northern eye, a photo from Friesland, North

Photographer's Note

I just returned from a trip up north to the island of Schiermonnikoog.

SCHIERMONNIKOOG is one of the Frisian Islands, a municipality, and a national park in the northern Netherlands.

The island is only 16 km long and 4 km wide and is the site of the Netherlands' first national park. The only village on the island is also called Schiermonnikoog. Just under 1,000 people permanently reside on the island, making the municipality the least densely populated in the Netherlands.

The first known owners of Schiermonnikoog were the monks of a Cistercian monastery on the mainland. "Monnik" means "monk" and "schier" is an archaic word meaning "grey", referring to the colour of the monks' habits. "oog" translates as "island". The name Schiermonnikoog therefore translates as "island of the grey monks".

Because the island is small and flat, only 200 islanders have taken out the special licence allowing them to keep their own car, which the result that the few streets are virtually car-free.

Up to 300,000 people visit the island every year, staying in the 5,500 beds available in holiday homes, apartments and hotels. Most visitors, however, are day trippers, with the result that after the last ferry leaves at 6.30pm, calm returns to the village high street.

The only public transport to Schiermonnikoog is a ferry from the lock and harbour complex of Lauwersoog. Tourists are not allowed to bring their cars with them on the ferry. The most common form of transport is by bicycle.

THIS PICTURE features one of the island's two lighthouses and a typical house in the dunes. The other lighthouse is white, but this red one is the only one that is in operation.

rodgerg, COSTANTINO ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

ManuMay (36447) 2010-05-18 0:40

Hi Benny!

Absolute concept in composition and colours, really creative and original...I like very much this knid of photography, where artist is creating thanks to his point of view and cadrage. A powerful graphic sense and a great realization...I love it!!

Have a nice day...

Manu

jasmis (58653) 2010-05-18 0:46

Nice composition with frame divided into two different parts.
It makes impression.
Regards.

mikolaj_kawa (0) 2010-05-18 0:49

Hello Benny! Amazing composition. Wonderful cottage and lighthouse. Superb POV and DOF. Perfect contrast. Sophisticated effect. Good luck!

serp2000 (47063) 2010-05-18 0:58

Hi, Benny,
You have good eye! I like your idea and realisation!
Fine POV.Good contrast and excellent colours.
Serghei

Kofman (2366) 2010-05-18 3:55

Une photo très originale avec le rouge dominant et la maison blanche très visible et nette aussi. Une composition subtile et recherchée:
Belle photo.
Amitiés,
Elisabeth Kofman

LOOOK13 (19046) 2010-05-18 8:59

Salut Benny.
One very very good idea with returned very good! Interesting graphics, of the colors development well. Beautiful composition.
Cheer.

rbassin (27472) 2010-05-18 11:29

Hello Benny
Voici une prise de vue fort intéressante, j'aime bien la surface rouge avec le graphisme de l"oeil"
Bonne soirée
Roland

zanzi (13690) 2010-05-18 12:19

Hi Benny
Nice split picture. The color contrast is perfect.
Bravo
Chris

Morac (27725) 2010-05-18 14:03

Bonsoir Benny,
Belle et originale composition : toi aussi tu as l'oeil !
Amicalement
Marc

speedymanu (3701) 2010-05-18 14:06

Hello Benny

a movie-like framing, a rather daring composition which is very effective and shows your talent. Congratulations

Emmanuel

papera (14372) 2010-05-18 14:38

hi benny,
this is one part of Holland I have to visit yet (including Terschelling)...
the red lighthouse is surely an eye-catcher - I imagine it in this environment, with this pale blue sky and the green of the island... must be a real sight.
I like the way you disposed the elements here - one feels almost as if playing hide and seek, hiding behind the lighthouse to spy on the others...
c.

rodgerg (55767) 2010-05-19 3:18

Hello Benny,

First thanks for your recommandation for the book.

Very original framing give here a composition creative and very well balanced. The coloured and graphic FG give too a great depht to the composition with the prospect open to the cahrming house in the BG.

For me, your sight is a memory of the beautiful Schiermonnikoog. Thanks for this memory.
Best regards,
Roger

Yves-triga (5149) 2010-05-19 12:16

hy benny,
waow , nice composition,i like,
it's beautifull
well done,
yves

agjika (3177) 2010-05-21 15:13

Hi Ben,

Very interesting compostion. The house looks rather cute and sort of in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks for sharing

Aleks

Nina (5099) 2010-06-09 13:38

Very brave composition Benny. Does it work? Surprisingly it does!

archimatica (20648) 2010-06-10 13:44

This is a simple butgreat idea.
I like also the colors.

Regards
Renzo

Gigsn (858) 2010-06-13 6:59

Hello Benny,
Thank you a lot!!
I like this photo, well done!
greetings from GIGI

gmg (4202) 2010-12-23 13:19

Hi Benny!
Beautiful composition, with two opposite colours sharing the whole frame and the big eye forming a diagonal line with the only other recognisable structure in the picture, the house.
Well thought and done
TFS

gmg

COSTANTINO (117940) 2020-04-16 22:09

Hello dear friend and have a nice time
simple minimalistic photo
with a great contrast between
the red color and the pale blue...
a powerful graphic scenery
regards
Costantino