The Amazing Netherlands

Not all Dutch people are from Holland or from Europe: Holland is an area in the Netherlands that today is made up of the provinces of North Holland (Noord-Holland) and South Holland (Zuid-Holland). Historically Holland was the area that contributed the most to the Dutch kingdom's economy and wealth, thus becoming a common name to indicate the entire country, although incorrectly. In addition, due to a history of colonialism, three Caribbean islands are still part of the Netherlands: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Their citizens are Dutch and can vote in EU elections.

1. The Wilhelmus is the oldest national anthem in the world: Both the words and music date from the 16th century, and in it the Dutch king speaks of his German blood and describes his loyalty to the Spanish crown.
   
2. The Netherlands is the healthiest country in the world for diet: The Netherlands ranked first in the world, above France and Switzerland, for having the most plentiful, nutriatious, healthy and affordable food among 125 countries in an Oxfam report.
   
3. King Willem-Alexander was the first Dutch king in 123 years: He coronation in April 2013 came after his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated at the age of 75, ending a female reign that spanned three generations since 1890. King Willem-Alexander serves as the current head of state.
   
4. The Dutch were the first in the world to legalise gay marriage: same-sex marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 2001.
   
5. Dutch men are the tallest in the world: with a height of 182.5cm, while Dutch women rank as the second tallest in the world with a height of 1.69cm. Although Europeans and Americans towered over the average Dutch in the mid-18th century, Dutch males have grown some 20cm over the last 200 years compared to just 6cm that Americans grew. Researchers say it is not only due to Dutch DNA but also environmental factors such as low social inequality, universal healthcare and nutrition, specifically their heavy consumption of dairy products. 
   
6. Gin was invented by the Dutch and introduced to the Brits: Gin (jenever) was invented in the 16th century, and reportedly became popular in Great Britain after William of Orange (King William III) occupied the English, Scottish and Irish thrones with his wife Mary. A popular story for the term 'Dutch courage' allegedly derives from when gin was used by Brits and the Dutch during the Thirty Years' War.
   
7. The Netherlands has the highest English-proficiency in the world: narrowly beating Denmark and Sweden, according to the English Proficiency Index (EPI). Some nine in 10 Dutch people speak English as a second language. According to the latest EU langage report (2012), 94 percent of Dutch people could speak two languages, well above the EU average of 54 percent. Considering more than half of the population also speak German, many must speak at least three languages. The Netherlands is one of the top countries where residents are more likely to learn a language at school, around 91 percent, and via conversation.
   
8. There are over 1,000 windmills still standing from 1850: Traditionally used for a variety of purposes, from irrigation to grinding grain, only a few still operate commercially. The Kinderdijk area is a UNESCO World Heritage site home to 19 traditional windmills.
   
9. The Netherlands produces around 6 million souvenir clogs each year: the exact origin of wooden footwear is unknown – and not thought to be Dutch – although the oldest surviving clog in Europe was found in Nieuwendijk, Amsterdam, dating almost 800 years and resembling Dutch clogs today. Clogs are rarely worn although they are ingrained in Dutch culture, for example, there are many clog-related idiomatic expressions. Traditionally, klompen were used as protective footwear for labour workers as they're sturdy, waterproof and easy to clean, and in rural Netherlands they are still somtimes seen in the fields. 
   
10. An entire province is made from land reclaimed from the sea: Flevoland became a province in 1986 and is largely made of land reclaimed from the Zuiderzee in the 20th century.
    
11. Almost 80 percent of the world's flower bulbs come from the Netherlands: the majority of which are tulips, as the Netherlands is also the world's leading tulip exporter. Nine billion bulbs and millions of flowers are grown each year primarily for export. Thousands of people flock to see the beautiful fields as they grow; Haarlem is home to many commercial fields as well as a Flower Parade and Keukenhof park, which display hundreds of flower varieties.
12. Tulips aren't native to the Netherlands: The tulip was imported from Turkey in the 16th century. In the 1630s, 'Tulip Mania' gripped the country. Prices rose until a single bulb could cost as much as a house and attracted many farmers to switch to tulips, then the industry suddenly collapsed leaving many in economic crisis.
    
