トップ5撮影スポットのリストに新しい町を加えるときがやってきた、アムステルダムだ。アムステルダムは運河が重要ポイントなので、ここで紹介する撮影スポットのほとんどが運河沿いにある。以下の場所から撮影するとアムステルダムらしい写真が撮れる。写真家がよく使うスポットは中々見つけにくい場所にあったりするので、GPS座標も含んでおこう。

今回はタイトル通り5箇所に限られなかったので、ザーンダムの2箇所も加えた。ザーンダムはアムステルダムから遠くないところにある小さい町。(もしかしたらアムステルダム市内にあたるのかな)電車で数分でいける場所にある。最高のスポットなので、ぜひお勧めしたい。遠い撮影スポットの場合は、行き方も簡単に書いておいた。

(日本語のコメントや質問には残念ながら答えられません。英語でどうぞ!)

その他のリストもお見逃しなく!

1. 運河にて #スポット1

アムステルダムで一番のフォトスポットといえば「運河」周辺だろう。ここに来る度、必ず三脚を立てている人がいる。かなり分かりにくい場所にあるので、以下のGPSの座標を確認することがお勧め。ここは、橋の照明が完備されているスポットのひとつなので、水面の反射もきれいに撮れる。また、橋の両端から見る景色も外せない絶景スポットなので、忘れずチェックしておきたい。

At the canals
At the canals

2. 運河にて #スポット2

アムステルダムの運河なら、ここのスポットも押さえておきたい。船乗り場まで降りることができるようになっているので、水面に近い景色が撮れる。どこを見ても反射が美しい。

At the canals
At the canals

3. NEMO科学技術博物館付近

博物館ももちろん欠かせないスポットのひとつだが、このあたりは、面白い発見に溢れている場所である。望遠レンズが手元にあると、アムステルダム市内の中心部や聖ニコラス教会の良い眺めが撮れる。また、近くにあるふたつの歩道橋も外せないスポットなので、忘れずに見てみることがお勧め。ここから駅までは近いので、次なるスポットへの移動も簡単。あるいは、MONTELBAANSタワーは歩ける距離なので、足を運んでみましょう。

Near Nemo
Near Nemo

4. 市内

市内の多くのスポットの中で、ここだけは、と言うスポットがある。以下記載のGPS座標のスポットからは、夜になると水面のきれいな反射が撮れる。日中は船の行き来がはげしいので、きれいな反射は中々撮れない。もう一箇所は近くにある橋の上、右下のような映像が撮れる。

In the center
In the center

5. 「I Amsterdam」立体ロゴ/アムステルダム国立美術館

ここは、いつでもたくさんの人で溢れかえっている場所。ロゴと一緒に写ろうとする人で溢れかえっているこの場所も、タイミングだけ押さえれば良い写真が撮れる。独り占めできる時間帯は日の出のころ。立ち位置はプールの端。100mm以上の望遠レンズを使って映すとアムステルダム国立美術館も背景に入る。ところが、このプールは季節によって違う表情をみせている。水が抜かれていたり、またある季節には咲いているチューリップが飾られていたりする。彫刻が並んでいる様子も見たことがある。
アムステルダム国立美術館を訪れる際は、魅力的な大通りもお忘れなく!

I Amsterdam sign
I Amsterdam sign

6. ザーンセ・スカンス

オランダといえば、風車の風景もぜひ撮りたい。イメージぴったりの場所が、ザーンセ・スカンス。アムステルダムからほど近くに位置し、多くの風車がある、とても美しく小さな村。ここへは、アムステルダム中央駅から出る電車で向かうと良い。Koog-Zaandijk駅で下車、徒歩数分でザーンセ・スカンス区域に到着する。見渡す限りの風車小屋に驚くことだろう。

Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans

7. インテル・ホテル ザーンダム

私のように一風変わった建造物に興味があれば、ザーンダムにあるインテル・ホテルも必見。ここは、アムステルダム中央駅発の電車に乗り、ザーンダム駅で下車、そこから徒歩数分の場所に位置する。夜になると、人通りが少なくなるので、撮影のタイミングには最適だ。

8. アムステルダムのスカイラウンジ

スカイラウンジはマストというわけではないのだが、アムステルダムの平坦な地形柄、高いところからのいい眺めを堪能できる場所が割と少ない。だから、市内のヒルトンホテル11階にあるルーフトップバーのスカイラウンジからの眺めは、さほど悪くないのだ。屋外テラス席があり、飲み物片手に景色を堪能するのもいい。入場料は無いなので、だれでも気軽に上がれる。
三脚を使っての撮影に最適なスポットである、とは言えないが、手持ちのカメラでも良い写真を撮ることができるだろう。
でも、今回私は、満足のいく写真が撮れなかったから近々また行かないと・・・。

