  
 Saturday 30/06/2012
Working Weekends Sucks! U 
Friday 29/06/2012
AmsterSam The Shady Reflectah Slightly edited shots of my shadow in Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. Being a wicked Reflectah can be rather challenging at times, the most beautiful reflections and shadows often hide in plain sight, forcing me to assume funny-looking positions in public while being surrounded by hundreds of staring, curious tourists and locals alike, only to get a couple of Interwebs-worthy shots, and I can tell you, if I wasn't such a selfconfident guy, I might have given up on this very small and lovely but lonely niche inside the heart of photography a long time ago...all I want is to take some nice pictures, nobody has ever warned me that this would entail crouching next to wet spots on major traffic ways, or bending up-, down-, or sideways to capture that one shadow snap that would fulfill that glowing desire inside my heart to take the perfect picture, what a Scam, lol. Thank God it's Friday! Too bad I'll have to work today and tomorrow! Arrggghhhh!!! 
Thursday 28/06/2012
Go Speed Racer! Slightly edited shots of people reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing besides some added contrast, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. Even though we all choose different means of personal transportation, we usually all arrive at the same time, city traffic is a big equalizer that allows only small gains in speed over other participants by throwing rules and regulations at us that eat up all the advantages of traveling, for example, by bike. You can rush through the streets as fast as your legs allow it, but at the next red light, all those cars and lazy bums on their scooters will catch up with you again, and the only thing that consoles me personally while accepting this defeat, is the fact that you can actually see those rolling around in/on mechanized transport vehicles gaining weight as they wait for the green light, they sit there and wait, and the buttons on their pants start popping because they're too freakin' lazy to use their own bodypower to get to where they're going, lol :D 
Wednesday 27/06/2012
At The Swap Meet Random shots of stuff sold at a 2nd-hand shop in Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. The other day I went to get something from a shop and somehow ended up wandering around and into this dusty, old-fashioned 2nd-hand store, they had so many cool old things that I couldn't stop looking around, and I eventually bought a big yellow vase for the flowers I never buy, lol. Sometimes we end up doing something else than we had planned, and it can turn out to be an even better thing to waste your time with, think about that :) 
Tuesday 26/06/2012
AmsterSam The Natural Reflectah Slightly edited selfreflections on a window in Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. I'm a total Nature-freak, I have so many plants in my house and on my balcony, that it looks and feels like a jungle, my preferred natural habitat...well, not really, I don't like wild animals or man-eating insects, so let's say urban jungle. To my utter delight, lately I had to realize that I spend so much time surrounded by plants that some kind of osmosis process has started, converting my body into a new half-human-half-plant lifeform, not an unpleasant experience, as I get to hang around chillaxing most of the time, and looking at my leafy hands, nobody is expecting me to get any actual work done anymore anyways, so I'm mostly being left alone in a corner, working on the final stages of my plantness, and as you can see, rather successfully, I am almost there...please water me every now and then, thank you :D 
Monday 25/06/2012
The Best Day Of Your Life Unedited shots bikers reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. It's Monday again, we're riding into a new week that may bring many challenges and obstacles, but it might as well be filled with happiness, sunshine and so many awesome, beautiful and inspiring events, that it might change your life for the better, forever! I guess what I'm trying to say it, anything can happen, and even though we only have a certain level of control over the world around us, starting each day with an open mind and the purpose and intention to make it the best day ever, we can surely give it a push and a nudge in the right direction. And now repeat after me: 'Today is the best day of my life, and I will experience many great things that will enrich my existence and make me appreciate what I have even so much more!' :) 
Best Day Movie I've made a wicked reflection movie of this puddle as well, watch it on my YouTube channel, thanks :)
Sunday 24/06/2012
