Photography on Welcome to my photography blog

Villa Ockenburgh

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sunday afternoon walk on the The Ockenburgh Parc, (24 hectares) is a more than 350-year-old estate located between Loosduinen and Kijkduin, This beautiful villa was build in 1654. Today you can walk in this parc and eat a excellent meal at the restaurant.

Fishing Vessel enter the Harbour

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fishing boat enters the harbour of Scheveningen.

Restaurant Catch

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Our favorite seafood restaurant Catch by Simones at the harbour. They have a excellent cuisine of seafood. The restaurant is located at the end of the inner harbour, across our marina.

Anchor

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Detailed photo of a anchor in beautiful sunlight.

Fishing Vessel OD2 Vessel

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Bow of a fishing vessel Albatros OD2

Build : 1952
Shipyard : Boot, Alphen a/d Rijn, the Netherlands
Length x Broad x Depth: 15,52M X 4,54M X 2,06M -
Weight : 34,49 BRT
Current harbour : Scheveningen

Jar Vessel

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:13:17 +0200

Passenger Vessel Jar

Passenger Vessel in Scheveningen Harbour

Scheveningen Lighthouse

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lighthouse in the last light on the day , on freezing cold afternoon.

📷 Camera: Panasonic Lumix S5II 🔍 Lens: Lumix 24-60mm f/2.8-f4.0 ⏱️ Shutter: 1/250s ⚙️ Aperture: f/8 🌟 ISO: 100

The Scheveningen Lighthouse was designed by Quirinus Harder and completed in 1875. The red, twelve-sided cast iron tower is 30 meters tall. The tower consists of eight floors and a staircase with 159 steps.

30-08-2025 - Using my Fuji X-E1 in 2025

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 05:33:58 +0200

Using a older camera the Fuji X-E1

As photographers, we collect or buy multiple cameras over time. We sell our older cameras or leave them on the shelf to gather dust.

Lately, I’ve noticed that photographers on YouTube are increasingly returning to their older cameras. Often out of nostalgia, but also to go back to a “simple or easier” camera with fewer settings, so you can focus more on taking pictures. These cameras are often simpler and have fewer settings.

Once you’ve been taking pictures for a while with your “older” camera, you’ll also appreciate your current camera. You’ll notice how good today’s cameras are in terms of autofocus, dynamic range, and the number of megapixels in the sensor.

Inspired by the Youtuber One Month Two Cameras , i dig up my old trusty Fuji X-E1

As photographers, we often own several cameras over time. We collect, buy, or sell our older cameras, or they sit on the shelf gathering dust because we prefer to shoot with our newest camera.

Lately, I’ve noticed that photographers on YouTube are increasingly returning to their older cameras. This is often out of nostalgia, but also to go back to a “simpler and easier” camera, so that you can focus more on taking pictures. These cameras are often simpler and have fewer settings.

I’ve noticed that when you’ve been shooting with your older camera for a while, you also appreciate your current camera more. You notice how good today’s cameras are in terms of autofocus, dynamic range, and the number of megapixels in the sensor.

This camera is from 2013, by today’s standards: slow, sluggish autofocus, mediocre EVF (electronic viewfinder). The 16-megapixel APC sensor is the Xtrans 1, which was Fuji’s first digital sensor in the X series. In 2025, Fuji will be on version 5. For more secs and review on DPreview

This was also the first Fuji camera where you could adjust the settings for JPEG photos. Later versions of Fuji sensors have turned these features into a real community. Look at e.g. Ross and his JPEGs or fujifilmsimulations.com

My recipe of choice is the Fuji Porta 400 Simulation, because of the limited option of the Xtrans 1 processor, you can’t alter many parameters.

Favorite Film Recipe: Porta 400

The settings for JPEG are from Kodak Porta 400 by Piotr Skrzypek FujiFilm Recipes

Simulation: Pro Negative High

DR : auto
White Balance: 6300-6700K (-1 R, 0 B, 0 G)
Highlights: -2
Shadows: 0
Color: 0
Sharpness: -2
Nr: -2
Exp comp: as you like, I usually give it +1, +1⅓

This recipe gives the SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera) jpegs a nice punch an a classic film style look from this analog film. These settings are best on bright and sunny days, the color are vibrant and warm. The color temparture is relative high, so every color this pushed to the warm site.

Her are a few examples made with Fuji X-E1 and 23mm/f2.0 objective (35mm Full-Frame equivalent)

14-08-2025 - Leading Lines

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:13:17 +0200

Leading Lines

This was a asignment from our local photoclub, for this month. I made a walked arround my neighbourhood in Scheveningen, the Outer Harbour and the South Pier.