13. The Netherlands is the lowest country in Europe: it is literally a low country, as it's sometimes called, with 26 percent of the Netherlands sitting below sea level and some 60 percent of the population living 5m below sea level. It's highest point is Vaalserberg which is just 322 metres above sea level and the lowest point is Zuidplaspolder which is seven metres below sea level. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, where most visitors land, is three metres below sea level.
    
    
14. The Netherlands has the highest population density in Europe: Not counting countries just a few kilometres long (such as Monaco), the Netherlands is the most densely populated country with around 17 million people in 41,500 square kilometres. The World Bank estimates the Netherlands' population density at around 500 people per square kilometre.
    
15. The Dutch government plans to ban the sales of petrol and diesel-powered cars in 2025: To promote green energy, the motion has been passed by the lower house but still needs to be ratified by the senate. The government’s goal is to have only electric cars driving on Dutch streets in future.
    
16. The Netherlands is the world’s second biggest beer exporter: Dutch brewers exported 1.6 billion euros of beer in 2014 – one-third going to US markets – and was the world’s biggest exporter of beer until 2010, when it was overtaken by Mexico. 
    
17. Drugs aren't as easily available as you might think: While cannabis has been decriminalised, possession, cultivation and selling it to foreigners is illegal, even in coffee shops, as of 2012. However, this law is not enforced in either Amsterdam or Rotterdam. The police tend to ignore public possession of less than five grammes (30g in private) or cultivation of under five plants as this is considered personal use.
    
18. The Netherlands is home to more bikes than people: There are around 18 million bikes in the country, including the clever (if not so elegant) bakfiets which combine a bike and a wheelbarrow. Ideal for taking the kids to school, bakfiets are even occasionally used for moving house. Dutch cycle an average distance of 2.9km per day and use bicycles for more than a quarter of all trips, compared to just 2 perecent in the UK.
    
19. Cycling in the Netherlands is the safest in the world: A study from Rutgers University reported the Netherlands has the lowest rates of serious injuries per million kilometres cycled. This is thanks to 35,000km of excellent cycle lanes and that bikes get the same respect as cars – and not just on the roads. Groningen station has a whopping 10,000 bike spaces. Bikes must also have lights and cycling while drunk is illegal. But bike theft is also high with over 100,000 thefts reported each year, and an estimated 300,000 unreported thefts.
    
20. Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport offers more direct flights than any airport in the world – in 2016, Schiphol operated 4,633 flights per week in 2016, according to a report by Dutch economic institute SEO on behalf of the Airport Council International. Schiphol is 100 percent government-owned and handles around 60 million passengers per year.
    
21. More than 60 percent of the Netherlands is agriculture and horticulture: the country is one of the world's biggest exporters, despite it's small size, competing again China, the US and Germany. In 2014 the Netherlands was the world’s second largest exporter (in value) of fresh vegetables, worth EUR 7 billion. It is also one of the world's largest exporter of seeds, live trees, plants, bulbs, roots and cut flowers.
    
22. Home births are still cherished in the Netherlands: around 20 percent of babies in 2013 were born in homes, one of the highest home birth rates in the developed world. This is partly due to the Dutch attitude on not medicalising birth, lower costs compared to hospital births and a good screening system of women who can safely deliver at home. Midwives or verloskundige usually assist mothers during the home delivery, and home births are covered by Dutch health insurance while hospital births without medical necessity can be refused.
    
23. One-fifth of the Dutch population is foreign: in 2016, 22 percent of the population in the Netherlands was from abroad. The country's multicultural mix is particularly felt in Amsterdam, which is home to more than 150 nationalities. Yet foreigners who are not Dutch citizens only represent less than four percent of the population and around 3.5 million people have immigrant parents or grandparents, showing many expats quickly settle in and become Dutch.
    
