Nimavenl - Nicole's Random Ramblings

This week's Photo Challenge photos are here! We are certainly not rich enough to own a boat, however we love spending time on the water. Living in a small and pretty crowded country means getting away from people for some peace, quiet and one-on-one time with nature is a challenge on land, which is partly why I love being on the water. So, we rent a boat for the afternoon or the day a few times every summer. Just a small boat (I guess I should call it a dinghy with an outboard motor, not a boat) however it gets us away from people and out into nature. Living in New Zealand, where one can spend hours in nature without seeing or hearing another person, has certainly spoiled me! While I enjoy living in Europe and love being able to walk around towns that are hundreds of years old, I do miss the laid-back approach to life, the natural beauty and the serenity of New Zealand. But... This post isn't about the many differences between my two home countries, it's a Photo Chal...

This week's Black and White Photo Challenge photos are from a boating trip this week, around the Alkmaar / Broek op Langedijk / Heerhugowaard area. There are several locations around Alkmaar and the Alkmaar area where one can rent a boat for (part of) the day, as we did. The photos are Black and White / monochrome as I felt like editing some of the photos, changing the look and feel of the (colour) photos. I played around with changing the colours in these photos as well, wanting to give them a filter as one might see on Instagram or other photo editing apps. Depending on how busy I am this week and whether I have time to take my camera out, some of the edited colour photos might just become Photo Challenge number nine! "De Toekomst" - Museum Broekerveiling , Broek op Langedijk Mill, Museum Broekerveiling , Broek op Langedijk Poldermuseum , Heerhugowaard Bridge, Alkmaar Flats, Alkmaar Mill, Alkmaar Angles, Alkmaar Building, Alkmaar ...

Biking home two days ago, I couldn't help myself and simply had to stop to take a photo of the setting sun, shining up from behind a cloud. That evening I saw two photos on Facebook that showed the same sky, photos that were taken over twenty kilometres away from where I took this photo. It made me wonder how many people saw (and loved!) this beautiful sunset. How many looked up in wonder, how many smiled, how many stopped, even if only for a minute,to gaze up in amazement? How many stopped worrying, stressing or running around and just spent a moment adoring nature and the beauty on display in the sky above? Shining Sunset Sky | Nimavenl

It took me a while to decide what "Photo Challenge" to go for this week. I wanted to choose my own topic this week, not one I found online. While I considered several topics such as sidewalk shots, walls, For Sale signs, trees, benches, cloud pics, water and animals, in the end I decided to go with Bridges. Although I did see lots and lots of animals - real and decorative - so that might be next week's topic. I'll think about that some more... Heck, I've got time to choose and repeat / re-visit lots of challenges, it's my party challenge after all! Functional yet decorative, bridges are awesome. I've taken photos of bridges before and have written about why I like bridges. In a nutshell, they connect worlds (there, saved you the trouble of clicking on that link!); worlds above and worlds below as well as worlds on either side of the bridge. Here's the first Bridge photo, will add more photos later today. Enjoy!   Photo Challenge: Bridge #1 | ...

The Tunnel of Change | Nimavenl This photo of a wall, some grass and a few trees was taken coming out of a tunnel. It's a tunnel I walk or bike through several times a week, a tunnel that always makes me smile as coming out of it (on either side) provides one with an amazing view of the world. On one side is a very Dutch polderscape - water, a bridge, a mill and a beautiful view of nature. On the other side is city life - a train station, buses and cars, flats and houses and people rushing around living their lives. For me, going through this tunnel signifies change, which is probably why the setting inspired me to write the following words: It may be dark, you may be going through a tunnel or a valley. Your life may be changing in ways you can't imagine and never thought possible. Whatever you're going through, whatever's happening in your life, whatever changes you're facing - Remember to stop every once in a while, to smile and cherish the journey life is t...