9. アダムタワー

アムステルダムに新しい観光スポット「アダム・トーレン」(A’dam Toren)が誕生した。おそらく、街中で一番の高層ポイントになるのではないだろうか。街の素晴らしい景色が望める360度の展望デッキからの眺めはいいが、いくつか問題がある。ひとつめは、このタワーは市内から遠い位置にあるので望遠レンズが必要不可欠であるということ。また、転落防止のためフェンスで囲まれているので、フェンスの隙間から写真を撮らないといけない。三脚を置く場所もないので、カメラが十分にフェンスに付けられない状況。でも、望遠レンズをお持ちの方、または、ただ美しい景色を楽しみたい!という方にはお勧めの場所なので、お勧めしておこう。また、エレベーターに乗ってる間は、携帯電話のカメラでもかまわないのでぜひ上を見て録画してみましょう。

この新観光スポットは、アムステルダム中央駅向かいアイ湖の反対側EYEフィルム研究所のすぐ隣に位置する。船着場からは数分おきに無料のフェリーがでていて、下船はBuiksloterwegで。

A’DAM Lookout
A’DAM Lookout

10. キューケンホフ公園

3月下旬から5月下旬の天気のいい時にアムステルダムを訪れるなら、キューケンホフ公園も欠かせない観光スポットのひとつだ。ここは、チューリップをはじめとするたくさんの花が咲き誇る公園で、とても美しい。
ここへは、スキポール空港から直通バス(58番系統のバス)が出ている。道のりは役1時間。

なお、詳細についてはキューケンホフ公園のウェブサイトをご確認ください。

Keukenhof
Keukenhof

 
その他のリストもお見逃しなく!

As I mentioned in my article on Kickstarter, I back quite a few projects this year. And just yesterday, one of the project delivered. This one are the new products from Peak Design and since I got three of them, I will share some of my first impressions and some photos of them today. So here goes.

The Everyday Backpack 30L

I’m alway on the lookout for a good backpack, so this time I got the new one from Peak design. This is the 30l version, as the smaller 20l looked very small for my needs. The look and feature here are very similar to the last years Everyday Messenger bag, with the same use of materials.

The bags from Peak Design are probably the only ones where you need a manual when you get them. There are so many things hidden around the bag, small detail, straps, usage improvements, that it takes a while to find everything.

 
The build quality and material are excellent as usually, but I so would wish they checked the bags for loose threads, it just looks so cheap on otherwise quality product. I tried to fill the bag up, with two cameras and 6 lenses (from 50mm to 70-200mm) and it all fit in well, with quite a lot of space left (even with the top flap closed for minimal size). There is also a space for a laptop and also for a tablet, so you can really fit a lot here.

 
I tried to wear it for a while, but I’m not so used to backpacs, so can’t tell yet if it’s good or not. But one thing, when you have the bag straps tight, it’s hart to get to the inside of the bag while having it on one shoulder. Will try to use this bag on my next bigger travels, when I need to take a lot of stuff, to see how it works out. First impression is good, but the question is how comfortable it is.

The Everyday Sling

Also I got the smaller sling. First impression of it is even better than the backpack. It sits well over the shoulder, fits a full frame camera with two lenses easily, and will probably be my goto bag for short trips around the city when I don’t need much gear. Actually the only thing I did not like is that the bottom is not flat, so it does not sit well when placed down.

 
Same as with the backpack, you can expand the sling partially, the front pocked to be exact. I don’t think that it’s something I would use that much, as it involves loosening the two front buckles. But it can be useful sometime. The sling also has a space for a tablet, and I actually tried to stick the Surface Pro 4 in it, and while it’s clearly not meant for a tablet that size, it still fits and can be closed.

Range Pouch Medium

Lastly, I took the Range pouch. This is a lens pouch, you can use to store and also to carry a lens in multiple ways (on the belt, with a strap and similar). The medium one is perfect for a 24-70 f2.8 lens, but not much bigger. I got it more to use inside of the backpack, to house smaller lenses. Will see hot that works out.

Overall the first impression is very positive, let’s see how they stack up over time. I will do a review, but later one, when I had time to use them more. For more info on Peak Design products, please visit the Peak Design website here.