24. The Dutch eat the most liquorice in the world: Some 32 million kilos of the black sweet are consumed each year.
    
25. Dutch artists are world famous: The country is believed to have brought oil painting to Europe, and renowned artists run from the Hieronymus Bosch (1400s) through artists like Vermeer, Rembrandt and van Gogh to modern artists and designers like MC Escher and the creator of Miffy.
    
26. The Dutch introduced orange carrots to the world: Dutch carrot growers developed orange carrots in the 16th century through careful breeding of existing varieties. At the time, carrots were a range of colours, from pale yellow to purple.
    
27. CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray were invented in the Netherlands: Philips, a major Dutch company, developed CDs in 1979, in a joint project with Sony, in their headquarters in Eindhoven. They also developed cassette tapes and popularised many home electronics items in Europe, such as TVs and blenders.
    
28. The first multinational company, stocks and stock exchange were Dutch: travelling the extensive overseas Dutch empire, the Dutch East India Company is recognised as the first truly multinational company and the first to issue stocks in 1602. It established the Amsterdam Stock Exchange the same year, which is considered the oldest 'modern' exchange in the world. Growing out of its colonial heritage, the Dutch were also the first to develop fair trade certification, launching the Max Havelaar certificate in the 1980s.
    
29. Discovery of microbiology and virology: The first compound microscope was built in the Netherlands in 1590. In the 1670s, Antoine van Leeuwenhoek, called 'the father of microbiology' viewed and researched microbes. In 1898, Martinus Beijerinck showed that disease could be caused by an agent smaller than bacteria, which he called a virus.

For more images of The Netherlands and beyond Go To: Christian Richards Photography

Black and White Photography Tips

Thanks to digital technology, monochrome photography is easier today than ever before. Check out these six black and white photography tips for getting great results.

1. Shoot RAW + JPEG

The best monochrome conversions are made by editing raw files which have the full color information, but if you shoot raw and JPEG files simultaneously and set the camera to its monochrome Picture Style/Picture Control/Film Simulation mode you get an indication of how the image will look in black and white.

As many photographers struggle to visualize a scene in black and white, these monochrome modes are an invaluable tool that will help with composition and scene assessment.
Many cameras are also capable of producing decent in-camera monochrome images these days and it’s worth experimenting with image parameters (usually contrast, sharpness, filter effects and toning) to find a look that you like.
Because compact system cameras and compact cameras show the scene seen by the sensor with camera settings applied, users of these cameras are able to preview the monochrome image in the electronic viewfinder or on rear screen before taking the shot.
DSLR users can also do this if they activate their camera’s live view system, but the usually slower responses mean that many will find it preferable or check the image on the screen post-capture.

2. Look for Contrast, Shape and Texture

The complimentary and opposing colors that bring a color image to life are all reduced to black and white or shades of grey in a monochrome image and you have to look for tonal contrast to make a shot stand out.

In color photography, for example, your eye would immediately be drawn to a red object on a green background, but in monochrome photography these two areas are likely to have the same brightness, so the image looks flat and dull straight from the camera.

Fortunately, it’s possible to work adjust the brightness of these two colors separately to introduce some contrast. However, a good starting point is to look for scenes with tonal contrast.
There are always exceptions, but as a general rule look for scenes that contain some strong blacks and whites.
This can be achieved by the light or by the brightness (or tone) of the objects in the scene as well as the exposure settings that you use. The brightness of the bark of a silver birch tree for example, could inject some contrast (and interest) in to a woodland scene.
Setting the exposure for these brighter areas also makes the shadows darker, so the highlights stand out even more. Look for shapes, patterns and textures in a scene and move around to find the best composition.

3. Try Long Exposure

Long exposure shots can work really well in monochrome photography, especially where there’s moving water or clouds.

