About Me

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Antwerp, Belgium
Welcome to the new, and improved version of Heaven in Belgium. I am Jientje. "Jientje", like the boys name Gene, followed by "chu"? "Gene-chu", that's how you pronounce my name. Yes!!!!That's it!! So now you know huh? I am an addicted blogger. I was born and raised and am still living in Belgium. Yeah, the "this-is- Tuesday-so-this-must-be-Brussels" kind of Belgium .. There, you see? Maybe you couldn't find it on the map, but at least I'm trying to change that a little by sharing lots of pictures. I really love to cook and create new things, like this blog for instance. I am a mother,a grandmothe and a wife too! They say I'm a traveler, and a photographer. Well that's just what they say, I love to make pictures, but I am far from professional ... If my English is not perfect, that would be because it's my second language. I do hope you'll forgive me any possible misspellings or strange vocabulary ... Now, as a result of all of the above, I get way too little sleep and my days are always much too short!

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Heaven is in Belgium

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Weekly Winners, People and Faces ...



I have been trying some portrait photography last week, and I think this is a side of photography I would love to improve on.
So if you have any advice to give me, please do so in a comment, because I love to learn new skills. Here we go...






I photographed myself first.



Then pointed my camera at my first complete stranger.
I found out that did not hurt....





... and zoomed in just a little bit more




and when I came home and saw them, I knew I wanted more.



One week later when we returned to the Museum Park I took these.


Sometimes it's all in the details ...

From the inside, looking out ...


I think I like this!





Now those were all actors, and they don't mind being photographed.



But the real hard part in all of this ...


is to ask for a picture. It took a little courage, but the man was more than willing to pose for me.
I think I want more of that!


Find more Weekly Winners at Sarcastic Mom's.


Ooooh, wait ... there is more!

Summer Stock Sunday.

Welcome to the brand spanking new Summer Stock Sunday. Each week, beginning at midnight Saturday night Israel time, 5pm EST, we'll be sharing our quintessential summertime photos. So what says summer to you? Is it the pool? The beach? A backyard barbecue? A comfy old pair of flip-flops? Whatever summertime looks like in your corner of the world this is the place to come share it - put up your post and then come add your link to Mr. Linky. Visiting other participants is encouraged, after all, sharing is what blogging is all about.

This is a new Sunday meme at Robin's Around the Island.

So here's mine! Iremember when I saw the kid, this is my Summer Stock Sunday picture, but I almost forgot to publish it!




Have a great Sunday!


37 comments:

Gabriel said...

The pictures are great, Jientje!!! Thanks for visiting my blog as well (And I still owe you the acknowledgment of the award you passed onto me).

Mrs4444 said...

Wow-These are terrific. I think I'll try some of that this week!

Mary Elizabeth said...

Beautiful Photos!
Now and Then

Anonymous said...

What excellent photos. I love them and I don't think you need advice on portraits myself. Glad you are doing the new summer meme...Wonderful. Hope you are having a great weekend. Aloha

Thorne said...

I really love the first close-up profile, and then the SSS! Great shot!

Tara R. said...

Wonderful portraits! People is the one subject I have yet to try. I really like that last shot of the man in the blue shirt and the funny half smile.

spacedlaw said...

Great series!
Asking or not aking? asking is far more polite, of course (and a good exercise for people who suffer from fear of rejection) but posed portrait, ven if often of better quality (people stop moving) are oftne lacking a little in spontaneity. Also: stolen images are like fruits taken from the field - each shiny morsel a real treat.

Bill ~ {The Old Fart} said...

These were Great Jientje, The Face of the Nun, it is my favorite as well.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I love all the portraits! It is hard to ask strangers if you can take their photo's. Even the actor's because you sometimes want to get more than one and you don't want to bother them.
Your's came out great.

Leora said...

Love the portrait, the one where you asked the guy. I mean, they are all great, but there he gives you that little soft smile. I could paint that one.

And wouldn't that be like a kid, to stare at an ice cream sign. For my kids, that's what they would do!

Wanda..... said...

I enjoyed your portaits and the details...the numerous hats...their hands...and what they held...the many glasses and the reflection in one lens...and the boy making a decision or only dreaming.

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

I think you did a great job on the portraits. Love all the details. I love the summer shot too.

Danifred said...

These are just fantastic! Love the inside looking out shot!!!!

Dianne said...

all of your weekly winner portraits are amazing!

love the little boy, he's carefully weighing his options

Melli said...

You know... your portraits are as good as all your other work! You need no pointers - you are a natural! You just have "it"! Wish I had it!

I played summer stock today too... I LOVE that little guy lookin' at his ice cream choices! That IS summer, for sure!

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I love the photos of the hands holding things!

Kristi @ Mi Vida Ocupada said...

I love un-posed (unsuspecting) portraits! Great job

Robin said...

