Hello from Holland

[onnovisser]

Hi everyone,

Joined RFf today, I've been reading avidly for a while now and really like the relaxed and tolerant atmosphere here. I'm a 26 year old student of CHinese language and Culture (Ma) at Leiden Univ. in Holland. I started photography a couple of years ago with a canon eos 5 and zooms, then primes. Now (a month ago) I switched to a Leica M2, Summaron 35 2.8 (alas.. the goggled monster). Both a MR meter and a 90 2.8 Elmarit are on their way! I love the feel of the beast and shoot a lot more than I used to. I will build my own darkroom once I've moved into my new appartment soon. Does anyone use or has anyone used this elmarit 90? Please let me know if and why you (dis)like it!

Cheers to everyone,

Onno

[peter_n]

Hey Onno, welcome to the forum! :) We like the atmosphere here too! There are a good few people from the Netherlands here so you will be right at home! Leiden - beautiful place!

[laptoprob]

Welkom Onno,
Goeie keuze, een M2!

Rob uit Haarlem.

I do not know the Elmarit, I am quite satisfied with my collapsible Elmar 90/4.

[Fred]

I'm looking for a new Leica 90 and like the Elmar size and weight. I'm gather its a very good lens after all it has not been modified in a very long time, don't fix it if it isn't broken I suppose. It's either that or the 90 F4 maco with specs.

[Fred]

Oh and err... welcome to the forum. The M2 is a fantastic machine. Have fun and post some of your results when ready.

[chug]

Welcome to GAS hell! ;)

[Little Prince]

Hey Onno, I'm new enough myself so it's strange to be welcoming someone else. But you can hardly be calling something like an M2 a beast. There are so many more worthy of that name :) . The people here should help you find yourself a real beast. Then you will take to your RF like it was a pup.

Are you Dutch? Dutch studying Chinese sounds very interesting.

[onnovisser]

YEs I'm Dutch :) Frysian even (google it)! Why is that interesting? And ha! My M2 is SO a beast (big devil smiley of sorts inserted here)

Onno

[pvdhaar]

Hi Onno,

a big welcome from me as well! We're getting to the point where we can have a Dutch chapter under the photo_clubs forum..

Peter from Veldhoven

[RML]

Our own chapter...? *sigh* That's be the day. :)

Welkom, Onno!

[Stephan]

woohoo, more europeans :D

[onnovisser]

WEll, we could all buy a limited edition Dutch flag Leica :)
Or just paint one ourself :)

[TPPhotog]

Welcome to RRF :) I'm new here myself and agree it's a very "relaxed and tolerant atmosphere", the nice people here even let me play and it's already cost my wallet an attack of GAS :D

[Designer]

Welcome to this warm place! Onno. :D
I don't have experience w/. Elmarit, but have been loving my Tele Elmarit 90 (FAT) much. :D

Keven

[RML]

WEll, we could all buy a limited edition Dutch flag Leica :)
Or just paint one ourself :)

I'll stick with painting it myself then. :)

[laptoprob]

So how do we start a Dutch or Dutch/Belgian chapter?

[Stephan]

I think you just did ;) :D

[RML]

Benelux chapter, perhaps? To stay historical? :)

[RML]

With a branch in Mongolia. :)

[laptoprob]

Ofcourse with a firm branch in Mongolia!
How many - let's say - BeNeLux chapter members do we have?

counting: 1, onno; 2,Peter; 3, Stephan; 4, RML; 5, myself; ....

[jaapv]

number 6,me :) What about pherdinand, does he count? :D

[mac_wt]

I'm 7

Wim

[Peter S]

Welcome to RFF, Amsterdam reporting in. You will enjoy it here; this is one of the most relaxed and friendly forums I have ever seen. Only bad thing I can say about the people here is that it took them two weeks to infect me with GAS. Now my R3A is no longer being used as often as before and my M6 is getting all the attention.

Have fun here.

Peter

[Pherdinand]

Pleeeeeeease include meee:)
I have a Staatsexamen II certificate! And believe me it was not easy :)
Hi Visser, welcome from Eindhoven ( the Boerenland;) )

Although I dunno how long I still can stick around. 'Ijzeren Rita' tries really hard ;)
(i've met her personally, she's actually a reasonable person I have to admit)

By the way Jaap i like your motto.

[Pherdinand]

Sorry - for the non-dutch folks who would wonder, 'Ijzeren Rita' alias Iron-hand Rita is the Dutch foreign minister (or something like that)

[RML]

Welcome to RFF, Amsterdam reporting in. You will enjoy it here; this is one of the most relaxed and friendly forums I have ever seen. Only bad thing I can say about the people here is that it took them two weeks to infect me with GAS. Now my R3A is no longer being used as often as before and my M6 is getting all the attention.

Have fun here.

Peter

Peter, did we perhaps bump into eachother last weekend? I was in Kalverstraat with my wife and kid when an RF(?) photog talked to me while I was passing by. I was interested in chatting a bit (I was interested in the camera he was holding. I could only see the top plate vaguely and didn't recognise it) but the photog got verbally harassed by a young lady of Turkish/Moroccan decent about that he couldn't take photos in public. Most likely it wasn't you but...was it not you? :)

[laptoprob]

Ofcourse we should count Pherdinand in! Someone coming here voluntarily and happily staying is Dutch enough for me. Even doing Staatsexamen!! Peter S and Pherdi are 8 and 9...
Should we meet someday?