During the exposure the highlights of the water, for example, are recorded across a wider area than they would with a short exposure and this can help enhance tonal contrast.
The blurring of the movement also adds textural contrast with any solid objects in the frame. If necessary, use a neutral density filter such as Lee Filters’ Big Stopper or Little Stopper to reduce exposure and extend shutter speed (by 10 and 4 stops respectively).
Naturally, when exposures extend beyond about 1/60 sec a tripod is required to keep the camera still and avoid blurring. It’s also advisable to use a remote release and mirror lock-up to minimize vibration and produce super-sharp images.

4. Use Filters

Graduated neutral density (AKA ND grad) and polarizing filters are just as useful in monochrome photography as they are in color. In fact, because they manipulate image contrast they are arguably more useful.

An ND grad is helpful when you want to retain detail in a bright sky while a polarizing filter can be used to reduce reflections and boost contrast. Alternatively, consider taking two or more shots with different exposures to create a high dynamic range (HDR) composite.
Don’t be afraid to use a ND grad with a standard neural density filter if the sky is brighter than the foreground in a long exposure shot.
Colored filters, which are an essential tool for monochrome film photographers, can also be useful for manipulating contrast in digital images.
They work by darkening objects of their opposite color while lightening objects of their own. An orange filter, for example, will darken the blue of the sky while a green one will lighten foliage.

5. Take Control

Although coloured filters can still be used to manipulate contrast when shooting digital black and white images, it’s more common to save this work until the processing stage.

Until a few years ago Photoshop’s Channel Mixer was the preferred means of turning colour images monochrome, but now Adobe Camera Raw has more powerful tools (in the HSL/Grayscale tab) that allow you to adjust the brightness of eight individual colours that make up the image.
It’s possible to adjust one of these colours to make it anything from white to black with the sliding control.
However, it’s important to keep an eye on the whole image when adjusting a particular colour as subtle gradations can become unnatural looking.
And adjusting the brightness of a red or pink shirt with the red sliding control, for instance, will have an impact on the model’s skin, especially the lips.
The Levels and Curves controls can also be used to manipulate tonal range and contrast, but the HSL/Grayscale controls allow you to create separation between objects of the same brightness but with different colors.

6. Dodge and Burn

Dodging and burning is a technique that comes from the traditional darkroom and is usually used to burn in or darken highlights and hold back (brighten) shadows.

Photoshop’s Dodge and Burn tools allow a level of control that film photographers could only dream of because you can target the highlights, shadows or mid-tones with both.
This means that you can use the Burn tool to darken highlights when they are too bright, or the Dodge tool to brighten them to increase local contrast.
It’s a great way of giving a sense of greater sharpness and enhancing texture.
Plus, because you can set the opacity of the tools, you can build up their effect gradually so the impact is subtle and there are no hard edges.

For more examples see Christian Richards Photography

Night Photography Basics

Night Photography

Night photography has an attraction all its own. There's something about scintillating lights from office windows hanging in the dark of the night -- a modern version of the starry skies -- that appeal to us. Whether it's a city skyline, lamp posts on a dark and deserted street, or the front of your house all decked out with holiday lights, the challenge of capturing the mood of a night scene depends on whether your digital camera is capable of night photography and on a couple of simple techniques.

Can My Camera Do Night Photography?
For successful night photography you need a digital camera that allows you to keep the shutter open for a long time, anywhere from 3 to 30 seconds. Check your camera specifications in the User's Manual under Shutter Speed. The shutter speeds available will be given as a range, e.g. 30 sec. - 1/2,000 sec.
If you are seriously into night photography, then you would want to ensure you purchase a digital camera that allows the longest shutter speed possible, and even Bulb (where the shutter remains open as long as you depress the shutter release button).
But before you plunk down your money for that digital camera, there's two more features to verify -- and one accessory to purchase, if you don't have it already.

