Tiptoeing Through The Tulips!
I’m not long back from a wonderful short break to Amsterdam. Before the last tulip petals have dropped, I wanted to share with you a few of my recent shots from the world famous Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam.
Paul & I arrive at Keukenhof.
It is a magnificent place to visit between late March and early May (and is probably lovely at other times too if it’s open). As you would see from the car park, many many thousands of people do visit. It is well worth trying to go as early as possible, before the hoards of coaches arrive and definitely avoid weekends. This will give you a better chance to appreciate the stunning floral displays in this large park. It is a joy to photograph the tulips.
If you are like me you will take quite a bit of time in choosing and composing photographs. I often say that I am ‘not like normal people when I take photos on holiday’. You want that often find me in the photos by the way, as I generally prefer to stay behind the camera.
A blaze of colour.
A bit of depth.
Pretty in pink.
A glow of gold.
Perhaps surprising to the non gardeners amongst us, some tulips have a delicate scent, so it’s worth not neglecting your sense of smell as well as sight.
Allium flowers compliment the tulips. I think this is one of my favourite shots.
The gardeners at Keukenhof manage to create a fabulous display of contrasting colours and layout of their tulips along with a compliment of other flowers. It’s very much a work of art.
Go in close sometimes and look for contrasting colours.
Contrasting Colours
When I am trying to get that perfect shot I have a few challenges to face… Dappled light might sound like a good idea but where there are strong bright colours, shade will lose impact. It goes without saying, unless it is your intention to include people, avoid legs, bags, bins, litter and unwanted clutter on photos, as it will be an unwanted distraction to your beautiful display of tulips. Where possible avoid tulips that are past their best, especially if they are in the foreground; Scrutinise before snapping!
It would be rude to not have a Dutch windmill in at least one shot!
Keukenhof also has some tranquil woodland and bluebells on show.
I enjoyed the delightful array of tiny tulips and complimenting Spring flowers.
I chose a very low angle to give depth and impact.
Standing tall and standing out against a dark background.
Lovely two tone tulips.
Hundreds of flowers in one of the larger displays.
This has been a particularly enjoyable blog to put together. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. If it inspires you with your photography or to just appreciate the beauty of nature, even better!
You can find more about Keukenhof Gardens HERE