[Pherdinand]

Yes, we could meet, and enjoy a good belgian beer:)
Oops, sorry...

[Stephan]

Nothing wrong with belgian beer... actually since its saturday I hereby declare the bar open, and shall grab a belgian beer this instant. :D

[onnovisser]

Well,

sound great! We could do a Rotterdam/Amsterdam/whatever shootout :) Anyone here also active on fotoapparatuur.nl? They are meeting july 9th..

[Pherdinand]

i'm only "active" on marktplaats.nl :D
:bang:

[RML]

I'm only "active" on the Albert Cuyp markt, or the supermarkt. :p

[P C Headland]

Another foreigner in Amsterdam here. Can sometimes be seen wandering around with a Russian folder.

[Borghesia]

OK count me in the Benelux club as well. Borghesia from Haarlem...big spender on camera's and related equipment.

[RML]

We're growing, and at what great speed....

[StuartR]

If any of you Dutchman would be willing to meet an American/Kiwi in Amsterdam, I would love to say hello. I am going on the grand tour (Iceland, London, Paris, Solms (to pick up my a la carte!), Prague, Berlin and then Amsterdam), and I would be interested in saying hello if people will be around. I think I will be there from August 8th-11th.

[Borghesia]

Hello Stuart, august is my vacation month as well, I'll be in France by then.
It's not hard to meet people in A'dam. Just visit the 'Vondelpark' (especially at the terasses of the Filmmuseum) and you'll find enough people to talk to or to photograph.
Enjoy your truly grand tour and take some time for (east)-Berlin, which is a great place, almost as great as A'dam :-)

[onnovisser]

Make sure to give a holler when you make it to A'dam, sure people would like to show you around a bit! Try and give one or two other cities a day, Holland is Soooo small you get anywhere in an hour :)

[laptoprob]

Hey Borghesia, where do you live in Haarlem?
I live at Schalkwijkerstraat 51 zw. Drop by for a beer if you want!
For all others: zw means zwart, means black, means ground floor appartment in 'Haarlems'

Meeting in Amsterdam sounds fine to me!
Say when!

see you!

[laptoprob]

Yes, we could meet, and enjoy a good belgian beer:)
Oops, sorry...

No reason to be sorry about a Belgian beer, Pherdinand!

Wrong, one single reason: not doing one!

[onnovisser]

What kind of photography do you guys do mostly? I'm definitely into streetphotography mostly, b/w. Tri-x. What's your favorite place to shoot?

[onnovisser]

Had way too many Paulaner (blond) beers yesterday to be thinking about Belgian beer right now :)

[P C Headland]

If any of you Dutchman would be willing to meet an American/Kiwi in Amsterdam, I would love to say hello. I am going on the grand tour (Iceland, London, Paris, Solms (to pick up my a la carte!), Prague, Berlin and then Amsterdam), and I would be interested in saying hello if people will be around. I think I will be there from August 8th-11th.

Hi,

Drop this displaced Kiwi an email when you're in Amsterdam !

Paul

[Borghesia]

[QUOTE=laptoprob]Hey Borghesia, where do you live in Haarlem?
I live at Schalkwijkerstraat 51 zw. Drop by for a beer if you want!
For all others: zw means zwart, means black, means ground floor appartment in 'Haarlems'


So you are overlooking the curve of our homestead river. And yes indeed, here in Haarlem, number+black means groundfloor and number+red means appartement.

Maybe a good idea to once meet at the Botermarkt, that's my favorite place in Haarlem. We can have a drink at café the Gooth. Also I find it a good idea to meet -lets say- in the Vondelpark with a bunch of RF'ers.

[onnovisser]

Want to pick a date? It's summer :)

[Pherdinand]

OK. Somebody tell me what's that "a Kiwi"??? Someone from New Zealand, or someone that is hairy as a Kiwifruit (like me), or someone that can't fly (like me), or what?

Onnovisser, i guess the best answer on your "what kind of photography you do" question you'll get by looking at the galleries.
I do all kind of stuff. Honestly, three years ago I thought 'street photography' is ridiculous and pointless, but then something changed. I guess i've seen too many interesting and inspiring street shots of photographers with good eyes... SO now i do that as well. But most importantly, i think i enjoy nowadays just walking on the street observing people in different scenes much more than before, and i'm glad about that.

How's street photography in Leiden? Here in Eindhoven i have to admit it's not very dynamic, unless there's some festival or something (which is not too often). Maybe i'm just used to the city and its habitants... but I feel that other bigger cities around are much more interesting, with this respect.

But there are still lots of things I didn't do in photography. Like that bubble bath of me together with Milla Jovovich... still waiting for the occasion:D

[onnovisser]

Ahh.. Milla :) I was just out, summaron 35 and tri-x.. Absolutely nothing going on here... I have
shot some nice photos here in Leiden, but it's really really hard! Same old places, same old faces. What I miss is enough " traffic", in the bigger cities your chances go up a lot just because there are more people and a " mixed" crowd.... I was planning on checking out some galleries, maybe find some inspiration :)

[Pherdinand]

Is there no big student crowd in Leiden?

Great photo by the way, and it looks a bit liek the girl has angel wings:)

[onnovisser]

thnx :) I guess this is one of my fav's. I'm a student myself (I study Chinese) and yes there are a lot of students. And I mean a LOT. A lot of very preppy ones too.. Haven't really done a lot of indoor photography, and that's where the good photo's would be I guess. Should def. get into that, just got my Leica a month ago and still getting to grips with it..