Shooting Modes
For an image to be captured by a digital camera's image sensor, the latter requires exposure to light. But at night, light is what we don't have enough of.
Some of you may have noticed that, if you select a shooting mode of Auto (A) or Program Auto (P), your night pictures always come out too dark. They are simply underexposed. But, why is that -- if your camera's shutter speed ranges from, say 10 sec. to 1/2,000 sec.?
Go back to your camera's User's Manual and look a bit more carefully. Are all the shutter speeds available in Auto or P mode? Ah-ha, many digital cameras (we're talking consumer models here) do not make the whole shutter speed range available in A and P mode! Perhaps the slowest shutter speed available in A and P mode is only as slow as 1/3 sec. That's usually not long enough for night photography. To access the longer shutter speeds, you may need to select one of the other shooting modes, e.g. Shutter-Priority, or even switch to full Manual mode.
So ensure that your digital camera has full Manual mode and allows access to the full range of slow shutter speeds in that mode.

Self-Timer & Remote Controller
Another feature that you want your digital camera to have is a self-timer or, ideally, a remote controller. The purpose is to allow you to depress the shutter release button without introducing camera shake. I particularly like the remote controller, but not every camera comes with one or even has one available optionally.
But almost all, if not all, cameras has a self-timer. Usually the self-timer counts down from 10 sec. I find that a bit long to wait, especially since you would need to take more than one shot and it's minus 10 with the wind chill outside. The cameras that additionally provide a 2 sec. self-timer have my nod of approval here.

Tripod
A mandatory accessory that you need is a sturdy tripod. When you let the shutter stay open for a long time, the camera needs to be kept rock steady, otherwise you end up with blurred images.

One last, very important, thing you need for successful night photography...Patience. Take your time. Don't rush. Don't get stressed. Just take a deep breath and make adjustments as needed.

For beautiful images check out: Christian Richards Photography

Glorious Naarden...The Essence of the Netherlands!

Recently I was fortunate to spend three full months exploring the beautiful cities, villages, and countryside of the Netherlands. Each and every day of my stay produced cherished experiences and memories. That being said, a couple of my adventures stood above all others. One of those was the day I spent exploring exquisite Naarden.

Naarden is a small, old school town built out in the middle of a small body of water, on a man-made "island" of sorts. The town spreads out over the tiny island from it's beautiful centerpiece, an age-old church. The only way into the town proper is on a narrow, single lane road that traverses the lake and enters Naarden through beautiful stone arches. 

The town itself is quite lovely and sported several restaurants serving some of the best food I sampled on my entire trip. Quaint, colorful, vintage, classic...all of these describe Naarden to a tee. And while the town itself is well worth the visit, what struck me the most on that day was my walk around the outside of the giant moat, looking into the town from beyond, a dramatic storm covered sky seemingly casting me back in time. I traversed the entire circumference, as if in a dream, imagining what travelers must have thought, what opposing generals must have wondered as they gazed across the water.

A trip to the Netherlands, regardless of the specific area is well worth it and will form lifelong, joyous memories. However, it will not be complete without a visit to the timeless wonder that is the village of Naarden.

For stunning images go to: Christian Richards Photography

The Beauty of the Netherlands Coast

The last stop on my travels through the Netherlands was Ijmuiden van Zee, a tiny harbor town on the coast.  Even though it had been very easy up to this point reaching any destination I chose to visit, the journey to the sea was a tad more adventurous.

I took the tram to a bus that was destined for the coast. In a rare case in the Netherlands of language barrier I apparently was unable to clearly convey to the driver where I was headed. We meandered through the stunning Holland countryside for about 45 minutes. Upon pulling up to an empty bus stop in a tiny suburb the driver indicated for me to exit. I watched as he drove off, leaving me kind of in the middle of nowhere, wondering what came next. Well, what came next was 45 minutes of me sitting alone at the bus stop, singing progressively louder to myself. Obviously, no one else was coming to take me the rest of the way, so I set out walking in a randomly determined direction. 