The Puddle Paradise Unedited shots of people reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. 2012 seems to be the year of the puddle, it's raining almost every day, we're all still waiting in vain for Spring to start, while the Summer season is already upon us, officially at least, because that thing going on outside can be called anything but Summer. And yes, I should be ecstatically happy that the best city in the world is drowning, puddles everywhere, yay...or not? Or not, because rain water is just one of the many ingredients needed for a proper wicked reflection shot, and with this gray mess that we see every day where the sky should be, there is no way anybody can make this look pretty or cool...I've tried though, in one of the few sunny moments, I hope you appreciate the effort, lol :D 
Puddle Paradise Movie I've made a wicked reflection movie of this puddle as well, watch it on my YouTube channel, thanks :)
Saturday 23/06/2012
Vague Weekend Vibe Unedited shots of bikers reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. It's Saturday, it's weekend, it's gray, rainy and cold outside, so I've decided to spend this day in a blissful state of haziness...this entails massive amounts of not-doing-anything-useful combined with utter laziness being incorporated into the day, resulting in an overlordish, retardation-resembling state of wicked, willful uber-relaxation, leading towards a lush, dazed and confused evening, topped of with inhuman hours spend lounging around in bed while realizing that not a single F*ck has been given at all before taking off to dreamland, a perfect day, lol :P 
Vague Weekend Movie I've made a wicked reflection movie of this puddle as well, watch it on my YouTube channel, thanks :) Weekend Music
Friday 22/06/2012
Thank God It's Friday! Slightly edited shots of people in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. Thank God it's Friday! I am so lucky and blessed that I can stay home today, and enjoy a lazy day, while everybody else has to go to work and slave away, counting the hours until the special time of the week starts. The crazy thing is, we have this new law in Holland for 3 years or so now, where it states that if you ask your Employer if you can work less hours, let's say 36, or 32, instead of the customary 40, they can't say No, unless the whole company depends on your showing up 5 instead of 4 days each week, plus you will receive almost the same salary, after taxes, as you do for a fulltime job, it's only the before-taxes salary that looks a lot less! I seem to be one of the very few people who know about this secret, so I figured sharing it here with you on the Interwebs might inspire some of you to look at their personal situation and to actually go to their boss next Monday and say 'Hey boss, I realized I'll make pretty much the same money working one day less every week, so why don't you do all the work by yourself on Fridays as of now?'. Do it, you know you want to, and it's reallyreallyreally good for you :) 
Thursday 21/06/2012
Am Ster Dam Unedited shots of tourists in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. The giant 'I Amsterdam' letters at the Museumplein are still hugely popular with the visitors of the best city in the world, and I'm always amazed at the joy and fun they are experiencing when they're climbing on top of them and take the mandatory typical tourist shot. There must be literally billions of the exact same pictures featuring this scene, with different people in them of course, spread across storage devices all over this lovely planet, and I am actually considering to offer an online service where you can simply paste your own body into an existing template shot of those letters, that would save people a lot of time and traveling, and they could still admire themselves sitting on top of the best city in the world, lol :D 
Wednesday 20/06/2012
We Are Drowning Unedited shots of people reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. Europe is drowning, literally, in rain, and figuratively, in debt, it seems that the EURO zone has become Lala-land, where we take all the money we have, and give it to those people who created this whole mess, only to have them burn through our combined life-savings as if it was some kids weekly allowance. We're now being told that we better make sure to take care of our own financial and medical needs for our old days, as the Health system and Pension scheme won't provide anything but hot air to us when we'll need it, regardless of the fact that every month a considerable part of our salary is taxed to finance those exact systems we won't be able to benefit from. A nice setup, I think at no other time in history have we been f***ed over so publicly and completely without any resistance...almost makes me wish I was one of those faceless Moneymasters who is crashing&burning our society for their own personal gain, but just almost, I'm sure they'll rot in Hell for being such ruthless Raiders...or not, seems that being evil pays off, lol ;D 
Drowning Movie I've made a wicked reflection movie of this puddle as well, watch it on my YouTube channel, thanks :)
Tuesday 19/06/2012