[P C Headland]

If any of you Dutchman would be willing to meet an American/Kiwi in Amsterdam, I would love to say hello. I am going on the grand tour (Iceland, London, Paris, Solms (to pick up my a la carte!), Prague, Berlin and then Amsterdam), and I would be interested in saying hello if people will be around. I think I will be there from August 8th-11th.

You can give this displaced Kiwi (Wellingtonian) in Amsterdam a buzz when you're here too. Sounds like some sort of gathering in or near Amsterdam may be in order.

We can keep the beer local too (although the Belgian stuff is really good), by grabbing one of the local brews from Brouwerij Het IJ (SP?) - sold round here, and also under the windmill just down the road. Good stuff.

[P C Headland]

OK. Somebody tell me what's that "a Kiwi"??? Someone from New Zealand, or someone that is hairy as a Kiwifruit (like me), or someone that can't fly (like me), or what?:D

We New Zealanders commonly refer to ourselves as Kiwis, referring to the nocturnal, almost blind, flightless bird with whiskers. The RNZAF (air force) used to have some motto along the lines "kiwis can fly". There are many other wierd and wonderful birds in NZ.

The fruits are called kiwifruit, although if you're hairy and of a certain persuasion, maybe you'd call yourself a kiwifruit .... :D

[RML]

If any of you Dutchman would be willing to meet an American/Kiwi in Amsterdam, I would love to say hello. I am going on the grand tour (Iceland, London, Paris, Solms (to pick up my a la carte!), Prague, Berlin and then Amsterdam), and I would be interested in saying hello if people will be around. I think I will be there from August 8th-11th.


I'll probably be in town in August, not having planned any vacation. So, when you're on your way, give a call.

[RML]

What kind of photography do you guys do mostly? I'm definitely into streetphotography mostly, b/w. Tri-x. What's your favorite place to shoot?


Street photography, yes, but I also shoot a lot city views (á la Atget) and like to shoot in the polders around Amsterdam (very convenient as I pass through them on my way to/from work). And I'm shooting in the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar.

[RML]

Ahh.. Milla :) I was just out, summaron 35 and tri-x.. Absolutely nothing going on here... I have
shot some nice photos here in Leiden, but it's really really hard! Same old places, same old faces. What I miss is enough " traffic", in the bigger cities your chances go up a lot just because there are more people and a " mixed" crowd.... I was planning on checking out some galleries, maybe find some inspiration :)


It's not much better here in Amsterdam. It really is a matter of "traffic", and 99% of the people being boring as hell. :) I find that I get more photo ops in UB than in Amsterdam.

[RML]

thnx :) I guess this is one of my fav's. I'm a student myself (I study Chinese) and yes there are a lot of students. And I mean a LOT. A lot of very preppy ones too.. Haven't really done a lot of indoor photography, and that's where the good photo's would be I guess. Should def. get into that, just got my Leica a month ago and still getting to grips with it..


I think you really should go indoors, especially the bars and dance/music places catering to students. I'm no longer much of the going out type and don't care much for student places (being 35 and with wife and kid does that to you :) ) but those kind of places can be real treasure grounds.

[RML]

You can give this displaced Kiwi (Wellingtonian) in Amsterdam a buzz when you're here too. Sounds like some sort of gathering in or near Amsterdam may be in order.

We can keep the beer local too (although the Belgian stuff is really good), by grabbing one of the local brews from Brouwerij Het IJ (SP?) - sold round here, and also under the windmill just down the road. Good stuff.

You spelled it right. :)

Not being a beer drinker (I can hold half a glass before I'm drunk; a whole glass before I feel sick) I wouldn't know about Het IJ beer. I usually stick to some Hoegaarden or a Coke. :p

Any suggestions for a date date in Amsterdam?

[Pherdinand]

Pff, Remy you woke up from your sunday afternoon nap?:) Five answers in a row! wow

[RML]

Pff, Remy you woke up from your sunday afternoon nap?:) Five answers in a row! wow

Actually, yes. :p Fell asleep around 1pm, woke up by 6pm. I guess I needed it.

[StuartR]

Ahh.. Milla :) I was just out, summaron 35 and tri-x.. Absolutely nothing going on here... I have
shot some nice photos here in Leiden, but it's really really hard! Same old places, same old faces. What I miss is enough " traffic", in the bigger cities your chances go up a lot just because there are more people and a " mixed" crowd.... I was planning on checking out some galleries, maybe find some inspiration :)

Onnovisser, that is a superb photo! I honestly thought you were posting one from one of the greats and saying that it was your inspiration....if it is yours, then congratulations!

Anyway, as for the day of the meeting, I will only really be in Amsterdam (or the netherlands for that matter) for the afternoon of the 8th, all day on the 9th and 10th, and I am catching a flight to London on the 11th. Those are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so I understand if no one is really up to it.

PC Headland -- I hope you don't mind if I am only a quasi-kiwi. My parents are American and I grew up in America, but I was born in Auckland (my parents were working there in the late 70s), so I am a Kiwi citizen as well. I don't have the accent, but I still very fond of my birth country.

[onnovisser]

I could find some time on a monday (afternoon/early evening while its still light) for some shooting and if necessary a beer :)

Thanks for the compliment Stuart, I wish I had better scans (this one is dirty as hell..) I'll post some more later on...
And on indoor shooting, I was planning on buying some Diafine so I can super up my tri-x to 1200 and try shooting that.

