Beach | What's (in) the Picture?

Exploring Dutch Tourist Attractions: A Photo Gallery

Leann Cole suggested ‘tourist attractions, near and far’ as LAPC’s 307. My motivation for going to places changed in my life time. From ‘active’ holidays (including climbing some big mountains by bycicle) to complete leisure (eg seeing the Greek Isles with lots of lazy moments). And in between the travels to dig into the culture and essence of a place on earth, to learn and experience it. But wherever I went as a ‘photographer’ I tried to capture where I was. To be stunned by what is just there in front of you, the unexpected. And yes, the times I did visit an ‘iconic attraction’ I tried to find my own way of framing it, trying to keep away form the cliches that are so widely known. For this challenge I dig into my blogs archive, all the photos are here published already.

Over the years I learned to value and appreciate my own way of looking, being surprised by my own views of what I saw and how I saw it. To appreciate simple things of beauty that stuck out or the composition of objects. If you travel far, you are only there for a moment, if you stay close to home you have access all of the time. But being close to home the challenge is bigger to stay open, to see what is there, to not take it for granted.

Today is the ‘near’ version. So close to where I live, but for tourists reasons to travel. I just browsed and picked out some themes that may strike recognition: flowers, flower parade, Rotterdam and its architecture and harbour, Leiden (my alma mater and birthplace of Rembrandt), windmills, flat lands, watermanagement (polder, canals) and the beach. All of them so near and familiar.

I hope you do enjoy the gallery, and if you want to plunge deep into more of it I invite you to search by category finding Amsterdam, Den Haag, more flower fields and flowers and who knows Dutch clogs?

On The Beach

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – June 2024

A view showing the curve of the Dutch seafront looking at Scheveningen in the South from Katwijk aan Zee.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

On the beach

LAPC challenge #305 is about composition: two rectangles as a play tool to frame a photo.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Dirty Window

This weeks LAPC # 304 is ‘Background: behind the subject’. A dirty window of a terrace at the beach.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Sunset Noordwijk

The Netherlands, Noordwijk – February 2024

Archive Noordwijk

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Seafront Silhouette

The theme for this week’s Lens Artists Challenge #286 is ‘Weather’.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Moving the Posts

Sea view.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Just Passing

A ferry passes an anchored cargoship in the Channel. For LAPC #285 ‘warm colors’.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Catching Up

The Channel from the England/Kent side, two ships catching up in the reflection of the sunlight. For LAPC #285 ‘warm colors’.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Division Line

A view from the Kingsdown cliffs. A powerline cuts the image.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Kingsdown Beach

A view from the Kingsdown cliffs up north.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Kingsdown Beach and Cliffs

The cliffs at Kingsdown at noon for LAPC #284 ‘day&night’.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Shipping Lane

The Channel from the coast of Kent at Walmer for LAPC #284 ‘day&night’. Start of the morning.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Sea Front

Dusk at Walmer for LAPC #284 ‘day&night’.

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

On the corner

The light on the corner with the low lights of Deal in the background. Imagine the sound of the Channel in the background LAPC #284 ‘day&night’.

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Deal at Night 3

Deal‘s pier.

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version.

Moonlight

The moon over the Channel with two anchored ships on the horizon. ForLAPC # 283 ‘dramatic’.

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version.

Dusk

The Channel at dusk for LAPC # 283 ‘dramatic’.

aShot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Moon Rise

The moon is up over an off shore supply vessel.

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version.

View on Deal Pier

A view up north towards Deal.

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

As Below So Above

England, Walmer – December 2024

The panoramic mode on the iPhone is not a favorite setting for me. On Instagram you get bombarded by adds about all Apple did not tell you about taking photos on iPhone: some work, eg using panorama setting for a wider angle (the fun for me using an iPhone is to be curious about all you can do finding it out for yourself).

But making a panorama having a straight line in front of you (a road eg) is hilarious. What would a sky panorama look like? So I did a 360 sky and a 180 horizon of the sea front at Walmer. Just for fun.

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version.

Deal Pier

The Pier of Deal on a wet evening at the end of December.

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

A Brand New Day

The start of a brand new year, the first day with 365 following, given this is a leap year. A calm sea, the light breaking into the waves, painting a gorgeous sky in the clouds. It’s all in the details. The small boat heading out to a new port of call.

archive England

Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Wet Beach

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – September 2023

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #269 ‘over the edge’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Sisters

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #269 ‘over the edge’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Blowing in the wind

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – September 2023

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #269 ‘over the edge’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Calm Sea

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #269 ‘over the edge’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Seafront Views

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – August 2023

Katwijk archive

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At The Beach

Katwijk archive

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Fly By

This week’s Lens Artists Photo Challenge #265 is ‘Black and White or Monochrome’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

At the Beach

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – August 2023

This week’s Lens Artists Photo Challenge #265 is ‘Black and White or Monochrome’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Outlet

This week’s Lens Artists Photo Challenge #265 is ‘Black and White or Monochrome’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

A Cloudy Windy Day At The Beach

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – August 2023

A windy day with some beautiful clouds on a Sunday at the beach in Katwijk. The clear views showed the curve of the coastline, with the silhouette of Scheveningen in the south, and beyond that, the harbor of Rotterdam.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Primary Colour

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #264 is ‘primary colours’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Dots

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – June 2023

June was a beautiful month full of sun and warmth. July was less, let’s hope August has some more blue skies for us. This week LAPC #259 is ‘unbound’.

Katwijk archive

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Sunset

June was a beautiful month full of sun and warmth. July was less, let’s hope August has some more blue skies for us. This week LAPC #259 is ‘unbound’.