Harley Dogs

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Dogs have four legs. Small dogs too. Most people think these little ones are ‘cute’ and ‘cuddly’.

People have two legs. Harley people too. Most people think bikers are ‘sturdy’ and ‘tough’.

One might come to the conclusion that small dogs and Harley riders do not have much in common. But here you are wrong!

Personally I would never dress up a dog like this. Plus I prefer big dogs and silly cats. But as long as the animals are comfortable in their outfit and have fun, I don’t mind. Perhaps I should take my cat with me on our tours. Hmm, he would probably scratch me to pulp and take off. Perhaps better not

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These photos were sent to me by my partner, V-man, who writes Bikermaniac’s Blog (in Dutch).

Dutch Critters

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Yesterday children were in the picture. Today the stage is taken by Dutch animals. I can’t even go out for a walk anymore without my camera. I hope you enjoy them as much as I.

And if you prefer to watch them stroll by all by themselves, then watch this slideshow.

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Kids in Focus

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Helping hands

Stacking

A perfect hideaway

Always the gentleman

In the lens

Children, so pure and sincere. These photos were taken today in Breda, the Netherlands.

Photos: Imagination Is The Limit

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Marion Driessen

And this guy’s imagination seems pretty limitless. Meet Erik Johansson, a Swede living in Berlin, Germany. Erik is a professional photographer and retoucher, who makes stunning photos.

I work mostly with personal- and commissioned projects. For me photography is just a way to collect material to realize the ideas in my mind. I get inspired by things around me in my daily life and all kinds of things I see. Every new project is a new challenge and my goal is to realize them as realistic as possible.

Want to see what this visual artist is capable of? Then click an image and…

© Eric Johansson

His website: Erik Johansson: Photo & Retouch, his portfolio.

Photos: Ashes and Snow

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Gregory Colbert’s Ashes and Snow is an ongoing project that weaves together photographic works, 35mm films, art installations and a novel in letters. With profound patience and an enduring commitment to the expressive and artistic nature of animals, he has captured extraordinary interactions between humans and animals.

The photos of Gregory Colbert are pure beauty, each is a brilliant piece of art in itself. Animals are nature’s living masterpieces. I’m speechless, so I’ll stop typing and watch in silence. The images will speak to you. Hurry, click!

You can find more photos at Gregory Colbert’s webpage Ashes and Snow.

Photos © Gregory Colbert

Photos of a Dutchess

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Marion Driessen

I fear I may have a new hobby… A hobby that will complement my writing: photography!

My enthusiasm for making and editing photos is rising sky-high, while I explore the many possibilities of my iPhone.

Hence a new blog on Figments of a Dutchess:

Photos of a Dutchess

Will you take a look?

Photo Play

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Six Word Saturday

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Pushing buttons. Changing images. Enhanced beauty.

Photos @ Marion

Not a single photo you see in the magazines is completely original! All are altered – some a bit, others a lot more – by programs like Photoshop.

This is what a friend said to me last week. I stared at her and shook my head. I told her she was ruining my trust in mankind, that there must be pure photos too! Mirror images, like the ones I see each morning ~~before~~ after the morning grooming! But no. My friend is an experienced photographer and she recognizes the techniques that are used to touch up the magazine photos.

Intrigued, I started to explore the possibilities of my iPhone through the Instagram (profile: Doldriest) and Camera+ app. Using those, I started to play with shades, lights, flash, crops and special effects. And here are the results. In the third photo I was trying to focus/zoom on the the ice on the glass (which didn’t work obviously). What I got was the reflection of the yard.

Did I make these photos? Yes! Did I know exactly what I was doing? No, but I just played around and stopped when the images were to my liking. What do you think, are they any good? Tips?

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Want to play along? All that’s necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

<< Click the button for more Six Word Saturday.

Winter Photos

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Dry snow and crispy air. This combination lured us from the house into the wild. Into the wildish My camera screamed, refusing to be left behind. Unfortunately the sun was hiding behind the clouds, I would have loved a bit of blue between the white and brown, but my camera, famished as it was, ate everything anyway.

The road ahead was clear.
Moss and leaves, playfully connected.
Trees, lifting their arms in unison.
This looked more like a cemetery than a forest.
Dutch feet.
Though temperatures are below -15 C, this brook was still not frozen over.
Then a dog came running past.
My Dad will drool upon seeing this: he’s not a wood eater but loves to fire up his hearth.
The lumber, closer up.
The absolute highlight of the walk. I wanted to jump up too but kept calm and asked them if I could shoot photos in stead.
Now I’m drooling: not as a horse eater but as horse lover.
Trees towering over Vman.
Once inscribed in small letters, now grown into a bigger font.
A Dryad
My eyes saw the head of a giraffe in the bark of this tree… please tell me you see it too?