[RML]

Monday is my free day, so feel free to drop a line if your in Holland, or Amsterdam.

[laptoprob]

[QUOTE=laptoprob]Hey Borghesia, where do you live in Haarlem?
I live at Schalkwijkerstraat 51 zw. Drop by for a beer if you want!
For all others: zw means zwart, means black, means ground floor appartment in 'Haarlems'


So you are overlooking the curve of our homestead river. And yes indeed, here in Haarlem, number+black means groundfloor and number+red means appartement.

Maybe a good idea to once meet at the Botermarkt, that's my favorite place in Haarlem. We can have a drink at café the Gooth. Also I find it a good idea to meet -lets say- in the Vondelpark with a bunch of RF'ers.

OK. Friday afternoon about four or five, if the weather is sunny again?
Let's try to find one another by careful spotting...

Rob

[onnovisser]

Would another Cloggie be welcome?

[RML]

Haarlem? Friday? 4-5pm? I think work will prevent me from attending. Now, if it were Amsterdam, friday, and a bit later.... :p

[Peter S]

RML,

It was not me being harassed in Kalverstraat. Somehow I sofar have managed not to step on any toes whilst taking pictures in public.

BTW I am game for camera fondling/picture taking/drinking beer and talking about photography (not necessary in that order).

Travelling Kiwi, just post a message a week before you are here and we should be able to set something up with a couple of people. Think it is best if we let you set the date we will assist with time/location etc.

Regards

Peter

[Borghesia]

OK LaptopRob, a gathering of a little club of people is fine to me, but I think it will then be A'dam because that's the place everyone knows. Now how do we arrange that ?

[laptoprob]

Pick a spot and I will try to get there. Friday afternoons are easier for me because of work stopping earlier.
Lucky me?

[RML]

Rembrandtsplein is always a good spot, both for beer/coke/coffee and for shooting, especially when it's sunny and people in Amsterdam go "naked". :)

[Pherdinand]

And especially since your home is so close to it, right, Remy?:D:P

[RML]

And especially since your home is so close to it, right, Remy?:D:P

How can you think of me like that, Csab'?! :)

But yeah, Rembrandstplein is quite close to my house. Doesn't detract at all that it's a good spot to meet. Leidseplein is also good (and just as near to where I live :p ).

[Pherdinand]

OK, i have to agree, both places are very friendly and full of friendly people. Especially when you get out there with your wife and daughter:)
Maybe Leidseplein is more touristic - or, more crowded, at least.

[RML]

So, are we on for friday? If so, where and when?

[Pherdinand]

I can't do it this friday. We have our yearly "groepsuitje" which i cannot miss. Free food and drinks, lotsa fun:)
Enjoy!

[laptoprob]

I prefer somewhere in Amsterdam. Maybe Vondelpark?

[onnovisser]

I'm in after 5 ( oh the working man.. :), wherever in A'dam sounds fine! Somewhere busy! and close to a nice cafe with good light for shooting when it rains!

[RML]

I prefer somewhere in Amsterdam. Maybe Vondelpark?

If it rains Vondelpark is like a mud park. Not much fun. And empty, too. Seeing the weather forecast, I think we're better off at Rembrandtsplein or Leidseplein. The latter perhaps even more so because quite some tourists go there.

[RML]

I'm in after 5 ( oh the working man.. :), wherever in A'dam sounds fine! Somewhere busy! and close to a nice cafe with good light for shooting when it rains!

Me, too, after 5pm. Gotta work.

Leidseplein seems the best place when the weather is crappy like now. There's a Burger King at Leidseplein, which makes a convenient meeting point.

So, who's in, and when?

[onnovisser]

Buuuuump

Who's up for some shooting on Friday?

[laptoprob]

Yeah, I can manage that. Especially if the weather is nice.

[onnovisser]

So around 6 Leidseplein. Pink Rangefinders only of course!

[RML]

So around 6 Leidseplein. Pink Rangefinders only of course!

Friday 8/7, around 6pm, Leidseplein, Amsterdam.

Sounds fine, doesn't it?

Let's meet in front of Burger King. Easy to recognise for all.

No pink M2, though. It's covered in gold nowadays, but it's not coming at all. It'll be the R-D1. :)

[laptoprob]

Onno, does a red M2 count?

Rob.

[Peter S]

Damn !!! Wish I could join. Have fun on Friday and please make sure to post some pictures.

Peter

[onnovisser]

i'll be there

[RML]

10 and a half hours to go!

[onnovisser]

whoa! 9 hours.. You are up EARLY!

[RML]

whoa! 9 hours.. You are up EARLY!

I get up at 5am. I start work at 6.30 am. I overslept this morning but I still started at my usual time.

[onnovisser]

Whoa ? Are you a mailman? :)

[RML]

Whoa ? Are you a mailman? :)

Not nearly. :) Data storage manager for a bank. I just like to start early, so I can go home early.

[Henk W]

Sorry guys, I cann't be there today. I read about the meeting yesterday. I have to work untill at least 17:00 and it takes two and a half hours by train to get to Amsterdam. Our country is bigger than you might think.
...And I don't want to paint my black rangefinder pink.

Henk

[Borghesia]

Very enthousiastic bunch. I'm in next time as well...got to find pink leatherette before that time though.