AmsterSam The Sunny Reflectah Slightly edited selfreflections on my sunglasses in Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. I like sunny days, I think most of us do, but unlike most of us, I don't really like staying in the direct sunlight, I prefer a shady spot from where I can see the fearless sunbathers, offering their medium-rare bodies to the yellow, burning Overlord in the sky, that lately only graces us so seldom with its presence, and I think to myself 'Hmmm, I wonder if those people are made out of Teflon', because I could never do that, even if it wasn't seriously bad for your health, I just overheat too easily. So if you see a bald dude sitting in the shadow, smiling at you while sipping on his cold drink, that's probably me, studying your molecular structur for any visible traces of (C2F4)n (yes, that's the molecular formula of Teflon, hehe) shining through your skin-layers...or you're just a hot chick and I'm checking you out...sorry about that, lol ;D 
Monday 18/06/2012
From Holland With Love Unedited shots of lovely bike girls in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. "Monday, Monday, so good to me Monday mornin', it was all I hoped it would be Oh Monday mornin', Monday mornin' couldn't guarantee That Monday evenin' you would still be here with me Monday, Monday, can't trust that day Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way Oh Monday mornin' you gave me no warnin' of what was to be Oh Monday, Monday, how could you leave and not take me Every other day, every other day Every other day of the week is fine, yeah But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes A-you can find me cryin' all of the time Monday, Monday - The Mamas&the Papas 
Sunday 17/06/2012
Hup Holland Hup! Random shots of 'Orangeness' in Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. Its on, today the Dutch team has to win against Portugal in the EURO 2012 to have any chance at all to make it to the next round...things are not looking too promising, I don't know if you remember the game against the Portuguese during the 2010 World Cup, it went down as the match with the most red (4) and yellow (16!) cards ever, it resembled a war much more than a sporting event, let's just hope that tonight will be different, and that Holland can kick their asses, move to the next round, meet Germany in the Final game, and become European Champion, yay :D 
Saturday 16/06/2012
An Apple A Day Or 2 Girls 1 Apple Unedited shots of girls sharing an apple in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. I had to realize once again what a sick twisted mind I have, when I looked at the pictures I've uploaded today, trying to think of a fitting title for this mini-series, and 2 things instantly popped up in my head, fighting for superiority and the right to accompany todays creative output (if you can call Voyeurshots of innocent girls that, lol ;), both so contrary to each other that I am seriously considering getting professional help, or at least staging an intervention for myself: 1) An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away 2) 2 Girls 1 Apple The first one appeals to our common sense and tries to remind us that we can combine what's good for us with a little pleaseure, because let's face it, apples are delicious little fellas, I eat one each day, and so should you! The second one, and at this point I'll have to ask minors and those faint at heart to leave the room, the second one is inspired by the horrible, unspeakably disturbing and probably highly illegal (or at least it should be), infamous and really-you-should-not-click-that-link-no-really-don't-seriously-don't-freakin'-do-it!! '2 Girls 1 Cup' video, that catapulted reallyreally bad taste into the consciousness of the Internet-attached world some years ago....I'm sure I'm going to burn in Hell just for mentioning it here, hehehe. Anway, I guess my point is, the Mind is a terrible thing to waste, don't even consider googling '2 Girls 1 Cup', have an apple instead :) 
Friday 15/06/2012
Thank God It's Friday! Slightly edited shots of people reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing besides some added contrast, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. Thank God it's Friday! Why can't every day be Friday? This lovely feeling of the beginning of the weekend, that makes everybody seem friendlier, nicer and prettier, it should somehow be condensed, bottled and sold, so that we can create this special atmosphere any time of the week. Or we could all just work a lot less and have a permanent flair of free time surrounding us, I'm sure we would all feel much better right away. Unfortunately I'll have to work tomorrow, Saturday, but to make up for it, I've been off for the last 2 days, and one of them was even a sunny, beautiful Summer day that I've spent outside, enjoying the vibe, luckily, because today is another rainy, gray shite day :) 
Friday Movie I've made a wicked reflection movie of this puddle as well, watch it on my YouTube channel, thanks :) Thank God it's Friday! 
Images 'borrowed' from http://blindgossip.com!