This a a old street with characteristic houses and architecteur. This is the Koppelstokstraat in Scheveningen, just behind the last innner harbour.

In the harbour of Schevening was this ship docked

My walk ended at the Scheveningse South Pier.

05-07-2025 - Trip to Clingendeal

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 12:47:19 +0200

Montly assignment: trip to Clingendael in the Hague

Our monthly asssigment of our local photoclub was a trip to Estate Clingendael

This estate is famous for his Japanese Garden, Big Mansion House and a beautifull park with old and special trees. It is situated is north-west of the Hague and against the village Wassenaar.

The weather was heavenly overcast and rainy, not the ideal situation the make photos of the landscape or buildings. Later that morning there was sometimes a ray of sunlight, very sporadic and for a period short time. My own assignment for that day was: Shoot a sequence.
My sequence was the number of trees in one photo.

Old tree with a many roots

Very large tree with big branches

Two trees on slope with bed of moss.

Tree tree and blurry runner. This was the my best photo of the day.
The static trees and the moving jogger are each other’s counterparts, the stair leads the eye to the jogger

Four trees equal seperated in the frame

03-05-2025 - Trip to the Westbroekpark

Sat, 03 May 2025 18:46:09 +0200

Montly assignment: trip to Westbroekpark in the Hague

Our monthly asssigment of our local photoclu was a trip to Westbroekpark in the Hague / Scheveningen. The Westbroekpark is situated in Scheveningen and surrounded by water. This park is also well-know for his Rosarium, a beautiful flowerbed with many varieties of roses. This is park also used for events and festivals. There is also a nice restaurant with good coffee.

The weather was sunny and warm, but the roses were not in bloom because it was too early in the season. I found it challenging to take a few decent photos. These photos are not award-winning, but good enough to show at our photo club..

Couple of Canadian Geese

Beautifull pond with reflection with nice spring colors.

Beautifull flower in bright sunlight, Darmera peltata (Dutch: Schildblad)

THe first and the thrid photo are made with a 105mm macro lenses, the second one with a 24-70mm/ F2.8 lenss

29-04-2025 - Still Life

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:31:43 +0200

Montly assignment: Still Life

Our monthly asssigment of our local photoclub was create a still-life.

The next photo you see, how the setup was of this photo.

The natural light was coming from the left of the kitchen window. On the far left side, I put a white ordner, that was laying arround. I need something to block the main light to my backgroud, otherwise the the light from the foreground and backgroudn was to equal. I wanted that my subject was separated by a darker the background.

Behind the scene

At the right site, at the front, i used a golden card board, to reflect some light, from the windows, to fill in the " shadow" side of the the scene. I nice aadvantage, that the gold reflector warming up the color of the paprika.

Lesson learned

In a kitchen are a pletora things you use to photograph a still life, you can photograph tools, vegatables, fruit, etc.
You can use cheap and inexpensive material to create reflector to bounce or block light
Playing light and reflectors are great fun to learn how to control the light.

Snapshots - Snorkeling

Mon, 05 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Snorkeling

On our 8-day-trip to the Galápagos we snorkeled almost every day. Either we dove in the water from the Aida Maria or we took a dinghy.

The Galápagos islands are beautiful. However, it may be more beautiful underwater than above water.

Check out our best snorkeling pics below (snapshots we took with our GOPRO).

04-01-2015 - Isla North Seymour

Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Isla North Seymour

After an early breakfast today we disembarked at Isla North Seymour. On Isla North Seymour you can see Frigatebirds, the clownish Blue-Footed Booby, and of course the ubiquitous Sea Lions.

On Isla North Seymour is the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Galapagos. One of the bird’s most distinctive features is the male’s scarlet red throat pouch, which he inflates during mating season to attract female Frigatebirds. Frigatebirds are also known as “pirate birds,” due to their proclivity for stealing food from other birds or snatching chicks out of their nests. They’re also exceptionally agile and acrobatic flyers, which no doubt aids them in their thievery.

?????? Also we could see the striking courtship display of the male Frigate Bird, in which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females.

After we returned to the boat, the boat navigated to Isla Baltra where we catched our plane back to Quito.