[onnovisser]

plenty of people left, 18.00 near Burger King

my mobile 06-55321876

[RML]

plenty of people left, 18.00 near Burger King

my mobile 06-55321876

You've got sms. :)

[onnovisser]

check :)

[RML]

I'm off to home. Quick shower, quick snack and off to Leidseplein. I hope the weather clears a bit.

[onnovisser]

Just done at work, jump on the train

Hope there's a bit more ligth :)

[Borghesia]

Is this the beginning of a living RF group in Holland ?

[laptoprob]

Is this the beginning of a living RF group in Holland ?

Yes Borghesia, it has vety much begun. Maybe next time to Antwerpen or wherever, we'll see. It was a small committee yesterday, only Onno, Remy and myself, but what the hell. We had a good long chat, a few beers, grabbed some chinese food and shot a few photos. And fondled each others hardware ofcourse.

I think Remy can post something quickly from his R2D2 digiwondermachine.

to be continued!

Rob.

[StuartR]

And fondled each others hardware ofcourse.



I knew the Dutch were sexually liberated, but this is more than I expected! :p

Hahaha, kidding of course. I hope all went well. I am still going to see about coming to Amsterdam, but my dates may change slightly. I wrote it in another thread, but Leica messed up and sent my camera to the US already, so I will not be able to watch it be finished in Solms and pick it up there (yes, that pissed me of enormously). Since I no longer have a compelling reason to go to Germany, I will probably skip it in favor of either time spent in Scandinavia or Budapest. Either way, I will probably still get to Amsterdam, but it might be a different day. I will write when I have it all finalized.

[RML]

As Rob said, small committee but great time.

We gathered around 6pm, sat down at an outdoors cafe until about 8.30pm. Lots of fonddling, lots of talk and chat, some beer, and Rob aiming his big 90 at the people around us.

Then we walked a bit around town, settling down in a chinese restaurant near Dam square. More fonddling, chatting, talking and some nice chinese food.

By 11pm we came to Central station and said goodbye.

I'll try to get some shots posted today but I just woke up and still have lots to do. And it's my dad's B-day, so I have to drop by to congrat him of course.

[onnovisser]

A good first meeting for the Benelux group :)
I shot a roll (and some nice shots I think) befori got the the rendez-vous point. Though no pink rf were present, Thank G*d.. we spotted each other quickly. Had beers, sat next to a almost naked guy doing rope stunts (you had to see it for yourself..), the table was hardly big enough for the lenses and bodies that kept popping out of bags.. Some serious GAS history I think.. Had some Chinese, Remy did some night shooting with the (very nice cam!) R-D1.

Rob was so kind to let me try his canon 50 1.2 for a week, wow that's a lens!

looking forward to more meeting, Stuart, Pherdinand, all the others feel welcome!

[Roger Hicks]

Cheers Onno.

This is the only forum I visit regularly, for the same reasons as you.

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

[onnovisser]

Had a fun day shooting in Delft today, tried the 50 1.2.
Just bought a bulk film loader on the bay for 5 bucks, now I'm looking for bulk tri-x film, any tips anyone?

[Pherdinand]

Great to hear it happened!:D
Let's see photos!

Sorry that I've missed it. Although i';m not reallysorry - our groepsuitje was better than expected. We had some drinks in the morning, then played some golf in the rain, then some food and more drinks, then we played some other silly games (no more rain), then lunch with some more drinks, then we went to the Hertog Jan brewery and learned about how they make focusing fluid, and tasted some more drinks of course, then we went to a rest for dinner where during 3 hours we did not get ANY food except some paguette with pesto which we stole from the kitchen:) but we did get drinks, lotsa white wine,
but it's not over, some folks from the group decided that when all was over we should go to the 'liquid', an eighties disco in the town. Not really my cup of coffee but hey, you gotta be social once in a while:) so i went home at 4 in the morning with a pain in my knee, a strong beeping sound in my ears and a little bit dizzy. So what can i say, next time maybe i'll join you guys - or you can join me:D

[Pherdinand]

Oh i've forgot to say why I detailed my description above: It's because i took my GSN with me and shot one and a half roll of NPH, hope I'll have stg to post soon.

[onnovisser]

Looking forward to it!

[RML]

I got the shots from the R-D1 onto my laptop. I also found time to "develop" some of them. I now only need to find time to post-process them and post them. Hopefully tomorrow but I think my wife has a few things on her mind for tomorrow....

[StuartR]

Alright guys, since I scrapped Germany, I completely rescheduled my trip. I am now going to be in Amsterdam on Sunday July 31st to Tuesday the 2nd of August (I am leaving for Copenhagen on the morning of the 3rd).

I am staying at the Lloyd Hotel in the Eastern Docklands. Was it Monday that was a good day for you all? Or for some of you? I am coming from Paris on Sunday, so I am not sure how long it takes, but if it is not TOO long, than I am sure I could meet on Sunday evening as well. In any case, this is only if people are free and interested in meeting. I have got my Time Out guide and my cameras, so I should be able to do fine on my own if no one is available. I am leaving for Iceland tomorrow night, so if people are interested, it may take me awhile to respond. I am sure there will be easy internet access in most places, but I am not bringing a computer, so I will have to use public ones. In any case, please let me know if people are interested, and if they have a place and time that would be good. My schedule will essentially be wide open on Monday and Tuesday.