Thursday 14/06/2012
AmsterSam The Ambitious Reflectah Slightly edited selfreflections on a car in Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. It ain't always being easy being a wicked Reflectah, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make it to the point where I'm at now, and it'll take so much more of both to get me to where I want to be, while all I want, is a looong vacation, lol. When I think about this, I always hear this song in my head: "Sitting in my car watch the stars and smoke I came a long way but still I got so far to go." 2Pac "Crazy" 
Crazy
Wednesday 13/06/2012
Hup Holland Hup! Random shots of 'Orangeness' in Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. Tonight the Dutch team is facing one of its worst fears, playing against the German team in a big International tournament, an age-old trauma that just won't seem to heal, everybody is talking about this match for weeks already, mentally preparing for another severe beating by 'Die Mannschaft', and nobody really believes that the impossible can happen, that we actually might win, make it to the finals where we'll meet the Germans again AND win against them...but I'm saying anything can happen, this is a wickedcrazy year, and we might actually end up with the Cup that has not graced this lovely country in such a long time, we might as well not, but I sure hope that until then at least we'll have a great time celebrating the fact that we're duking this out on the grass, with a ball, and not on some actual battlefield :) 
To give you an idea what it used to be like on the old days, here are some quotes (borrowed from Wikipedia) from Dutch and German players: "I didn't give a damn about the score. 1–0 was enough, as long as we could humiliate them. I hate them. They murdered my family. My father, my sister, two of my brothers. Each time I faced Germany I was angst-filled." —Wim van Hanegem (b. 1944), Dutch midfielder "Before the game we knew that it was going to be tense. We had sworn to win, because that victory was so important to our sense of pride. To them, beating us is the best thing there is. They hate us so much more than we hate them." —Karl-Heinz Förster (b. 1958), German midfielder on the UEFA Euro 1980 match Luckily those tense days are over and it's mostly about making fun of the other guys...so may the best team win, preferably the Dutch one, wish us luck, lol :D
Tuesday 12/06/2012
The Puddle Paradox Unedited shots of people reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. With this year being an exceptionally rainy one, you'd think that I'm having a ball shooting all those puddles, but sadly that is not the case, you see, for me to be able to take a wicked reflection photo it takes a lot more then just some wet spot, there are many interdepending factors involved, from light and shadow to angles and puddle depth, surface-consistency and dirt-layer thickness, but all this sleazy weather is offering me is wetness, no lights, no camera, no action, just filthy gray skies and misery...makes me want to drown my camera in a puddle, but yeah, I gotta keep keepin' on, so look out for me, lurking in the mean streets of the best city in the world, waiting for that perfect moment to shoot a fancy photo like the ones I've posted today, hehehe :) 
Monday 11/06/2012
I Wish It Was Summer Unedited shots of the lovely Miss S chilling in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. Oh man, this year seriously sucks, weatherwise, it just won't get warm and it won't stop raining, this is really starting to get to me, I need some sunshine, dammit! We've completely skipped Spring this year, and the way things are looking, Summer won't be worth mentioning either, so we've basically had almost a whole freakin' year of Autumn and Winter now, except for the occasional sunny day here and there. There are no words that can describe how horrible this makes me feel, I think a small part of my soul just died, sigh...keep your fingers crossed that we'll get at least a few more of those rare sunny days before the official Fall season starts again, thank you :) 
Sunday 10/06/2012
The Drive-By Shooting Random shots of Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app while biking by. I really like biking through the best city in the world while shooting innocent bystanders, this is called a Drive-by shooting and usually results in dead bodies littering the street corners, but I have reached such an advanced level of wickedness, that I can shoot people and they won't even know, lol. These poor vicitims never realized what hit them, they see a wicked Reflectah flying by on his bike, and the next thing they know, they're all over the Interwebs for your entertainment...you might want to wear a plastic bag over your head, or this could happen to you, hahaha :D 
Saturday 09/06/2012
AmsterSam The Redesigned Reflectah Slightly edited shots of the new AmsterSam style. Taken with my Sony HX1 and my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. As you might know, I'm a big fan of my own clothing line, the 'AmsterSam' gear, that I love to wear so much, but lately I have reviewed and adjusted many aspects of my personal appearance, they say change is good, so I went and changed pretty much everything about myself and my life, and it's rather interesting to see where this journey is taking me. Having unique AmsterSam Nike Sneakers and a bunch of other new shoes was just the beginning, I also had a deep craving for a personalized bank pass, and while I was at it, I also bought a whole new outfit that looks really different from my usual style, and together with a massive overhaul of the inside of my house, became part of my ongoing effort to completely re-invent myself as AmsterSam 3.0. I think I'm on the right track here, and so thinks the NIKE iD team, that asked me if they can show off my Cortez design on their Tumblr page...yes, you can, hehehe :) 
I Broke My Facebook It seems that having posted a picture of the NIKEiD Tumblr site featuring my wickedcool Cortez shoes broke my Facebook, my profile is empty, at least for myself, others can still see it, this is so weird, I feel naked and helpless, and I think mild symptoms of FB withdrawal are already setting in...I want my Facebook back, aaaarggghhh, hahaha! Update: I tagged myself in the pictures I've uploaded to FB about the whole sneaker situation, and that brought my profile back...that was a scary half hour right there, a rainy Saturday morning without Facebook sucks, lol :D 
Friday 08/06/2012
Let The Games Begin! Unedited shots of people in Amsterdam during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Taken with my Sony HX1. It's on!! Today the UEFA Euro 2012 starts with the opening match between Poland and Greece, an event we've all been looking forward to for 2 years. I'm sure we all still vividly remember the thrilling, exciting and disappointing final match against Spain in the World Cup 2010...not that I want to bring back bad memories, I'm just saying, you might remember this, I know I do, as I witnessed the sad developments leading to us NOT being the European Champion together with 120 000 other orange people on the Museumplein back then. This time, it's for real, you better get yourself some colored gear already, FTW :D 
Thank God it's Friday! 
