Schmoo, Utrecht, Amsterdam and a fisheye lens

ivar · May 29, 2008

I've had the honor of a very special friend visiting me for a few days. The weather has been really kind to us and we were able to spend pretty much all the time outside.

We first had a look around Utrecht, the city where I am currently residing, and where I grew up as well. It's interesting to see how someone else that does not know the city views it. When living somewhere it is easy to take things that you see on a regular basis for granted.

There is a very big church downtown, the St Martin Cathedral, or Dom Church. It has sort of a square with a monument in front of it:

There is also a beautifully enclosed garden/courtyard:

(posted here, also)

There are some open corridors around the courtyard:

We visited Amsterdam, also. I rarely ever go there, so I was as much as of a tourist there as Schmoo;

These things I thought were funny for some reason; You can put your contacts in them

Noticed all the fisheye shots so far? I don't have a fisheye but Schmoo did. She took a few shots, and then I got hold of it.... pretty much until she left :lol3 But just to prove that I wasn't completely hogging it:

Like Schmoo, I love to just sit somewhere, look at people, eat and drink a bit, talk a bit, take some photos.

At one point we were sitting down close to a fairly busy road, and I tried my luck at panning. It's hard, really really hard;

Public transportation in the Netherlands is actually quite good, so we took a train to Amsterdam and back;

I was so happy to have someone around that also likes to shoot, that I thought I had to document that & her. I may have overdone it a bit, judging by her reaction :lol3

Possibly more, later.

aktpics · May 29, 2008

Ivar, I had a feeling this was your post from the title

Looks like you guys had fun and there is a fisheye in your near future

Nice photos, I am very impressed that you managed to squeeze in the SM logo from Schmoo's camera strap.

Some of my roots are from Enschede. I checked mapquest it doesn't look too close (relatively speaking) to Utrecht. My dad, sister and I drove there once from Germany. We looked around for a bit then left. Not much of an agenda. I would like to go back at some point and definately check out Amsterdam.

I will look forward to seeing some more...

schmoo · May 29, 2008

What a great series!

It was so great shooting, sitting, talking, just living life with you for a couple of short days. I don't mind you taking my photo (just don't tell Andy

) esp as I was doing the same.

I love how the fisheye makes getting Muench stars so easy. 180 degree vision makes me want to be a fish

Looking forward to seeing the NL again sometime!

Moogle Pepper · May 29, 2008

must.buy.fish eye lens.

Looks like a lot of fun to hang out with other dgrinners!

ian408 · May 31, 2008

Dude! Fish rules!

And that 8mm is a real treat.

ivar · June 2, 2008

Thanks guys, and yes, fish rules! I can't really compare the 8mm to another one, since it was the first time I used a fisheye, really

Akt, Enschede is just over an hour from Utrecht I guess, not that bad. I don't really get to that area a lot. It's very close to the German border, actually

Yes, Moogle, It was a lot of fun

aktpics · June 3, 2008

ivar wrote:

Thanks guys, and yes, fish rules! I can't really compare the 8mm to another one, since it was the first time I used a fisheye, really

Akt, Enschede is just over an hour from Utrecht I guess, not that bad. I don't really get to that area a lot. It's very close to the German border, actually

Yes, Moogle, It was a lot of fun

That's not very far at all. BTW, it seems that Utrecht is in the news today:

Prankster hurt in 'mooning' gone wrong.

I hope it wasn't anyone you know