Cheers,
Stuart

[Borghesia]

Hello Stuart ..ah right that's the week before I go on vacation.
I can meet you on sunday evening the 31st if you would like it, me and my girlfriend can take you to some excellent places in Amsterdam.
The Lloyd Hotel is a nice place to stay, in fact the company where I work, rebuilded it into a hotel (it was a former youth prison).
But I tell you...don't eat there ! It's a very trendy place but the food is expensive and simple. You know,Jamie Oliver has a restaurant just in front of the Lloyd Hotel, and alongside the hotel there is a place called "de Kantine" which has a nice arty athmosphere.
I don't know what kind of things you are attracted to, there are so many flavours in Amsterdam. For instance Amsterdam has 4 (only in summer) beaches, the northern docklands are the newest hotspot, the inner city has its Vondelpark, canals, nightlive etc..
I like the northern docklands though, the abandoned industry and cranes are a beautifull scenery and the have several restaurants in those old factory buildings, also the have café's on huge ships, where you can sit on the deck having a drink and watch the sunset.

[RML]

Hello Stuart ..ah right that's the week before I go on vacation.
I can meet you on sunday evening the 31st if you would like it, me and my girlfriend can take you to some excellent places in Amsterdam.
The Lloyd Hotel is a nice place to stay, in fact the company where I work, rebuilded it into a hotel (it was a former youth prison).
But I tell you...don't eat there ! It's a very trendy place but the food is expensive and simple. You know,Jamie Oliver has a restaurant just in front of the Lloyd Hotel, and alongside the hotel there is a place called "de Kantine" which has a nice arty athmosphere.
I don't know what kind of things you are attracted to, there are so many flavours in Amsterdam. For instance Amsterdam has 4 (only in summer) beaches, the northern docklands are the newest hotspot, the inner city has its Vondelpark, canals, nightlive etc..
I like the northern docklands though, the abandoned industry and cranes are a beautifull scenery and the have several restaurants in those old factory buildings, also the have café's on huge ships, where you can sit on the deck having a drink and watch the sunset.

I'm usually good on sunday.
On monday I'm usually busy with other things. If I know in time I could at least free up time after 5pm on monday.

Borghesia, though I've lived in Amsterdam my whole life, I've never seen much of the northern docklands. You must take me there some day!

[laptoprob]

So, a stroll through Amstardam sunday afternoon or evening the 31st?
I'll try to be there.
Remy, did you finish your digishots already?

Rob.

[Borghesia]

Hey RML, just visit the NDSM terrain, find the big ship from Rostock (former Eastern Germany), and embark on a place that's between a Mad Max movie and a vicious machine from Jules Verne. Would be great if you could hook in. From this point , sunday will be OK to me.

[P C Headland]

Alright guys, since I scrapped Germany, I completely rescheduled my trip. I am now going to be in Amsterdam on Sunday July 31st to Tuesday the 2nd of August (I am leaving for Copenhagen on the morning of the 3rd).

I am staying at the Lloyd Hotel in the Eastern Docklands.

Cheers,
Stuart

Ah, I live just down the road. Plenty of architectural photo ops in the area, at least judging by the number of camera toting tourists and architectural students :) .

Drop me an email if you wish to meet up for a drink.

Paul

[StuartR]

Hey Guys, thank you for the offers. Sunday afternoon or evening would probably work fine for me. It looks like the train from Paris to Amsterdam takes 4 hours (the fastest one), so if I left around 9 or 10 I would have time to get to the hotel and check in, drop everything off and so on. If meeting at 4 or 5 wouldn't be too late for everyone, I think that would give me plenty of time. Of course, we can confirm closer to the date. I will be in Paris for the 5 days or so before that, so I should be able to find internet access fairly easily. If you click on my user picture, then it should lead to my email.

As for where to go, I am up for anything. I am sure I will find the center of the city on my own, so it might be fun to try something that I might not otherwise see, like the Northern docklands. As long as we meet up in a place that would be fairly easy for me to find (I have not been to Amsterdam before). In any case, I am around for until Tuesday night, and then I am off (I thought I was leaving today, but I had messed up the schedule).

Well, I am looking forward to meeting whomever has a chance to stop by!

Stuart

[RML]

Well, I have the shots right here!

Let's see. First, let's meet Onno...

[RML]

The weather was a bit dull but still it was nice enough to sit outside and have a drink. Before long the table was loaded with lenses and cameras. I got to try out the CV 15mm. Very nice lens! I think I'll get one for my R-D1 sooner than later.

[RML]

And, though he was sitting next to me, the 15mm was able to take in the whole 2 meters of Rob. :)

[RML]

After a few hours of chatting and drinking (hmm, sounds like we got wasted, but we didn't. Really!), we went for a walk through old Amsterdam, ending up in a nice Chinese restaurant on Damstraat, where we had some lovely food, more to drink and chatted for a few more hours.

[Borghesia]

Hey Stuart, I can meet you at your hotel, aside the basic food they have an impressive interior and therefor it's a good place to relax and sleep.
If you want to go to the northern docks we will drive towards the ferry (free cross-overs !) and we simply land in front of the place.
I will check this thread if something comes in between and I also hope that some others having spare time.
LaptopRob, if you want I can pick you up at your place. I've got one place left in my car.
For the others, the Lloyd hotel is simple to find and easily to reach by car or public transportation. It's also a good place to start of.
Stuart have a great time in Paris. I am off to Berlin on wednesday and after wednesday I 'll check the forum next monday.
Bye for now.

[RML]

By 10.30 pm we went on our way to the Central Station. We walked through nightly Amsterdam and chatted some more. Lots of gabbin' going on. :) Rob and Onno took the 11.10 to Haarlem and Leiden. By that time I had already caught nr 16 tram and was on my way home.

