Tag: thursday throwback

Throwback Thursday – 32

In the coming weeks, I will be exploring Egypt, so here’s a taste from last year’s trip.

This week’s throwback is very much focused on some of the upcoming photography that I will share with all of you! During the coming 2 weeks, I will be spending some more quality time in the wonderful country of Egypt, a place rich in history and culture that has always captivated my imagination. I will explore some iconic sites that I have not been to before, including serene landscapes and the bustling city of Alexandria. Additionally, I will return to some of my favorite locations that I have previously visited, where I hope to capture new perspectives and experiences through my lens.

For today, I present you with a throwback to both last year’s visit, and antiquity…

Ancient and Modern

The pyramids of Giza are probably the best-known monuments of the ancient world, standing as towering symbols of a civilization that has long since passed but continues to captivate the imagination of people worldwide. These massive structures, built thousands of years ago, are truly impressive testaments to human ingenuity and engineering skills, showcasing remarkable precision and planning that would astound modern architects. Dating back to a time when simple machines were all that was available, the construction of the pyramids involved a complex organization of labor, resources, and knowledge that highlights the extraordinary capabilities of the ancient Egyptians. Each pyramid, meticulously designed and constructed, served as a grand tomb for pharaohs, reflecting both their wealth and status, while also demonstrating their belief in the afterlife and the importance of preserving their legacy for eternity. The incredible alignment of the pyramids with celestial bodies further illustrates the advanced understanding of astronomy that the ancient builders possessed.

Throwback Thursday – 31

We look back to an older photograph that still evokes nostalgia and a sense timelessness.

As I was looking for this week’s touch of the old, whether image or content, I came across an image that I still enjoy looking at, despite its age. This discovery led me to reflect on the importance of nostalgia and how certain images can evoke a sense of timelessness. I have often waxed about how I view older images in my photographic portfolio with a more critical eye; this is for lots of valid reasons, which makes it even more satisfying to have some images that withstand this level of scrutiny with grace and poise.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the enduring appeal of this particular photo. The color palette is pleasing, integrating warm hues that create an inviting atmosphere. The composition brings a level of interest that captures the viewer’s attention, drawing them into the scene. While I acknowledge the importance of following established rules in photography, I find that breaking them can sometimes lead to truly unique and compelling images. In this case, the slight deviations from convention seem to enhance the photograph’s character rather than detract from it.

Moreover, I can’t help but mention that glorious hood ornament! It stands out as a focal point of the image, a detail that not only reflects the craftsmanship of its time but also adds a layer of storytelling to the photo. It invites speculation—what stories could it tell of the journeys it has experienced? The combination of these elements—the pleasing color palette, the intentional composition, and the iconic hood ornament—create a harmonious experience that makes this image not just a relic of the past, but a piece of art that continues to resonate with me today. Each time I revisit it, I appreciate the nuances that I may have overlooked previously, reminding me of the beauty that can emerge from careful observation and reflection.

High Flyin’ 55

All this from a walk in the park where a classic, and more recent vintage, car show was the feature; of course, the magnificent weather made this all the more enjoyable. Not a bad result!

Thursday Throwback – 29

An image from 2012 of an abstract statue created by my wonderful aunt, Mieke, brings back fond memories.

One of the fascinating things is how our memories are recorded in such varied ways. In going through my back-catalog in search of an image for this week, I came across a rather strong memory.

Here’s that image…

Keramieke

This image is from 2012, as I was going through a period of capturing something different every day. This lovely, abstract statue sits in our home, and was created by my wonderful aunt, Mieke. Mieke was a wonderful soul, who I always enjoyed visiting, as I stopped by her flat in Rotterdam. She was overflowing with creativity, and always had a slightly different perspective on many of the events that occurred around us. I think some of that perspective rubbed off on me, which is a rather good thing in my opinion.

Looking at this photo brings back lots of warm memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Thursday Throwback – 27

We’re going back to 2004, and a capture of Canada geese on the Quinapoxet River. It’s an image that I still cherish, even after 2 decades!

As I’m having fun putting my web-site together, I’m building portfolio pages that feature particular groupings of some of the images that I have captured over the years. Even though these are just my digital photography, some of them go back quite a while! So for this week’s throwback, I’m going to an image from 2004.

Here are three Canada geese afloating…

Geese on the Quinapoxet

After all this time, I still appreciate this image for a whole bunch of reasons. It took a bit of work to get this capture, as I shot 34 or so images to get one where the geese give off a sense of direction. I still enjoy the coloring of the late September leaves and their reflection in the rather tranquil river. And, yes, despite being an early digital camera, the Canon EOS 10D, which I still have, performed admirably!

I hope you enjoy this image and look forward to hearing about your early forays into digital photography!

Throwback Thursday – 27

Memories of a day spent at the port of Rotterdam with aunt Marlies, featuring ‘de Ballentent’

It’s been an intense day today, so a little tardy in getting my post on-line. In this one I’m going back to June of 2011, as I was sauntering along the port of Rotterdam with my aunt Marlies. We were simply enjoying the sights and company, as we were taking in some of the classic locales of the city of Rotterdam, one of which is featured in this post.

