I have done several street photography shooting session in Amsterdam. The first one was with Ian MacDonald, working for Fujifilm. It was my first workshop to learn how to be a street photographer and where to find the right composition. I have written a blog about this day. You can read it here.
The second time was a couple of weeks ago. I took my camera and went to the Amsterdam city center. It was a 7-hour shoot where I had found great spots and also met some great people. Some spots were great for a later moment, but I needed to keep them in my mind for my next visit. What is the best way to do this? To write a blog!
This blog is part one:
Spot 1 - Stubbe's Haring
Stubbe's Haring is a fish shop where they sell fresh Haring. A real Dutch specialty. The shop is covered in very cool graffiti.
Spot 2 - Hotel Sebastian's
Hotel Sebastian's is a very nice and modern. You can easily walk by and don't recognize it. You can find it at Keizersgracht, near the Brouwersgracht. It looks like a normal civilian building, but the purple colored details reveal it's beauty. You can use this spot as a frame waiting for somebody with an opposite color to get a great picture. I think with one a sunny day it would be even better. When I saw this spot, it was a cloudy rainy day.
There was a man in a yellow raincoat, with his grandchildren. Would be a perfect picture, but I was too late to get the right shot.
Behind the shopping center, Magna Plaza is small square across a bridge named "Torensluis". If you cross the bridge and the square you, see a small cheese shop, called "Wijngaard Kaas". It should be on your right hand. follow the "Oude Leliestraat" street for about 30 meters. You won't miss this shop because there is always a queue of tourists who are visiting this coffeeshop :).
Why is this a great spot?
The shop has a clear window on the top with the name of the coffeeshop (Grey Area). A very bustling building with a strong character caused by all the different kind of stickers on the walls. The diversity of people brings the picture to life.
definitely, a spot to visit and take a couple of shots.
Spot 4 - Mariska Meijers Shop
Spot number 4 is a special one. It is not far away from spot 3 and something totally different. This spot caught my attention because of the many colors in front of the shop window. I kept waiting to use this shop as a frame for my picture. I tried to get the right person in this frame. While I was waiting, she was cleaning her windows. And that's the moment we met each other. She offered me coffee and had a nice chat. This is also amazing about street photography. You meet new people at unexpected moments.
Mariska Meijers is an artist who has created her own brand with her own designed art, products and fabrics. If you choose to take pictures at this spot, please visit her shop too! You should also check her website:
https://www.mariskameijers.com/
Spot 5 - Raïnaraï
In the area of the 9 streets "9 Straatjes", there is a small north African cozy restaurant with a fantastic decoration. One site looks like if you go to a small greengrocer, the other site is like a bar where you can enjoy your food in the sun.You can find this restaurant at the Prinsengracht 252, close to the Reestraat. The vegetable decorations change from time to time. It can be a very nice background for your shots. I did not eat at this restaurant so far. It is atmospheric and has a character on its own. A quote from the website http://rainarai.nl:
"Once you've tasted it never let you go"
Spot 6 - Rokin
The Rokin is a street after you have crossed the Dam Square. If the sun is shining, it is always great to shoot some pictures here. You can shoot people, find some great frames to use and cafe's to find special photogenic people. Some spots you have to check out:
Hudson bay's shop windows
NRC Restaurant cafe
Hudson Bay's shop window is a perfect spot to wait for the right person that will pass. It is a big window and it is using elements of light to attract people. A perfect background to capture photogenic people. Sometimes there are some scooters parked there. A nice composition would be having the scooter with a person with a great visual character. I have got some great pictures from this spot. One photo in my Color gallery is taken in the front of this shop window. The photo has got "Show Time" letters as background.
NRC Restaurant cafe is a place where you can find interesting people to be a character in your photo. Another important spot is the shadow nearby. When you come from the street the Nes, crossing the Wijde Lombardsteeg. People are walking from the shadow into the light. you can capture some great images. I didn't have much luck yet, patience and you will get rewarded!
Spot 7 - pedestrian Crossing
Actually, this spot is at many places in the city. The best are around the Dam Square. If the other side of the pedestrian crossing is in the shadow, wait for the green traffic light for those people and they come from the shadow into the light. It can be a great picture to capture.
More spots
I'd love to share the spots that I find in Amsterdam and other places in the Netherlands or the world. The more I shoot, the better my best spots blogs will be.
If you have a spot that I need to share please share these in the comments.
Please let me know if these spots help you with your creativity.
Thank you for reading! Soon more spots!
All the best,
Stefan
Leave a reply