03-01-2015 - Isla Santiago + Isla Rábida

Sat, 03 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Isla Santiago + Isla Rábida

Isla Santiago (also known as San Salvador) is recognizable by its varied landscape of black sand beaches and lava fields. Here you can see beautiful examples of lava flows: sharp and fragile A’ā lava and smooth winding Pahoehoe flows. Erosion by sea and wind grinds the black lava into black sand, creating this unusual beach.

A’ā lava is a type of basaltic lava flow with a rough crumbly surface consisting of sharp, spiky lava blocks called “clinkers.” It is thicker and stickier than Pahoehoe lava, causing it to flow more slowly, but it has a dense hot core. As it cools, it forms impassable irregular terrain.

Pahoehoe lava is a type of fluid basaltic lava with low stickiness that is known for its smooth rope-like (ropy) or wavy (billowy) surface structures. It is the “smooth” counterpart to rough A’ā lava and can travel long distances, often in lava tunnels, because it cools and solidifies less than other lava types.

This morning we went to James Bay and Puerto Egas on the northwest coast of Isla Santiago.

Puerto Egas was once the site of a salt mine, but today it’s known for its black sand beach, grottoes, and a colony of fur seals. A leisurely trail takes you through the otherworldly terrain of black lava deposits to the grottoes. This is where you’ll spot the timid fur seals, easily distinguished from the sea lions by their lustrous fur coats, resting on the rocks or paddling around the grottoes.

There is a natural lava bridge.

Puerto Egas is also home to the remarkable Galapagos hawks and the swift Galapagos lava lizards. Furthermore, there are large populations of marine iguanas.

South of the beach is Sugarloaf Volcano, which has deposits of volcanic tuff, the same that helped the formation of the black sand beach.

El Cráter is just north of this site, it has a saltwater lagoon, which during the summer dry season becomes a salt mine. Between 1928 and 1930 was the first exploitation of salt; but the efforts did not last long. Then again in 1964 a new attempt was made that lasted for some time.

After the walk we returned to a black sand beach where we could snorkel.

After lunch we navigated to our next destination: Isla Rábida.

Isla Rábida is a small volcanic island known for its striking red sand beaches and cliffs. Behind the red sand beach is a coastal lagoon and you can walk a loop trail. The approximate distance of the trail is 1.1 kilometers.

The red color of the rocks and sand on the beach is due to the high iron content in the lava and the very porous volcanic material, which has acted as an oxidizing agent with the help of environmental factors (rain, salt water and sea breeze),.

They had said that snorkeling is a must after the visit to Isla Rábida. So that’s what we did. Along the rocky coastline we can saw lots of fish, sea lions and even white tip reef sharks. At first we found it a scary to snorkel above the sharks. But the sharks stayed deep below us and were swimming in circles.

02-01-2015 - Isla Isabela-2

Fri, 02 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Isla Isabela (Caleta Tagus + Punta Espinoza)

This morning we went to Caleta Tagus (Tagus Cove). Caleta Tagus is a historic sheltered bay on the west coast of Isla Isabela, west of the Darwin volcano. It is known as a favorite spot and former anchorage for pirates and whalers.

There is also a trail that leads to the salt lake Laguna Darwin with views of volcanoes. We walked the trail. The entire distance of the trail is about 1800 meters. At the beginning of the walk, going up and passing the staircase, is a small cave where you will find inscriptions dating to the 1800s.

The trail, mostly gravel, leads into the inland along Laguna Darwin. During the walk, we saw various land birds and the characteristic vegetation of the arid zone. Finally we arrived at the point where we could see the lava fields of Darwin Volcano.

After lunch the boat navigated for a short time to Punta Espinoza on Isla Fernandina. Isla Fernandina is most famous for its continuing series of volcanic eruptions. Many of the early visitors to the archipelago reported dramatic changes in the landscape, smoking craters and actual eruptions. The most famous of these is the vivid description from Captain Benjamin Morrell, who witnessed a violent eruption in 1825 and recorded it. This eruption probably resulted in the formation of Punta Espinoza.

Punta Espinoza is a narrow ledge of lava and sand that extends from the base of the volcano to the sea. In 1975, there was an uprising, about 90 cm, which is why the pier built for landing can only be used during high tide.

Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of Marine Iguanas as well as being home to unique species like the Flightless Cormorant, the Galápagos Penguin, the Galápagos Hawk and the Galápagos Snake, among others. It’s an ideal place to observe the lava cactus (Brachycerus Nesioticus), which grows on young lava and can survive with little water.

If the weather conditions were good, we would go ashore and we could also go snorkeling. ……………………….

