Picture of the Day - October 19, 2009

Early morning skaters at Kinderdijk, Holland

Photo courtesy of Jeroen van Daal.                        (Click on the photo for a larger view) As a youngster I enjoyed reading about faraway places and different cultures, and some of my favorite books introduced me to the rich history and traditions of Holland. Back then I was quite intrigued by the windmills that dotted the Dutch countryside and how kids of all ages could skate on a plethora of frozen waterways during the winter. I guess that's what drew me to today's picture. Photographer Jeroen van Daal captured this beautiful image of a group of ice skaters zipping past a number of windmills, creating a photograph that depicts both of my most vivid childhood "visions" of life in Holland. What a great picture! Here is Mr. van Daal's story behind the image: "This photo was taken on a perfect day at Kinderdijk, one of the main touristic areas of the Netherlands. On an early morning the first skaters were spotted on the ice. Just at the time they passed by, at 9:11AM, the sun emerged from behind the clouds. I had the shot and composition already prepared and quickly acted when they skated under the bridge where I stood. By using an ultra-wide angle lens, I was able to also capture the magnificent countryside."    --Jeroen van Daal Here are the camera and settings used: Camera: Canon EOS 30D Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Focal length: 10mm Shutter speed: 1/80 second Aperture: f/4 ISO: 100 You'll find many more of Mr. van Daal's wonderful images on his website.     Visitor Comments... Name: Brenda Norton Town: Wichita Falls, TX I've seen scenes just like this while visiting Holland. OUTSTANDING JOB on this photograph Mr. van Daal!     Name: Ron Trees Town: Spokane, WA Excellent photo Mr. van Daal!! Your photo takes my mind back many years ago to when I was a kid and the movie, "Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates" was played for a church social. It was a really good movie as I remember and I have not thought about it for years. Pretty interesting what just a single photograph will bring to mind. Thanks for the memories and the great photo!     Name: Ed Morrison Town: Dunwoody, GA Wonderful image, both for its beauty and the history it represents.     Name: Phyllis Helton Town: Bristol, VA I also have always been taken with Holland. Great photo.     Name: Gordon Brugman Town: Gatlinburg, TN Mr. van Daal, your preparation coincided with a perfect moment here. This is a stunning capture, and by now I’m sure you realize it strikes a real chord with those of us whose primary familiarity with your lovely country is through it’s iconic windmills and folklore. Thank you for sharing this wonderful image with us.     Name: Robert Schwarztrauber Town: Buffalo, NY Jeroen van Daal captured an amazing image here. Seems as though you could see on to forever across this countryside. The colors are amazing and the action so real. A great photo that makes me want to go there.   Comment on today's picture  |  View previous "Pictures Of The Day"  |  Submit a photo Why I publish the "Picture Of The Day"