When I reached the first road sign about 10 minutes later I realized the Universe was taking good care of me...I was going the right direction! Now the journey would begin in earnest. I strolled through such beauty on my way to more beauty on the coast, discovering as I went a massive network of WWII bunkers just before the harbor. They were sadly fascinating and, while they did bring me a bit down thinking of why they were there, I was very glad my meandering brought me to them.

After an hour of relaxed exploration I made it to Ijmuiden van Zee. What an incredibly enchanting place! I could not have asked for better weather nor a more beautiful destination. First came the harbor, nestled between the land and a man-made breakwater, sunlight glinting off placid waters, four or five piers with lovely boats, both sail and motor powered, waiting patiently for their owners to take them out onto the expansive sea. Beyond the docks came a hotel and small area of restaurants and shops....nothing gaudy...everything in keeping with the surrounding loveliness. It was here I decided to take a brief respit and seek nourishment. A round building housing a Chinese restaurant beckoned so in I went, taking a seat among bright decorations and friendly faces and promptly ordered what had become a staple of my European adventures, an Irish coffee. 

The owner came and engaged in conversation, asking the normal queries of who, where and why and informed me that the beach was truly massive and took at least 10 minutes to walk from the boardwalk to the ocean. Wow...10 minutes! Pretty darn cool. The was fantastic and, thus armed with sustenance, I set off to complete my journey.

The beach was stunning! I grew in the natural beauty of the Caribbean, the United States Virgin Islands more specifically, so I know a quality beach when I see one and this was of the very highest order. The first thing I noticed was a tiny bit of snow hanging on to life just as I stepped off the boardwalk. Snow on the beach...that was definitely a first for me. Lovely, light colored sand reached out in every direction. At first I couldn't really tell where beach ended and ocean began. As I began walking towards the ocean I realized that the gentleman in the restaurant had been correct...it would take me at least 10 minutes to reach the water.

The serenity...the sheer beauty...is difficult to put into words, so I won't try. I encourage you to see the vivid beauty through my eyes and check out my Ijmuiden van Zee gallery. I hope you enjoy!

Remember, there are no strangers here, just friends we haven't met yet. :)

For more images of Ijmuiden and other beautiful destinations go to: Christian Richards Photography

Picturesque Lake Shastina

About 5 miles past the historic logging town of Weed on state highway 97 a road, Big Springs, breaks off to the left. It winds down into a beautiful high desert valley which contains man-made, yet quite picturesque, Lake Shastina. The lake consists of 2 areas, the open public area and the privately owned main area. The private section is available to local home owners, the 18 hole Lake Shastina Golf Resort guests and friends and family of the above. There are also a number of delightful bed and breakfasts and condo rentals.

And when you go to the lake you will enjoy several of Nature's perks, such as the magnificent Mt. Shasta itself and a wide variety of beautiful and curious wildlife.

For more beautiful images go to: Christian Richards Photography

A Hidden Gem: The High Desert Vietnam War Sculpture Memorial

As you drive north on I5 up into the mountains of northern California you will run into a sign stating "Central Weed, California Highway 97". Upon taking this exit you will ride through the very quaint town of Weed, a historic logging community that now survives largely upon tourism..."Enjoy Legal Weed:. :) Once through the town you continue about 20 miles and then on your left, as if out of nowhere, is the Vietnam War Memorial Sculpture Garden. It is a place of true peace and Zen.

Once you turn in you can either park in a large, oval, dirt parking area and walk up or drive up the single dirt road into the center of the sculpture garden. I strongly suggest parking and walking up...this way you get the full, breathtaking, beautiful experience. It is not a long walk and well worth it.

The garden is comprised of several sculptures detailing the stages people go through during war...those left behind, POW's, medics, the fallen soldier and so much more. Over the years, moved by the beauty of the garden and burdened with painful memories, people have left little trinkets and memorabilia to honor those who have served and fallen.

It is beautiful. It is powerful. It is heart-rending. And all of this is set within the stunning setting of beautiful high, mountain desert northern California. The Garden is an experience you will never forget.

For more beautiful images go to: Christian Richards Photography