I love the portraits where you really zoomed in close, both on the faces and on the details.

The SSS photo is great too - my kids too stand there studying the ice cream poster as if their very lives depended on their choice.

maryt/theteach said...

Marvelous series of portraits, jientje! I've been thinking I should try to take more dramatic pictures too! That last shot is wonderful - dreaming of ice cream! :)

Tink *~*~* said...

The nun is scaring me! I bet she's a nice lady, but she just has this LOOK on her face... like Sr. Edwardine from my youth, when she was about to yell at someone and pull their ear! =8^0

;)

Tink *~*~*

Gattina said...

Very nice portraits ! I couldn't do any in Morocco people don't like to be photographed, so I had to do it with zoom and secretly. I show the parc in Marrakech today where people do their picnic. Just like we do too. Your nun looks like the 3 ghosts on my blog, 3 women wearing radical clothing. Fortunately they are only very very few.

Smoochiefrog said...

Those are all really great shots! I know I'd never be able to ask to take a picture of someone outside my family. I'm too chicken like that. :)

Jessica Insley Sieghart said...

Your photography is beautiful! I love the mood you capture in your shots! Choosing your ice cream flavor definitely calls for a study of the menu! Beautiful picture! Ok, and now I want some ice cream ;)

Robynn's Ravings said...

FABULOUS perspectives, Jientje. Truly. Love the belly, the scary nun, the mirth in the handsome face. But through it all - living in bare-headed America - was the realization of all the hats! It was positively a THEME!

Heidi said...

The pictures are fantastic! I love on the inside looking out and the boy studying the ice cream choices reminds me of the boy at the ice cream place that I wrote about in my post entitled Roofs and Re-Doo.

This site makes me yearn even more for the camera I do not yet own, but want so badly. I don't actually have a camera at the moment, but have to borrow my daughter's when I want to take a picture.
Thanks for visiting me recently, also.
Heidi

Jientje said...

@ Gabriel: don't worry about that award, we're friends!
@ Mrss4444: It's fun!
@ Mary Elisabeth: thanks!
@ Thom: Ooh, but I think I DO need some more advice. The weekend was great, thanks!
@ Thorne: Yes, I grabbed my camera as soon as I saw that!
@ Tara: He really liked being photographed.
@ spacedlaw: I agree, I don't want them to pose, really, I prefer natural too.
@ Bill: Thanks, I had fun doing this!
@ hip chick: Having to ask is what is holding meback a little. I'm rather shy, you see. Plus, I don't want them to POSE.
@ Leora: I'm SURE the painting would be lovely.I love his smile too, and the little twinkle in his eye is so charming!
@ Wanda: I sooooo enjoyed doing them!
@ Secret Mom thoughts: I spent most of the afternoon taking portraits, and I loved every minute of it!
@ Danifred: Sneaky huh?
@ Dianne: He was!Probably a Libra, like me!
@ Melli: ooooh, what a lovely compliment! Thanks!
@ Comfymom: I love details.
@ Kristi: Yes, so do I.
@ Robin: I'm glad you liked it!
@ Mary: I loved doing this, and now I'm hungry for more!
@ Tink: Oh yes. That's a blast from the past, but you're so right. We had one just like her!
@ Gattina: They wanted money for a portrait when I was in Morocco!
@ Smoochiefrog: I understand. I have to breathe deeply too!
@ Jessicasieghart: I hope you enjoyed your icecream as much as I enjoyed reading your comment!
@ Robynn: I had not realized that!

Jientje said...

@ 2thinks: I hope you get your camera real soon! I can feel your pain, believe me!

Carletta said...

I love the portrait of the nun and the one just under it of the gentleman talking - both are awesome!
The little boy deciding on ice cream is definitely Summer. I think I'll go get some. :)

HeatherK said...

Fantastic Pictures, Love the in your historic face approach. Inspired to take in some history this summer, thankyou.

Miss said...

Great portraits!

Unknown said...

I am no good at sneaking portraits, and don't have courage to ask generally. I love the nun! :)

Anonymous said...

Do they have to wear this clothes all year long - they need summer outfits - that black is catching every warm sun beam - I feel for the people. The photos are beautiful - you catch so many details!

Nessa said...

Your self portrait was very clever and sneaky.

All of your portraits are great. I like the tightly focused ones best.

This Eclectic Life said...

Your blog is such a delight! I can almost see that little boy drooling over that poster. Thanks for sharing you wonderful "photographer's eye" with us.

Daryl said...

Fun summery shot

Christine said...

Wow! I am speechless!!! Fabulous as usual.

Amanda Guthrie said...

Your summer stock shot is a little doll he is very cute.
Your second set of portraits Wonderful the mid sections and the faces are just wonderful. I have always been too chicken to ask ... my loss

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