I like it!
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Thanks Jakov.
Another view on the 'Grave Hill'
D600 17-35/2.8
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John, I have enjoyed the trip. Many successful shots with a love for the place; attention to details to give an impression of the singularities, flowers, reflections, trees, sheep and an spectacular view or the the hiking marker.
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Thanks Paco. !
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A winter visit.
Seen from the river Oude Leij the Regte Heide is on higher platform. This road leads to the moore. It was a cloudy dark day, but suddenly the sun appeared for a short moment.
Nikon D800E 300/4.5 ED-IF AIS
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Thanks Jakov.
Another view on the 'Grave Hill'
D600 17-35/2.8
We have a similar looking gravehill here on the other side of the A59,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorstengraf_(Oss) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorstengraf_(Oss))
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Interesting Fons. Thanks for the link. That appears to be a very large grave hill. From what I understand also seven hills were found during reconstruction.
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The dutch version of the wiki article is much more exhaustive,
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorstengraf_(Oss) (https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorstengraf_(Oss))
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Halve Maan Ven
D600 200/2
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Halve Maan Ven
D600 200/2
Very lovely. Seems quite peaceful.
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Thanks Jack. Yes it is.
Due to the drought, the Halve Maan ven is nearly gone now.
And the Erica tetralix is flowering late
D600 Angenieux 35-70/2.5
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NEF-revisit with RawTherapee
D700 80-200/2.8 AF-D
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D850 35-200/3.5-4.5
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lovely Regte Heide images John!
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Thanks, Jakov !
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Evening walk after a few days of rain
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Very dramatic lightning. The sky is beautiful.
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Beautiful sky, John!
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Thanks Bent and Bruno
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The Purple Heather
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Very nice combo of the heather and clouds. Purple Heather, nice song by Van the Man ;)
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The heather looks beautiful John!
Did you work on the contrast much? This image gives me an apocalyptic feel somehow :o
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John, John, John!
Beautiful processing with these pastel colors!
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Agreed! Splendid framing as well ;) Those are the strongest pastel color ever ;D 8)
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+1 from me as well.
Agreed! Splendid framing as well ;) Those are the strongest pastel color ever ;D 8)
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Thank you all.
Did you work on the contrast much? This image gives me an apocalyptic feel somehow :o
No, not directly. The base is a special profile I created for the Z-camera's in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR).
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Sunset
D3s AF-S 80-200/2.8
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Sunset
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Nice subtle tones John, beautiful!
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Thanks Hans
Sand road
Fuji S5 17-35/2.8
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A wonderful project, John!
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Thanks Fons.
Posted earlier in June 2021 topic.
In order to make it possible for disabled people to visit Regte Heide, a special shell pad was built across the Moore. Bikers are not allowed on this road, but they use it frequently.
Z7 Nikkor 58mm f/1.4 G
(https://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=10030.0;attach=49869;image)
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Cold, but occasional sun
iPhone 11
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Conditions make for a striking image.
A burial ground? Do you know how far back it goes?
Cold, but occasional sun
iPhone 11
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Conditions make for a striking image.
A burial ground? Do you know how far back it goes?
Thanks Hugh.
Yes "The grave hills or Tumulus, and their history are very interesting. There are seven of them, six on the highest point, on the west-side near the small river 'Oude Ley'. They were constructed around 1.600 - 1.800 BC by a kind of Celtic people who lived around in that area."
See also number #5 on page 1.
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Sorry John - I missed the first posting and its explanation. The B&W suits that image.
Thanks Hugh.
Yes "The grave hills or Tumulus, and their history are very interesting. There are seven of them, six on the highest point, on the west-side near the small river 'Oude Ley'. They were constructed around 1.600 - 1.800 BC by a kind of Celtic people who lived around in that area."
See also number #5 on page 1.
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No Problem, Hugh, thank you.
Rietven. (one of the lakes in the moore)
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Nice stuff John! It was a very nice afternoon to be out.
I did go to "my" little area as well, might post some images of that in the cartier heide landscapes thread later.
IMHO it is very nice to document one area over a longer period of time, you're showing off the beauty of the Regte Heide very well!
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Thanks Hans. Yes it is good to document a nature area. A lot of themes can be covered and it's interesting to make comparisons. You do that successfully with the Cartier Heide.
Yesterday was a great day, with fast changing light and periods with sunshine and (limited and local) rain.
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The Solitary Tree
Nikon D800E 300/4.5 ED-IF AIS
(https://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=10439.0;attach=57442;image)