Every Monday I submit entries to Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge.
I have just visited her blog and saw beautiful monochrome images of New York. Her description of ‘The City’ is fantastic and brought back memories of the metropolises I have visited or lived before.
Having lived in cities with over 3-20 million inhabitants, and now living in Amsterdam, where there are around 800 thousand inhabitants, perhaps may explain my fascination and preference for smaller cities and proximity to Nature.
Today, I am sharing photos of Durgerdam, taken during one of my bike rides, which is one of the small villages close to Amsterdam. There time seems to never fly, making it the best place to stop and contemplate nature, while having a ‘koffie verkeerd’ (wrong coffee), the so-called Latte.
These photos come in two versions. Both converted to monochrome in LightRoom. Then I applied a high contrast and structure filter in Silver Efex Pro. Additionally, I have reduced shadows in the second version of each photo to soften the effect of the filter. If you wish, click to enlarge the photos.
Typical architecture.
A panorama of the village.
I am joining Lens and Pens by Sally, who hosts each Monday the Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge.
Shot with an iPhone5.
The schedule theme for this week’s challenge is: Black and White
Thanks for visiting!
Sights & Insights 
Loving these! Especially the roughness in the first shot. Lovely houses too 🙂
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Thank you!
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That first image seems to be a tip of the hat to the past–the culture and history of the small town. Your panoramas are the push to have me add panorama to the fourth week and Challenger’s Choice. What do you think? Your set does give me a sense of the village, which has touches of nature’s wonder. Happy Photo Challenge.
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It is like going back in time, Sally.
I think it is an excellent idea to add panoramas. Fully support.
Happy week.
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Sally, please to add them. It would be an excellent addition.
janet
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I plan to add it.
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Gorgeous. It’s funny, I prefer the higher contrast in your panorama but the softened image of the close-up. Beautiful work, yet again. X
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I did the softening in the houses first as I found it too harsh, and only for that I applied the same to the panorama. I was quite happy with the drama-panaoraa though. We are drama-queens, right? xx
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Yes we are!! Xx
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How beautiful! The houses are amazing looking! I love your bike rides! ❤
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I don’t get tired of looking at them. Thanks, Colleen, glad to hear. I all make sure to keep shooting interesting things from Holland.
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Beautiful. It looks so peaceful there! I really really enjoy the first photo.
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Thank you. It really is a peaceful place. And it is not a few km far from Amsterdam, and that is what makes it so special.
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They are absolutely different , in terms of “atmosphere”….In my opinion , the first photo is more realistic and gives the idea of people living inside the houses…
While the second one reminds me of fairy tales and cartoons….
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Thanks for visiting and taking the time to make these very interesting observations, Anna. I haven’t thought about that.
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Beautiful! I love the architecture. The houses have a fairytale like charm.
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You definitely feel like you just came out of the time machine. 😉
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Beautiful, Lucile! Not only do I love the closeups of the houses, but the first panorama shot with the clouds is breathtaking!
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Thank you, Terri. I’m very happy to hear that. You always put a smile on my face.
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Panoramas are one of the reasons I wanted my 5s, but I have to remember that the function’s available. I love your panoramas here!
janet
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