After our visit to Isla Fernandina, the boat started its navigation to the central part of the Galápagos. On the way we saw Punta Vicente Roca, a mostly eroded volcano which now is a great site to spot Blue Footed Boobies, Frigate Birds and other marine birds from the boat.

01-01-2015 - Isla Isabela

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Isla Isabela (Punta Moreno + Bahía Elizabeth)

After a long boat trip we arrived this morning at Punta Moreno on the west coast of Isla Isabela. Punta Moreno is known for its vast black lava fields and unique adapted flora.

We went ashore on a lava field. The vegetation found in this area is sparse and is mainly concentrated in the mangrove area and around the lakes. However there are 3 kinds of cacti found here: • Lava cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus): a pioneer species that grows directly on lava fields • Opuntia cactus (prickly pear): recognizable by its disc-shaped segments • Jasminocereus thouarsii (candelabra cactus): a large columnar cactus

The other attractions at Punta Moreno are the coastal lagoons amid black lava flows, which are home to several species of birds. You also have a panoramic view of 3 of the most active volcanoes in the Galápagos: • Sierra Negra • Cerro Azul de la Isla Isabela • La Cumbre de la Isla Fernandina

After lunch we took the motorboat to Elizabeth Bay (Bahía Elizabeth), located on the west shore of Isla Isabela. This is an excellent spot for observing marine life. We motored past a few islands where you can usually see Galápagos Penguins. A colony of these magnificent birds inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay. This is one of the best areas to take pictures of these penguins.

Our motorboat drifted through a small passage lined with mangroves and eventually emerged into an enclosed cove. In the bay the motor was turned off and we were able to look in the sheltered waters for Sea Turtles, Rays, Flightless Cormorants and Sea Lions. Galápagos Hawks circled above us.

31-12-2014 - Isabela Island

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:46:09 +0200

Isla Isabela

Today we visited Isla Isabela. Isla Isabela is the largest island in the Galápagos archipelago. The island was formed by 6 volcanoes that grew together. First we went to Puerto Villamil. This is the largest town on Isabela with approximately 2000 inhabitants. Puerto Villamil is located right in front of a white sand beach and is one of the most beautiful spots in the islands.

After that went to the Humedales. Humedales is the Spanish word for “wetlands”. This is an area with mangroves, swamps, and lakes just outside the town of Puerto Villamil. The small brackish water lagoons create the perfect environment for a small type of shrimp that serves as the food for the island’s flamingos.

Then we went to El Muro de las Lágrimas (“The Wall of Tears”). When the Ecuadorian government first took possession of the Galápagos islands their main purpose was to house Ecuadorian prisoners. Since there wasn’t much for them to do, they were forced to carry rocks to a far location and build a wall. Nowadays this wall is known as “The Wall of Tears”.

Then we returned to the beach for some relaxation and snorkeling. Afterwards we enjoyed another delicious lunch on the boat.

In the afternoon we visited the local branch of the Galápagos Park Service, whose main purpose is to take care of the many species of giant tortoises that live Isla Isabela Island. We saw the efforts made by the National Park Service to protect and increase the declining population of giant tortoises on this island. At this center you can learn everything there is to know about the five different species of giant tortoises found on Isabela Island.

In the evening we went to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the city center… It is a tradition among the local population to make a doll or image out of papier-mâché. The dolls/images are burned late on New Year’s Eve. They believe that by burning them, they also burn away all the sins and negative experiences of the past year. This brings good luck for the new year. They also release wish balloons. There were a lot of them. People stand underneath them, which can sometimes be dangerous if a wish balloon suddenly catches fire and drops down burning.

During the night the boat navigated to the west coast of Isla Isabela.

30-12-2014 - Santa Cruz Island

Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:46:09 +0200

Isla Santa Cruz

After breakfast we have visited Puerto Ayora (on Isla Santa Cruz). On Isla Santa Cruz is the world famous Charles Darwin Research Station as well as the giant tortoises rearing center “Fausto LLerena “. We were going to the Charles Darwin Research Station. On our way we came across the local fishmarket. Especially fun to see, were the pelicans and sealions begging for fish.

After this we walked to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This is one of the best places to see giant tortoises, including the place where Lonesome George used to live.

Charles Darwin visited the Galápagos Islands aboard the research vessel Beagle in September 1835. He spent approximately five weeks studying the geology and biology of four of the islands. His findings during this visit to the archipelago contributed to Darwin’s development of his ideas about the evolution of species: the theory of evolution.

We visited the Charles Darwin Research Station.