[laptoprob]

LaptopRob, if you want I can pick you up at your place. I've got one place left in my car..
Hi Borghesia,
That would be convenient!
What time? somewhere sunday afternoon?
I am working this weekend with a friend of mine building, so it will be late afternoon.
Please let me know,

Rob.

[laptoprob]

Remy, thanks! I changed my avatar!

[StuartR]

Hi Rob,

I think he means the weekend that I will be arriving. July 31st...But in any case, that sounds like an excellent plan Borghesia. Just let me know what time you want to meet when you get back, and I will let you know if I can make it. As long as it is after 4 or so, I am pretty sure I will be able to. Well, I need to finish packing up, my taxi leaves in an hour!

All the best,

Stuart.

PS: Great photos Remy! Hopefully we will get a chance to meet up as well.

[RML]

Drop a note saying when you'll be here in Amsterdam, and what time we'll meet (and where). I'll be there.

[Borghesia]

Hello RF'ers, I am back from a couple of fine days in Berlin.
For coming sunday, I want to propose 17:00 hrs at the Lloyd hotel...Stuart.

As for Rob, I first am at the Kwakoe festival earlier that day.
I've never been there, and I think it is an excellent opportunity to
take pictures of ethnic people and their folklore.
Maybe I can't make it to pick you up at your home, but I can catch you at A'dam
central station. If so please give me an email for your phone number at :
roman@xs4all.nl
Remy hope to see you as well, do you have a car ? Because then we can drive
all together to the ferry. Mine's only a small Twingo.

[laptoprob]

Hi Borghesia,
No problem in picking up at A'dam CS, but which ferry, where is that Lloyd Hotel? East docks?

CU sunday!

Rob.

[P C Headland]

Hi Borghesia,
No problem in picking up at A'dam CS, but which ferry, where is that Lloyd Hotel? East docks?

CU sunday!

Rob.

Hi

Take the tram to IJburg, & get off at Rietland Park. Or you can walk, in which case it's about 1/2h from CS.

Paul

[StuartR]

Sounds good to me. I am in London at the moment, but I am off to Paris tomorrow and I should have the chance to schedule all the trains so that I arrive in plenty of time for the meeting at 17:00. I assume the easiest thing for me to do is just wait in the lobby or meeting area of the Lloyd hotel. I think they have a cultural center where they try to bring people together (it seems to be a rather interesting hotel), so that might be the right place. In any case, I will be the short guy with the domke bag. Let me see if I can find a URL for a picture of me, and I will post it...I am looking forward to meeting everyone.

Stuart

[Little Prince]

Onno must be supremely popular. This has to be the longest 'hello' thread :D .

[StuartR]

Well, he is, but this has turned into a Benelux meeting thread as well. We are saying hello to Onno, but to everyone else as well.

Anyway, here is a picture of me, so you should be able to identify me when I am in the hotel.

http://www.stuartrichardson.com/getting-skinnier.jpg

[RML]

Remy hope to see you as well, do you have a car ? Because then we can drive all together to the ferry. Mine's only a small Twingo.

No car. It's no use in Amsterdam.

So, Lloyd Hotel is at Rietland Park? Tram 26 to IJburg? I can find that.

17.00 there? Next sunday? I think I can manage that.

[Borghesia]

Yep, Rietlandpark. Indeed I think tram 26 from CS to IJburg. The tram stops right at the back of the hotel. Great to see you all there.
Yes Stuart, it's an interesting hotel in an interesting part of A'dam. If you have the chance, you got to see the different rooms in the hotel. It all has to do with bathing. Some rooms have a shower in the middle without any walls surrounding it, just splashing its water on the floor. Others rooms are equiped with baths that takes half the room. Bar and restaurants are open 24hrs, and yes it inhabits a cultural centre. Great hotel in a hightec setting. You will enjoy being there.

[StuartR]

Yep, Rietlandpark. Indeed I think tram 26 from CS to IJburg. The tram stops right at the back of the hotel. Great to see you all there.
Yes Stuart, it's an interesting hotel in an interesting part of A'dam. If you have the chance, you got to see the different rooms in the hotel. It all has to do with bathing. Some rooms have a shower in the middle without any walls surrounding it, just splashing its water on the floor. Others rooms are equiped with baths that takes half the room. Bar and restaurants are open 24hrs, and yes it inhabits a cultural centre. Great hotel in a hightec setting. You will enjoy being there.

The only train I could get arrives at 16:06, but I will do my best to still make it. I will take a taxi from the station, but if I am a few minutes late, please forgive me. More later, my internet card is going to expire.

Stuart

[P C Headland]

Don't bother with a Taxi, you'll only cop a whole lot of attitude, spend 20 euros and arrive no quicker.

Just take the tram, they go regularly.

I'll try and make it, I have to see how the little baby is!

[Borghesia]

Stuart, take tramline 26. It will take you to your hotel in 6 minutes. On sunday it leaves at 16:14 from Central Station. The stop "Rietlandpark" is the 3rd. stop of the tram after CS.
Headline is right, this saves you money.
Maybe it's a better idea to meet you at 17:30, so you have time to refresh yourself and get settled from your trip. Great to see you then !

[StuartR]

That sounds great Borghesia... I will hop on the first 26 tram I can and head for the hotel. I will make my way down to the lobby as quickly as possible...I am sure that would be no later than 17:15 or so. I don't think I will need too much freshening up, as I will just have been riding the train that day...not too much else. Well, see you tomorrow!

