Where's Nifty?! #2

The weather has turned, it's pretty chilly, lots of rain and today took Nifty with me when I went to get some groceries. They're just snaps.

Odd looking building. It's huge. I took I don't know how many shots to make a pano.

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Those houses are interesting because cavities have been built into them so Swallows and Swifts have a place to breed. These particular ones house Swifts. There are a great many of them in the area. The street behind this one has a lot of House Swallows.

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I waited a bit on one of the red bridges, hoping a Swift would fly by, but all I saw were gulls...

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Glad to hear that you are out and about!
These are lovely.. so simple, yet it shows how people try to make a home..

Thank you Levina!

Thanks very much, Jo. You're always so kind.

I have images to share.
Okay, I bought a 1DIV and have been playing with it a bit. Love it. So today I thought I would take it out for the ultimate test: shooting Swallows in flight. Nice idea, but the moment I stepped outside it began to rain. But ha! I'm Dutch, rain is my middle name, so I pull out my rain suit. First the coat, 5 minutes later the trousers as well. It was pouring! So Swallows were out because I might still return the camera so I'm not going to take any chances. But, I had also tucked in my camera bag Euro Nifty so I took some shots, hoping it would stop raining. But it didn't. It went from a steady rain to a downpour and back to a steady rain again. Wall to wall wetness. But it didn't beat me. Of course then the weather pulled a trump card: thunder and lightning. And I really really don't like to be out when that is overhead, so I caved in and went home.

But I did get away with some shots. All taken in the rain.
Just another pretty street. There are so many of them here. Doesn't that look cheerful?

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I had to edit the above post and AMASS did that thing again where the images disappear. I hope Pekka can fix this thing because it's annoying.

I just know what you all are thinking. Because I always think the same thing when I happen to be here: what do they look like on the other side?!
It may seem strange, but I have no idea. I never looked. I wanted to now, but this was taken from a location where I was safe from the lightning and I wasn't going to risk it by walking out there...

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The bridge is called Anaconda. It's one of four red bridges and the only one that only pedestrians can use to cross the canal. Or should I say "climb on to"? It's that high so ships of a certain hight (or their masts) can get into the canal.
This shot is almost identical to a shot I took from the other side. Not sure if it was with the Nifty or with the Samyang 14mm. Anyway, I like the shot.

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As I was waiting there, I thought, well, I could photograph the rain. Or rather, people in it. And right as I was thinking that, a teacher came out of a school with a group of children. This is a big crop because I wanted to get rid of all the distractions, such as cars and trucks and bicycles.

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Last one for now.
I was standing underneath that big, rather weird looking building, noticed the pretty fence and then saw that the building was actually built around a garden. Difficult to shoot because I couldn't back off, but I tried anyway. Photoshop had a difficult time with it and it looks distorted but at least it gives some idea of the place.

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More really nice shots Levina. I love that bridges and the shot
of the children as well. Really well shot.

Thanks very much, Kevin.
I have to say that the shot of the children unexpectedly became my favourite of the day. I'm real glad you like it too.

I really like the red bridge and the kids' photo too, Levina. There's something about catching a candid moment with kids that can often just bring a smile. Nice capture!

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #18039119
As I was waiting there, I thought, well, I could photograph the rain. Or rather, people in it. And right as I was thinking that, a teacher came out of a school with a group of children. This is a big crop because I wanted to get rid of all the distractions, such as cars and trucks and bicycles.

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This turned out well with the free spirit shoot of the kids. How do you approach the group of kids to take their picture? I think the cops would be called on me, I'd be tased in the face and be lying hand cuffed on the ground with a boot firmly on my head.

That made me laugh so hard. I can just picture it!

I saw the group come my way and just walked towards them, knelt down and took a few pics. It was a spontaneous thing and it was all in the open. I mean, I didn't stake out a school and/or hide behind a tree to take candid shots of children. And of course I'm a female so that makes it less threatening. I also think we're a bit more relaxed here about people taking pics of kids than Americans; we don't automatically assume they're perverts. And in this case, like I said, I was in plain sight, the teacher saw me, smiled and waved, I smiled and waved back and the kids started to goof around when they saw me taking their picture. Just a natural, spontaneous thing and all was good.

lavanut wrote in post #18039618
I really like the red bridge and the kids' photo too, Levina. There's something about catching a candid moment with kids that can often just bring a smile. Nice capture!

Thanks very much, Lisa!