At the Charles Darwin Research Station you can find baby tortoises the size of a hand, between the ages of one and five years old and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!). Galápagos tortoises are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years, so the young ones have a long life ahead of them as long as they receive the protection they need.

Puerto Ayora is the largest town on Isla Santa Cruz and the economic center of the Galápagos. In this portside town you can find shops and the local market where you can buy the unique Galápagos handicrafts.

After shopping in Puerto Ayora we had lunch on the boat. Then we explored the highlands or “ parte alta ” of the island. This is a moisture-rich area with fertile volcanic soils. The guide todl about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, which often differs strikingly from that found at lower elevations.

Darwin’s Finches, yellow warblers, and bright red Vermillion flycatchers flew in and out of the moss-covered trees.

From this high vantage point we were treated to beautiful views of the surrounding archipelago.

29-12-2014 - Santa Fé Island + Plazas Island

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 18:46:09 +0200

Isla Sante Fé en Isla Plazas

After breakfast we visited Isla Santa Fé. Isla Santa Fé is located southeast of Isla Santa Cruz. The island is uninhabited. Tourists are allowed to go ashore at Barrington Bay. The island has the greatest variety of native animal species of all the Galapagos Islands.

When we arrived on the island, we were treated to a noisy welcome from the local sea lion colony. With our guide we walked along the paths on the island. The main attraction of Isla Santa Fé is a towering forest of giant cacti.

Scattered among the cacti were some of the island’s indigenous sun-seekers: marine and land iguanas, rainbow- streaked lava lizards, and lots of land birds, such as Darwin’s finches and Galápagos doves.

After the walk we went snorkeling again in the company of beautiful fishes and sea turtles.

Then we returned to the boat for lunch.

After lunch, we navigated to Islas Plazas. Islas Plazas are two small elongated islands: North Plaza and South Plaza. Both islands are located close to the east coast of Isla Santa Cruz. They are both flat islands consisting of raised ocean floor covered with lava. South Plaza is the smallest island that can be visited by tourists. North Plaza is even smaller, but is a nature reserve and not accessible to visitors.

On the island, there is a large colony of sea lions lounging in the sun every day. South Plaza also boasts beautiful examples of typical Galápagos native flora, such as “sesuvium,” a plant that changes color depending on the season. There are also opuntia cacti, which are the principal diet for both land iguanas and Darwin’s finches. Other birds that may flutter by include lava gulls, yellow warblers, and red-billed tropicbirds.

28-12-2014 - From Quito to the Galapagos Islands

Sun, 28 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

From Quito to the Galapagos Islands

We booked an 8-day trip to the Islas Galápagos. These islands are located near the equator, about 1000 km off the west coast of South America. These islands are a province of Ecuador and consist of 127 islands, of which only 4 are inhabited. All of the islands belong to the Galápagos National Park. This is a unique protected nature reserve (since 1959). The islands have been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1978. In 1981, the surrounding ocean was declared a marine reserve. The Galápagos National Park covers 97% of the archipelago. This means that the landscape is protected by strict regulations to preserve the fragile ecosystem. The archipelago consists of 13 main islands and many smaller islands.

The 13 largest Galápagos islands have a surface area in km² of (in order of size):

Isabela 4588 km²
Santa Cruz 986 km²
Fernandina 642 km²
San Salvador / Santiago 585 km²
San Cristóbal 558 km²
Floreana / Santa María 173 km²
Marchena 130 km²
Española 60 km²
Pinta 59 km²
Baltra 26 km²
Santa Fe 24 km²
Pinzón 18 km²
Genovesa 14 km²

Today we flew from Quito (Ecuador) to Isla San Cristóbal (Galápagos). We were picked up at the airport of Isla San Cristóbal and taken to the boat “Aida Maria”.

We will be staying on this boat for 8 days (7 nights). The boat can accommodate up to 16 people in 8 cabins for 2 people (there are 15 people on this trip). Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on the boat. On the photo below you can see the area where we always eat. We go down the stairs to our cabin (unfortunately with bunk beds).

The boat often sails to a new location at night. Below you can see the trip we are currently making.

After the delicious lunch the boat navigated to Isla Lobos.

Isla Lobos is a very small islet off the coast of Isla San Cristobal, made of volcanic rocks and named after the colony of sea lions ( Lobo de Mar in Spanish ) living there. Here you can observe the behaviour and interaction of sea lions living in a small community.

After this visit on Isla Lobos we went snorkeling.

Tonight we will cruise to Isla Santa Fé.