The Hague, Hofvijver by Photo Wall Decoration

Shot of the Hofvijver in The Hague, taken during the blue hour.

I had freed up one day to go to The Hague purely for photography. Sometimes you have those moments when you just have to go out, camera along, tripod in the bag, and see what the city has to offer. The Hofvijver was high on my list. A place where history, water and architecture come together in an almost picturesque setting.

I arrived towards the end of the afternoon. The sky was crisp and clear, with no clouds, making the colors of the blue hour look beautifully even. It was windless, which is exactly what you hope for when you want to capture a reflection. The buildings along the water looked beautiful, lit by warm lamps, and the striking silhouettes of the Binnenhof gave the image that typical Hague look.

With my camera on a tripod and a long shutter speed, I was able to smooth the water and capture the reflections razor-sharp. I chose the composition carefully: symmetrical, with space for sky, water and architecture. Everything had to be right, play of lines, light and tranquillity.

At home at my desk, I worked on the shot. As always, I take my time with that: colour correction, contrast, and fine-tuning the details so that the image conveys exactly the atmosphere I felt there.

The result is a cityscape that exudes tranquillity, elegance and recognition. One day of The Hague, captured in one image.