Here’s that classic ‘kroeg’ along the Parkkade…

De Ballentent

This establishment is named De Ballentent, which was established just after World War II at this location on the edge of Het Park, which was noted in a Travel Tuesday post a while back. First of all, the name ‘Ballentent’ is what we call a fair attraction where one throws balls at objects for prizes. Also, this establishment is what in Dutch we would call a ‘kroeg’ or a pub in English. It’s one of those places where people sit down, have a drink and chat with each other.

Throwback Thursday – 26

A memorable experience involved a sunrise shoot that was obscured by fog, prompting a creative approach that resulted in unique images.

Photography workshops are a lot of fun! I’ve attended a fair share of them for a blend of reasons. It’s part exploring an area with someone who knows where all the great spots are. Part finding inspiration through learning new techniques and seeing how someone else approaches their photography. And also a lot of fun, as there are always moments of levity.

Today’s throwback is from one of those moments…

Abominable Merman

During a workshop in the Chincoteague area with John Slonina we were slated to do a sunrise shoot at the beach. A great idea, as in November one doesn’t have to get up too early for that opportunity. When we got to the beach, it was fogged in to such a level that the sun was nowhere to be seen!

As we were waiting to see if the fog would burn off (it never did), I decided to use this scene to do something a little different. I set up my camera, aimed it at the sea and dialed in a 10 second exposure. Remote shutter release in hand, I walked into the foggy ocean and released the shutter as I slowly trodded back toward the camera. It took about a dozen shots to dial things in, but it did create something a little different!

Moral of the story: sometimes the foggiest idea is worth trying!

Throwback Thursday – 25

Growing up in the Netherlands there were plenty of locations I had not visited until much later, such as Kinderdijk and Leiden. Here I make up for one of those in 2011.

Even though I grew up in the Netherlands, there are a number of locations that I never visited; or is it because I grew up in the Netherlands. One of these was Kinderdijk (until 2022), which was no surprise to our Dutch tour guide, as all of us in the Netherlands can see windmills just about every day. Similarly, it was not until 2011 that I visited Leiden.

Here’s an image from that visit…

Molen ‘De Put’

Visiting my cousins in Leiden made for a very nice walk around the city and just an all-around great time. Of course, one of these cousins lives in Australia, so she traveled the farthest! During the walk we came across this windmill, named ‘De Put’.

Another windmill, you say! This one is actually a replica that was rebuilt in 1987 and sits next to the Rembrandt Bridge. The original windmill was built in the early 17th century and was captured in an etch by Rembrandt, who lived in Leiden in his early life. So, definitely somewhat special!

Thursday Throwback – 24

Taking us back Scotland in 2013, where we encounted the Bodach, a Gaelic mythological figure.

It’s great fun to revisit images from past vacations, which is what I grabbed for this week’s edition. I’m looking back to a vacation that took us across quite a bit of Scotland back in 2013. Planning our vacations always takes a bit of extra effort to ensure that all our animals are taken care of in the best possible way (read: they get spoiled by a pet sitter while they enjoy all the comforts of home). As this was our first significant international vacation, there were definitely lessons learned.

Here’s an image that goes back to that 2013 vacation…

The Bodach

The Bodach is a sort of trickster in Gaelic mythology and this particular one has a story of admiration. The statue sits at the top of Loch Long in Archer where, according to legend, the Bodach helped repel the Vikings who attempted to drag their longships across the hills to take over the Loch and beyond.

And those lessons learned from our vacation? As I had carefully planned a route across Scotland and many bed and breakfasts for us to stay at, we wound up spending too much time driving and not enough time enjoying. Later vacations were planned differently by picking a location to stay and exploring the surrounding area; much more restful and much less packing of suitcases!

Thursday Throwback – 23

Join me for a Thursday Throwback as we explore the peaceful shopping experience on Kerkstraat in Berkel en Rodenrijs.

This week I’m keeping us in my original home country of the Netherlands. After moving to the United States most of my visits were more packed with family visits than time to relax and enjoy the simple aspects of daily life. In today’s post there’s one of those moments, where I did get that time.

Here’s a simple walk down Kerkstraat…

Winkelen op de Kerkstraat

‘Shopping on Kerkstraat (Church street)’ is a relaxed pace view of life in the town of Berkel en Rodenrijs. Doing our shopping for groceries, figuring out today’s dinner and maybe stopping at the café for a cup of coffee. It’s a pace that is bit more relaxing than rushing through a supermarket!

I hope your day brings you some relaxing moments!

Thursday Throwback – 22

A memorable snapshot taken in Schiedam, Netherlands, featuring a tobacco shop named ‘Dandia’ alongside a Marlboro sign stating ‘smoking is deadly.’

Sometimes during my travels I see something that just stands out a little bit for some unknown reason. Quite often I’m not sure that I can really tell you why I took that snapshot other than that it caught my eye. Today’s image from 2008 certainly falls within that category.

Here’s a snap from Schiedam in the Netherlands…

Smoking is Deadly

The literal translation of the text on the Marlboro sign is ‘smoking is deadly’. Regardless, the tobacco shop has the rather upbeat, perky name of ‘Dandia’; sounds like it’s all dandy like a dandelion! Part of the reason for this shot was that my father was a life-long smoker, who always maintained that he could stop smoking at any time. Of course, he never mentioned the restart less than an hour later…