Regte Heide

[John Geerts]

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/ 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

[HCS]

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.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

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.

[elsa hoffmann]

John - Regte Heide

explain why that name? what does it mean - real Heide (which is a flower as far as I know) ?

[John Geerts]

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.

[John Geerts]

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!

[smusesuse]

What an atmospheric capture! I like it a lot.

[John Geerts]

Thanks, Susanne.

[Gary]

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. 

[John Geerts]

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.

[John Geerts]

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

[Jacques Pochoy]

A great series, with very informative comments... :-) Thanks for sharing...!

[Frank Fremerey]

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....

[John Geerts]

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.

[Bruno Schroder]

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