A day trip to a friend in Utrecht. When I go to a city, nine times out of ten I take the camera. There is plenty to see in Utrecht around Central Station. Many modern buildings. I like to photograph modern architecture. That is quite different from photographing animals, flowers, etc. In fact, I don’t think you can think of two subjects that are much further apart. Reflections in windows and shop windows are also captivating. Here are some new pictures from last week.
Wednesday it was possible again. Finally on the road again, taking pictures. On the first day I went straight to the Orchideeënhoeve. Enjoy the colours, smells, sounds and warmth. A day in the tropics while it was cold and unpleasant outside. Below I share photos of that day.
Currently, I am reorganizing and cleaning up my photos.It comes down to looking at all the photos. That I give the folders names, so that I can find the photos. But also that I throw away a lot of photos. That’s a lot of work. At the moment, I have 135,542 photos over the last 12 years. And that, after I’ve already thrown away a lot. 😮
While doing this, I come across photos that I had already forgotten. Or photos that I didn’t process at the time. I share some of them here. Beautiful bugs!
Last Friday was still a bit late-summer. The temperature was pleasant and the weather was beautiful. Perfect for a last visit to the Apenheul After Sunday the park will be closed until the spring of 2022. I loved it.
With the beautiful fall colors as a background, I made a (portrait) photo of as many species as possible. Most of the photos are barely edited.
This gibbon lady had a very thick lip. I didn’t like that so she had a Photoshop beauty treatment 😉
This last photo is not great quality. They were under the canopy. A little too dark. The photo is very grainy. But I like the emotion so much that I place it anyway.
For the first time in years I decided to photograph the nature around me again. That idea came too late for the heather to bloom. I photographed some purple tufts. But it’s not too late for mushrooms. I don’t know much about them and can’t name them. But you can always take a photo.
October 13 was the day. I went to an old place where I used to park to shoot on the Lemelerberg and Archemerberg. Much had changed. A beautiful new parking lot. But that also means more crowds with cyclists and walkers, especially at weekends. It went well on this Wednesday.
The forest was unchanged. I found the beautiful Amethyst deceivers in the same places they always stood.
Of course, the forest is also full of earthballs. The fungus that matures and then explodes to disperse the spores.
The first part of the walk was full of these beautiful trees through which the light shone beautifully. Such a lovely atmosphere. Too bad I can’t post the smell of the forest. The forest in the fall smells wonderful. Autumn was in full swing in this forest. So wonderful.
Further on in the woods I noticed that here and there a tree had a red and white ribbon. I thought: it might be cut down. There must be something wrong with it. Most trees had no ribbons.
After many beautiful mushrooms, also this beauty. All orange and one of the biggest I’ve ever seen. There was someone else there who took a picture. I decided to ask him if he knew about the ribbons. He said, “Those are the trees that remain, all the others are cut down.” For a moment I thought I misunderstood. So all trees without ribbon are cut? “Correct!”
“In the past, around 1920, the Lemelerberg was a purple sphere. All heather. Only then were the trees that form the current forest planted. Nature is returned to the situation of the past.” Then you have to catch your breath. I don’t know what to make of this. I have my doubts about whether it will work. A few years ago they turned another nature reserve upside down with a similar story. And I feel like it’s destroyed.
We will see. I have now read about it. Thousands of trees have been cut down so far.
Because it will all be different, I decided to take a picture from the viewpoint in all directions. Now it is still possible.
A little further on it turned out that the trees are cut on a big scale. Much of it is already down. What a mess! I wonder if the loss of all those trees will make up for a few weeks of purple heather. It’ll be pretty good for biodiversity and all that. But I have yet to see it all. I went home with a knot in my stomach. I don’t have to photograph this side anymore for the time being. I mean a lot of years.
This week I heard that the subsidy for the sheep herds has run out. How are they going to maintain this huge area? More heather and no sheep? I would say; more heather, more sheep.
And this is the future…?
I’m going to miss this!
Yesterday afternoon I went out to photograph autumn. Looking for beautifully colored leaves, pine cones, acorns and especially mushrooms. It wenst to Haarle, the Sprengenberg. That is a beautiful part of the Sallandse Heuvelrug. When I parked the car I thought: ir is so busy! I don’t like that at all, but luckily it wasn’t too bad. Usually I don’t take the marked routes, then you don’t notice it that much. I like to avoid the walking groups with ladies who talk loudly throughout the route and discuss the latest gossip. I also don’t like running, screaming children, barking dogs, etc. The chance that you will photograph something beautiful is gets very small.
The smell of the forest, the colors, it was wonderful. On the whole route I looked for beautiful scenes on the ground.
The mushrooms in the green moss are a beautiful sight. That was exactly what I was looking for.
Beautifully shaped pine cones are also worth a photo.
But then I saw something I hadn’t counted on. Completely hidden in a cove these gnomes. They live at number nine. The laundry is hanging outside. And I thought: they exist! 😉 Nice!
Like icing on the cake, I came across the flock of sheep at the end of my walk. I had a nice chat with the shepherd and petted the dogs. I also took a lot of pictures. That may be a separate blog. It’s a beautiful sight, all those white sheep. And a black one. 😀
Mid-September, a beautiful day. The sun is shining and it is lovely outside. I come home by car and park the car near the hedge in the driveway. I open the car door and then I see it. There’s a party in the hedge. And it’s busy. Everything flies, buzzes and flutters. From very small flies to beautiful butterflies.
The common ivy is blooming. It doesn’t look special. But the insects love it. Bees, hover flies, drone flies and red admirals not one, but certainly about ten. Beautiful red butterflies that also were wonderful models. I took so many pictures.
This proves once again that you don’t have to travel around the world to photograph. The party was two steps from my front door. Feast for the insects and for me.
A blog with very different photos than you, my audience, are used to from me. Something very different from animals. That’s because I’ve been taking a lot of different photos lately. I like to try new things. I bought the lenses for it a long time ago. But it never came to pass. In recent months, yes. Landscapes, clouds, and cities. And I will be making and sharing many more. Of course I will continue to photograph and share animals. They are and remain my favorite subject. This will be my first post with something else.
Sunday morning September 19 I left early for Deventer. I was hoping to shoot quietly downtown by getting there early. Unfortunately, I didn’t know there was an important football match. The city was turned upside down. Masses of supporters, complete with fireworks and lots of other noise. It was impossible to take pictures of the Waag and the like. It became an outlying movement to the IJssel and back towards the station. Below are photos I took. Of course I’ll go again. But if I first checked if there is a home game of Go Ahead Eagles.
Monday afternoon I went to the Apenheul. Enjoy the beautiful weather for a while. Kiango is really the “main attraction” of the Apeheul for me. As far as you can say about such a cute little thing. It is such a beautiful sight to see the little one develop.
One moment he is cute, the next very enterprising and also very tough. The attitude is nice. The last photo shows Father Bao Bao and son Kinago. Such a huge difference in size. Kiango still has a lot to grow. Bet it goes fast. He’ll be a big boy in no time.
My previous blog was about butterflies. Where you can photograph butterflies, you are also guaranteed to find insects. I don’t know much about them, but I find them impressive.
The last photo is of a beautiful beetle. Potato farmers are not happy at the sight of the Colorado potato beetle. I do, I think he’s beautiful.
So here’s insects …