[laptoprob]

Sorry folks, urgent other business intervened, I can't make it this afternoon, very much regrettably! :bang:
Have fun though!
Rob.

[Borghesia]

Hello all,
Here a brief resumé of the dutch meeting with Stuart from Santa Monica, last sunday.
It was a 800 ASA evening instead of 400, but that didn't do all to much.
We met Stuart in the lobby of his Hotel, we are Borghesia+girlfriend and Headland (Paul).
Paul was carrying a beautifull Iskra around his shoulder and Stuart was having his Hexar RF and Leica in immidiate distance. I myself carried my Hexar AF and Yahica T5...I spent a terrible time thinking over which camera to bring.
The Iskra is an amazing camera, cheap but very well builld. What struck me was its incredibly bright viewfinder and easy to use rangefindersystem. I allready am thinking of such a handy folder, and now they convince me.
Stuart's cams have reputation, I never hold a Leica or a Hexar RF, and all I can say is that you feel that you have sturdy quality in your hands, almost a 'solid state' feel.

After the fiddling and making smooth aquintance, we went up to café Elf, which is eleven in english. It's a big café on the eleventh floor near the trainstation. From up there you have a great panoramic view over the city, which is a good place to start a citytrip.
Ordering drinks and chatting over mostly camera's, we took a ferry to the northern docks. It always nice to also look at a city from the water. At the docks we settled in a big restaurant to have a dinner and talk and chat etc....actually without any pauses. What came to mind to me that this evening started actually with a message on this board and ended up in a fine evening with a bunch of nice people.
Paul had to leave after dinner. And me and my girlfriend took Stuart for a walk through the Red Light District (well a tourist must have seen that). Camera's savely put away because of pickpockets and because it is forbidden to take pictures there. Atfter midnight we all went home, leaving behind us an inspiring evening.
We invited Stuart to see us the next evening. So we met on monday at the trainstation and we took Stuart to our fitwalk class in de dune-area near the village of Bloemendaal. Stuart was in good shape and could hold up easily with the class. It's great to sport in that area, you'll pass little lakes, jump onto dune tops and could see a deer or two.
After the sweating we cooled down at Bloemendaal beach at a fancy beach café.

Well that's about it. It's great to encounter and meet RF friends from another place. Stuart is a fine person which has a very precise and refined style of photographing, I hope he will post some breathtaking pictures of his trip on the gallery.
Bye from RF Holland !

[Borghesia]

Hey does anyone know how to include pictures in a message ?

[Pherdinand]

use the "go advanced" feature, Borghesia. There should be a button with "manage attachments" on it.

[Borghesia]

Ah thank you..... hope the attachments will be in place.
A few pictures of Stuart and Paul (Headland) and a picture of the abandoned industrial Northern Docks of A'dam.
Camera Hexar AF + cheap sensia film

[RML]

Too bad I couldn't make it! Other, personal, things came up.

As for the Red Light district... it is allowed to photograph there! The problem is that the girls and the pimps don't like it much. They could show their dislike in a special way. They'll rip the camera from your hands, rip out the film and then toss the camera and you in the canal. Complain to the police if you want, afterwards. :)

[Borghesia]

Hello RML...soon we'll certainly plan another RF Holland meeting on a date most of us can manage to come. As with the latest experience...foreigners are also welcome

[laptoprob]

hear, hear!

[P C Headland]

Hi

Was good to meet up the other day. Stuart is a walking camera porn star ;)

It was suprising the weight of the cameras - my Iskra was the same weight or even slightly lighter than his Leica and Hexar (?) cameras, and they only take miniature format film :D Still, I can certainly see the attraction of these fine cameras. Oh how I wish they had made an Iskra with interchangeable lenses!

Thanks to Andre for showing us the northern docks area - I've been near and around the place a few times, but not to that specifc place. Some great photographic opportunities there.

Till next time.

[StuartR]

Hey Guys,

Sorry it took me so long to reply. The places I stayed in Scandinavia did not have easy internet access, (mostly because I did not bring a computer...wireless is everywhere) but I had a great time. In any case, I am in London now, and off home tomorrow. I want to give Andre, Jeanette and Paul my enormous thanks for their hospitality. I really enjoyed meeting all of you, and it was such a unique experience to be shown around by locals. It was fantastic to get off the beaten track and experience a bit of daily life. I loved going out for the walk in the dunes and had a great time. And don't let Andre's modesty fool you, he is an excellent photographer and a real pro. Literally...he has photos up over town for a city photo project, and is involved in commercial photography.

And I must add that Paul's Iskra impressed me so much that I kept my eyes peeled for one in Tallinn. My ability to speak Russian paid off...I met an old Russian guy who sold cameras about town, and he said that he had a friend who had one that had been used by a pro and was in good shape. He offered to drive me there. I got there, it was in very good shape (probably not quite as pristine as Paul's, but everything in good order and no cleaning marks or anything). The price -- a whopping 50 dollars. Still more than Paul payed, but I figured I would splurge on it. It is the only thing other than food and film that I have bought on this trip. I have shot a roll on it, but I am not sure of the results because I will have to develop it when I get home. Anyway, I need to get going, but I will certainly post my pictures when I get them developed and scanned.

Thanks again to Andre and Paul for their truly kind words. Please let me know if ever you are in the same place as me (I move around a lot...)!

Best,

Stuart