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The valley of the Geul


The valley of the Geul
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 190 N: 2357] (8622)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-13
Categories: Sky
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro, Tiffen circular Polarizer
Exposure: f/11, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Limburg 2007
Date Submitted: 2007-05-09 13:51
Viewed: 717
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
During the afternoon of my second day of this mini trip, and went for a long hike along the edge of a nearby forrest. (bovenste bos and onderste bos) The nice think about it is, that the forrest is located on top of the hill overlooking the valley of the river Geul. At each corner or look out point, you have a wonderful view.

Due to limited time, hereby some information on the river from Wikipedia:

The Geul (-Dutch, in German: Göhl, in French: Gueule) is a river in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is a right tributary to the river Meuse. The source of the Geul is near the German-Belgian border south of Aachen at approx. 300 m altitude. After approx. 20 km it flows into the Netherlands, and after 58 km it flows into the river Meuse, north of the city Maastricht. A tributary of the river Geul is the Gulp. Towns along the Geul are Kelmis (Belgium), Valkenburg aan de Geul and Meerssen (Netherlands).

The river Geul is one of the most important sources of heavy metal inflow into the river Meuse. This is caused by the former zinc and lead mining activities near the Belgian towns of Kelmis (La Calamine) and Plombières (formerly named Bleiberg). The last mines have closed early in the 20th century. One of the reasons for giving up mining activities in Plombières was the occasional flooding of the mine by the river Geul, as the bedrock (mainly Carboniferous limestone) contains many faults and fissures. Although the mine factory buildings have been demolished, old railway dikes are still abundantly present in the area. These provide ideal hiking routes, famous for the presence of the so-called "zinc flora" (including zinc-tolerant plants such as the yellow calamine violet, Viola calaminaria).
JoseMiguel, Evelynn, PaulH, garyfudge, scottevers7 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2007-05-09 13:54]

Hi Niek,

Always a pleasure to see your country side. Beautiful view, excellent capture and comp.
Cheers

Mike

Hi Niek,
A very clear view of this landscape!
The site sounds great for hiking and take pictures.
I like the composition made here with the road and their curves, the simply fence and all that green of the grass. It gives us a very good idea of the place and how it looks like.
Very interesting and curious about the "zinc flora".
Well done and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 863 W: 73 N: 1348] (5265)
  • [2007-05-09 15:21]

Hi Niek.
Beautiful view of this clean spring landscape.Very nice place and good point of view.I like composition with field way that well there is a draught look to the picture.Amazing soft color pallete.Well done,TFS.
Best greetings Milos.

This is strange. I wrote a critique on this early this morning and now I see it isn't here! I think I am "Losing it" as they say.

Anyway I think this is nice Niek. I love the the action provided by the fence and the path. One can almost smell the fresh spring grass. I do think I would have chosen a darker mat as the light sky tends to just disappear into the light mat. To me it makes the top of the photo weaker than need be. Also the very white mat makes the clouds look yellowish which takes a bit away from the feeling of spring freshness.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hallo Niek,

Wat is Limburg en met name het Geuldal toch een mooie plek in Nederland. De vriendelijkheid straalt eraf. Goede POV en BG. Dat zandweggetje geeft precies de sfeer aan van zoals het daar is en in de vroegere jaren haast overal was. Oftewel de compositie is oki, doki.

Groeten Bob

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 72 N: 1007] (4233)
  • [2007-05-10 3:39]

Ha Niek,
een van de paadjes die vanuit Terzietnaar het bovenste en onderste bos lopen. Afgelopen winter is hier voor het eerst officieel de wilde kat in nederland gefotografeerd. Het is een mooie landschaps foto van cultuur landschap. Het valt me hierbij op dat er ontzettend veel witte stipjes (huizen) te zien zijn. Op de een of andere manier valt dat in het veld minder op.
groeten, Jacob

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 991 W: 23 N: 2791] (10168)
  • [2007-05-10 4:12]

Hi Niek,

A lovely wide open view you caught here, the track works well to link the foreground and the background togther and the view is very easy on the eye! I think though that the light is a little flat and sky seems a bit washed out. Maybe a little more contrast? Could just be my monitor though!

Hope you are well,

Paul

G'day Niek.
This is a favourite subject of mine. I love old winding dirt tracks. they lead the eye into the pic so well. Maybe yours could have been a little more prominant, like positioning yourself a little more to the right, so the track starts more to the left of the frame and winds across. But I'm being picky. great POV and lovely outlook. Well done.
Regards, Steve.

A very nice and tranquil visita.

The rolling hills look lush and that track is begging to be explored.

Lovely shot.

Gary

Hi Niek,
I really like the use of the fence for some scale in the foreground. Beautiful open rolling country. Looks like great hiking. Colors and detail are excellent.
Scott

Hi Niek ,
very nice landscape.
it has excellent composition ans beautiful colours.
i like this place so much.
thanks for sharing
Regards
Saeed

nicely composed Niek! The road leading out towards the town is very cool

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