As every year, it’s time for my favorite photos from this year. I visited some new, some old places this time, so there have been some very nice photo opportunities. I did not continue with the daily updates this year, either due to a quite busy schedule during the year, or a need to just stop and do something different after a very long time of doing just this. But even with updates maybe not being so regular anymore, they will definitively not stop :)

So let’s hope for even better 2017, filled with great times, interesting locations and the perfect light. And here are some of my favorite photos taken this year. And since I got the tilt shift lens this year, a lot of them are taken with that :)

Also here you can see my favorites from past years: 2015, 2014, 2013, 20122011 and 2010 :)










//Update morning 26.11: Added one new deal at the end

I did this post last and the year before, so not to break tradition, here is it again :)

As always, Black Friday is the best day to buy the software and resources one need as most offer big discounts. And to make the search for you easier, here is a list of the discounts I found, that you may like. Here goes :)

1. Master exposure blending video tutorial

Add to CartAs usually, I will start with my own discount. From today, until the end of the month, you can get 40% off (that’s 29 instead of 49 USD) from my video tutorial series Master exposure blending. Just use the code BF2016 at the checkout. You can buy it from the Master exposure blending page here.

2. Macphun software

From the 21st of November to the 1st of December you can also get great deals on the new Macphun software.
Luminar – for this latest addition from Macphun is available for 59 or 49 USD (new or existing user respectively), and as usually, Macphun will include some learning resources with it. You can find Luminar here.

Aurora HDR 2017 – You also can get the latest version of Aurora HDR for only 89 USD. You will also get few bonus resources with it. You can find Aurora HDR 2017 here.

3. Topaz labs plugins

Topaz again offers a huge discount on all their plugins. If you buy the complete collection, they offer a 50% discount. From the November 25th to the 30th, use the code BLACKFRIDAY16 in the cart. You can find the plugin collection on the Topaz website here.

4. ACDSee

ACD systems have a 30-70% sale on some of their ACD see products, and you can find them all, together with the prices here. The offer is valid until the 25th of November here

5. Oloneo Photoengine

Oloneo also has a great sale right now, with a huge 50% discount on the Oloneo Photoengine (still my favorite HDR software, and one of the easiest). You can grab it for 62 euro or 74 USD from Oloneo website here.

6. Formatt-Hitech

I mention mostly software here, but I also noticed that Formatt-Hitech has a 25% off sale with the BLACK25 code until the 28th of November. For more, check out the Formatt-Hittech webpage here.

7. Peak Design

One more gear offer. Peak design has a range of discount on their clips & straps (up to 20%), and they also offer some of the accessories cheaper if you buy it together with a clip or bag. The offers are valid from the 25th to the 27th and can be found on the Peak Design webpage.

8. Stuck In Customs tutorials

Trey Ratcliff from Stuck In Customs also has a black Friday deal for you. He offers a 25% discount on all books, presets and tutorials. The discounts are available from the 23rd to the 28th November and can be found in the StuckInCustoms store here.

9. On1 software

On1 also offers deals on some of their software. You can find the list of them on the On1 store web-page here.

10. Creative cloud

Adobe offers a nice 20% off for a yearly subscription to Creative cloud. Regretably only for the all programs bundle, not for the photography one. But if you are interested anyway, check it out on Adobe website.

11. InFocusDeals

From the 25th you can get a nice colections of video tutorials from teh InFocusDeals webpage, all focused on landscape photography, all from great photographers (Colby Brown, Jay & Varina Patel, Chip Phillips and more). You can check out the deal already now here.

12. Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Pain is a very cool professional drawing program, and until the 28th you can get it for a low price of 25 USD (almost 50% off). Check it out here.

13. Imagenomic plugins

I use the Noiseware plugin from Imagenomic very often, and from the 25th to the 28th you can get it and other Imagenomic plugins with a nice discount. Just use the code BF2016 at checkout. You can find all on Imagenomic website here.

14. Fstoppers tutorials

Fstoppers offers a nice discount on many of their tutorials, and especially including the one from Elia Locardy are worth it. You can find list of all the discounts and the codes here.

15. 500px subscriptions

500px has a nice flat discount of 25% of all their subscriptions right now. You can find them all here.

16. Jimmy McIntyre tutorials & Raya Pro

Jimmy McIntire is having a 25% off sale on all his video tutorials and his Photoshop panel the Raya Pro. It is definitively worth a look. You can find it all on Jimmy’s webpage here.

Kolor Autopano

Kolor has right now the so caller Kolorful days, where you can get 25% off from the regular price of their panoramatic software Autopano Giga and Autopano Pro, also for the Video version. Check it all out on Kolor webpage here.

I will add more deals, as they become available or I find more :)

The wallpapers section on the blog is quite popular, so how about a little update. Here are four new wallpapers, fit for 3:2 screens, exactly the same resolution as a Surface Pro 4 (but will fit nicely on any other 3:2 screen). You can get the new, and all the other wallpapers as usually from the Wallpapers page here.

Lamp at the canals
Sunset at the beach
Burj Khalifa
Sunset windmills
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