Spotted this message and image of a bowl of rice at a local skate park while out walking during the eclipse back in March. As the sun wasn't exactly shining brightly, the image came out quite dark and has a bit of a post-apocalyptic feel to it. Hope to go back on a sunnier day to take more photos of the funny, colourful and inspirational art on display. For now - I hope you Have a Rice Day and enjoy this photo! Have a Rice Day | Nimavenl

Having decided that I'm going to assign myself Photo Challenges on a weekly (perhaps bi-weekly? perhaps fortnightly?) basis, the time has come to investigate Challenges. The whole idea is that I want to challenge myself to take photos based on themes and ideas or photograph certain features such as trees, flowers, buildings, windows, doors, playgrounds etcetera. The first Challenge was to walk a route I normally don't take my camera on and photograph what I see every hundred or so steps. After completing that Challenge and posting a set of eight photos of nature and the Dutch landscape, the next challenge is... To decide on the next Challenge. While  I want to challenge myself to take photos of new and different things, to look at the world in a new way and to go 'hunting' for photos (something I don't usually do), I don't want to pick challenges that are too hard or difficult and don't want to lose interest in the whole concept. The whole idea is to have ...

Becoming a better photographer through participating in challenges. I like the idea and know it from (when I used) Instagram . My current mobile phone is an older model HTC that often 'freaks out' when trying to do simple things and on which I can't uninstall certain apps that all have permission to collect my data and personal information which means I don't use it to connect to the internet (as it's no-one's business but my own who I text or call, as far as I'm concerned). That means no Instagram for me since my old smartphone broke and I started using this one. New smartphone will possibly probably mean a return to IG (however even with a new smartphone I'm still undecided about returning to IG). As for now, the BBC.com article directs me to their own challenge and the 12 by 12 website (and Flickr group ). Colour me intrigued. When looking for a way to challenge yourself photographically it can pay to scan the online photographic community in se...

Walking through town yesterday I came across this stunning tree and couldn't resist taking a photo! A Tree in the City | Nimavenl

Vandaag ben ik Alkmaar stad in geweest en heb ik genoten van het warme weer en het lekkere zonnetje. Na een bezoek aan de bibliotheek om de lezing " Van Gogh en de Gekte " over Vincent van Gogh bij te wonen liep ik naar buiten en zag ik de Grote Kerk schitteren in de zon. Even gewacht tot de mensen weg waren en toen deze foto genomen. Ik ben geen christen en ga niet naar de kerk, maar vind veel kerken wel ontzettend mooie gebouwen. Daarom deze foto van een mooi oud gebouw, geniet er van! Grote Kerk Alkmaar | Nimavenl

Tree Branch, Blue Sky | Nimavenl Here's another two photos from last weekend's Photo Walk. Well really, it's two versions of the same photo - the original and the edited version. This is the third time this week I'm sharing photos of tree branches and I'm as happy with this photo (or should that be 'these photos'?) as with the other two. On the 3rd, I shared two photos, as today an original and an edited version . Two days ago (on the 4th) I only shared a single photo - I liked the edited version a little better than the (slightly more boring feeling) original, to be honest.   Am very much looking forward to another Photo Walk this weekend, just not in the same location! Am hoping to capture some urban scenes and landscapes this weekend as well as photos of nature - I love living in a city with buildings that are hundreds of years old and am looking forward to spending some more time enjoying those buildings and learning about their history! Tree ...

Out walking this past weekend, I came across lots of funky-looking branches. After taking photos of lots of them I am sharing my favourites this week. I already shared an original and an edited photo of tree branches yesterday, and today - you guessed it - is a great day to share another photo. I love taking photos of nature: Trees, flowers, grass, rivers, rocks, stones, pebbles, earth, the sky, clouds, bushes, plants, weeds, you name it. I also love taking photos of bridges and buildings and other man-made structures, however nature  remains my favourite subject. Nature is always beautiful and amazing,  Always special and yes, always changing. I wrote this yesterday, however it feels appropriate for today's post due to the recurring theme of trees and branches: "The birds outside seem to be having a wonderful time surfing the winds and basking in the sun. The trees are swaying in the wind, the branches seem to have a life of their own. A beam of sunlight light...

