Posted on May 21, 2013
November Mood in Spring
La Grande Cascade| Auvergne, France

Some feedback so far:
Other editors picks so far (2013):
- They are awake – Macro and flower gallery
- Snow Dunes – Landscape Gallery
- Wood Anemone – Macro and flower gallery
- Snow waves- Landscape gallery
- Like a frame –Landscapes gallery
- Falling snow – Landscapes gallery
- Lake with mist- Landscapes gallery
- Abstract gras scene – Macro and flower gallery
Posted on March 21, 2013
Snow DunesLes Pradeaux| Auvergne, France

Some feedback so far:
Other editors picks so far (2013):
- Wood Anemone – Macro and flower Forum
- Snow waves- Landscape Forum
- Like a frame -Landscapes forum
- Falling snow – Landscapes Forum
- Lake with mist- Landscapes forum
- Abstract gras scene – Macro and flower forum
Posted on March 17, 2013
Last Friday I had a nice snowshoe walk in the ‘ Monts du Forez’.
For my photo assignment I wanted to have a second look at the lake from the dam des Pradeaux. The night before it had snowed and the forecast for that Friday was sun with some clouds. When I parked my car at the Col Les Pradeaux (1.196 m altitude) the clouds were still hanging above the Nordic ski slope for the children.
I was hoping for more snow on the trees around the lake than the first time I was there , but unfortunately that side is early in the sun and when I arrived the trees looked green with some powder snow on it, too bad for me. 
The lake was frozen and totally covered with snow, the wind had created some nice snow dunes. I got attracted by the lines and shades.
Balancing in the deep snow I managed to get some lower angle shots.
The sun was nicely reflecting on the top of the dunes, which made it challenging to get details in the bright whiteness of the snow.
I also had to be careful that my tripod did not slide down in the deep snow while I was focusing. It would not be the first time you think that everything is nicely in focus and then, realize that the tripod moved.

Category: Genereal, Landscape Photography Tagged: Auvergne Photography Workshops, foto workshops auvergne, foto workshops Frankrijk, Kristel Schneider, Nature and Landscape Photography, Nature Photography Workshops, PNR Livradois Forez, Stages Photo en Auvergne, Visions and Nature, winter photography, winter shots
Posted on March 2, 2013
Puy de Chabane | Auvergne, France
Some feedback so far:
Other editors picks so far:
- Like a frame -Landscapes forum
- Falling snow – Landscapes Forum
- Lake with mist- Landscapes forum
- Abstract grass scene – Macro and flower forum
Posted on February 6, 2013
What makes you tick?
Photography for me and for you?
Today I read a blog post from photographer Kari Post about an interview she had with a little girl for her school project. The girl wants to be a nature photographer one day and one of the questions she asked Kari was; do you like what you do? “I love it, I think it is really important to find something you are passionate about. If what you are doing doesn’t make you happy, then you have to ask yourself why you are doing it.” – Kari Post
Do you like what you do? A question I think everybody has to answer once in their lives.
A couple of years ago, I also had to answer the same question and my answer back then did not start with, I love it…..and in 2007, I made a choice: I decided to follow my spouse and moved from the Netherlands to the Auvergne| France I traded my good earning job as a communications consultant to become a photographer and devote myself entirely to my passion; photography. And if someone asked me the same question now, in 2013,
I can say without no doubts, I love it!
Some nature Photographers who I interviewed for Visions and Nature answered with:
” I came to photography because of nature, I was always extremely interested in nature. I painted it, and as a child I was a hunter. I grew up in a culture with a very deep hunting tradition. I hunted until I started caring and feeling about animals so much that in the end I did not understand why we had to kill them. So I traded my guns for cameras when I was 14 years old. It felt so natural to me. Since then I have been out every day to look at the tracks in the snow or to listen to the birds and look at the animals. Nature for me goes very deep. Nature Photography is my language; I speak it better than English…” – Jim Brandenburg
” I have worked as art director, and later a creative director, in advertising for over 15 years. I have created myths; worlds of make belief, using images that are far beyond reality. What I like about nature photography is in the first place nature itself, but also the fact that nature can be just as impressive or touching, and often even more, than the fake world that we see on billboards and in commercials every day. In many ways my switch to nature photography is basically an escape to reality…” – Marsel van Oosten
” Having worked in the fashion industry for many years as a fashion designer I realized I was always working and thinking in boxes which limited my creativity. By working as a full time nature and wildlife photographer I have now limitless possibilities in making creative images. Moreover nature is the most beautiful “office” to work in…” – Jeroen Stel
You can feel that they are passionate about what they are doing, Nature Photography.
Their desire was to be in Nature, creative and enjoy every minute of it.
What would your answer be on:
What makes you tick? What would you do with your life if money was no object?
How would you really enjoy spending your life ?
Photographer Hank Perry replied on the same blog post I read today with a video link.
A link from Alan Wilson Watts (6 January 1915 – 16 November 1973) was a British-born philosopher, writer, and speaker.
I like to share with you the same link ….
What do you desire ?
Visions and Nature