Treebranch photo 01 | Nimavenl I love nature and I love colour. I also love taking photos of nature and playing with colours. We live in a beautiful world full of gorgeous pathways, roads, rocks, rivers, bridges, buildings, skylines, sunsets, clouds, cliffs, flowers, fabrics, textures and trees. I've written about taking photos of bridges before and how the world of 'in between' fascinates me. I also love taking photos of cities / urban landscapes and buildings with character, however I try to avoid taking photos of strangers without permission, which means a good photo (without people in it!) can be a drama to plan. I went out for a Photo Walk last weekend and found myself focusing not on bridges or buildings but on trees and branches. It was late in the afternoon and starting to get dark, which means the contrast between the darker trees and the lighter sky behind it was easier to capture (and a lot less grainy!) than landscapes or nature scenes. Treebranch ...

Vanmorgen een berichtje ontvangen: "Heb je de aardbeving nog gevoeld?" We kijken elkaar aan - Welke aardbeving? Bij ons in Noord Holland of bij jullie in Groningen? , vragen we ons af terwijl we naar een nieuwskanaal zappen op televisie en druk beginnen te typen op laptop en telefoon om online ook eventjes te lezen wat er aan de hand is. Ik naar de website van het KNMI om daar naar hun kaartje van Nederland te kijken. Appingedam (in Groningen) staat bovenaan met een 2.3 op de schaal van Richter - uit eigen ervaring weet ik dat een 2.3 een lichte beving is die wat zal voelen als een vrachtwagen (of bus... of trein...) die langs rijdt, misschien wat stof naar beneden zal doen dwarrelen. Maar dat is in Nieuw Zeeland waar aardbevingen normaal zijn. Dat is in Nieuw Zeeland waar aardbevingen van nature voorkomen omdat er daar tektonische platen tegen elkaar aan schuiven die aardbevingen veroorzaken. Dat is in Nieuw Zeeland waar men op aardbevingen voorbereid is, er op bouwt en...

Out walking last month I came across numerous bridges. To be expected, as I was walking in an area with lots of little streams and rivers, an area that attracts many who want to enjoy nature and 'the outdoors' without having to go very far. There's something about bridges that speaks to me, something that draws me to them. Standing on a bridge looking down, watching the world below go by, it can feel as if the world below is separate from the world above that I am in. Which bridge one stands on makes little difference - whether it is people and cars passing down below or ducks and boats, the feeling remains the same. A different world, so close yet also so far away... One world above the bridge and another separate world below it. When it comes to enjoying bridges as a lover of photography and an explorer of the world, I most enjoy photos that show not just the world above the bridge and the world below it, but also the separate world that connects the two. Today's ...

This photo is from last month, when it was super-misty / foggy and the world beyond my direct surroundings seemed to just disappear - It was awesome! I may complain about the Dutch weather and climate from time to time, however it can also be extremely beautiful here and this photo shows some of that beauty. It's a very Dutch scene where man-made objects and nature seem to work together to make the world a happier and more beautiful place. With all that's going on in the world these days, I can sure use some beauty and happiness! Come fly away with me! Come Fly Away With Me | Nimavenl

Not nearly as 'pretty' a photo as the previous one of a neat snowed-under world of white rooftops and branches, however just as magical and possibly lots (and lots and lots) more interesting than 'just another snow photo'. If windows could talk of snow and nonsense... | Nimavenl Something tells me I'll definitely be doing some more exploring today...

It started snowing last night... And the world looks magical right now! Loving it! Winter Wonderland | Nimavenl If the snow holds for today, more photos to follow soon! Don't think I'll be able to resist this winter wonderland for long!

I've been playing around with Photoshop a little, working on making normal photos slightly more colourful and bizarre. Winter is beautiful but can often be bleak too which leaves me craving colours and light and cheerful scenes that make me laugh and smile. Backyard Borealis | Nimavenl This photo from three months ago (October 2014) feels perfect for today. I especially love the colourful glow of the water and the on-fire look of the plants in the front of the shot. This image feels a little like a scene from another planet where water glows and the sky is all kinds of strange colours. Let's grab a towel and boldly go... !

Another photo from last Monday when it was crazy misty / foggy and the world looked A-MA-ZING! More photos to follow when I've had time to work on getting the others ready to publish. Misty Monday Magic | Nimavenl