Images 'borrowed' from http://collegecandy.com!
Thursday 07/06/2012
Almost Weekend Now Unedited shots of people reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. Is it weekend already?! I want to stay in bed and pretend it is, having a job is totally overrated these days, I want to be like all the other people in Europe, unemployed and enjoying all the free time, but no, I've got to go and be a slave for the Moneymasters, sigh. Lately I've been wondering a lot how it must be not having to go to work each and every day for a while, I envy those who do it, but at the same time I am fully aware of their misery, most unemployed folks just don't know what to do with all that time and they wish they had a job, while those who do have one, want more free time, a wicked dilemma. Personally I can keep myself busy all day long, I think I would do great if I could focus on my photos and movies and other lovely things, but yeah, I need the money :) 
Wednesday 06/06/2012
Like Father Like Son Unedited shots of tourists reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. Fathers don't have the best reputation it seems, it's sometimes said that they try to avoid playing their role in bringing up the future people who'll have to pay for their pension, and instead want to watch sports on TV or have a drink with their buddies, not the smartest move I'm sure you'd agree. Of course reality is always different from the image that has been created, and it's great to see that some Dads are actively supporting their offspring in getting their priorities right and embracing a lifestyle that will be beneficial for them and the world at large, like riding a bike instead of car for example. Way to go Dad, you're a good rolemodel and I'm sure this kid will make a difference when he grows up :) 
Tuesday 05/06/2012
Lost In Paradise Random shots of tourists in Amsterdam. Taken with my HTC Desire using the Camera360 Android app. If you're lucky enough to make it to the best city in the world for a visit, you might notice that even if you have the best map in the world, or even your TomTom with you, you will get lost. The city is just build up in such a way that those who dare set foot in it are doomed to spiral through seemingly endless shopping streets filled with Sex, Drugs, Rock'n'Roll and Candy on sale, and they all look the same, making sure that you won't leave the city center until you've spent your last Euro. I guess you're lucky we don't dump you in a canal after we've taken all your cash, lol :D 
Monday 04/06/2012
The Vague Vision Unedited shots of a puddle reflection in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. Today is my first working day, after a whole, beautiful, sunny, lovely week off, I really enjoyed it so much that I've decided to put in vacation requests for the next months as soon as I'll enter the building, I still have about 1 1/2 years worth of holidays left to use, since my bosses never want to give me any time off. I guess I'm going to have to insist, it's just so much nicer to do the things I care about than making some rich people somewhere on this planet richer, unless it's me of course who's making the fat bucks. Wish me luck that my first day back in the office won't be too horrible, and that I'll get plenty of holidays in the months to come, thank you :) 
Vague Vision Movie I've made a wicked reflection movie of this puddle as well, watch it on my YouTube channel, thanks :)
Sunday 03/06/2012
The Fizzy Bubblech Puddle Unedited shots of people reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop. Have you ever had a Fizzy Bubblech? No? Me neither, because it's from the movie 'You Don't Mess With The Zohan" and not real, but it still has its own Facebook Fan page, lol. I'd like to have a tasty bottle of Fizzy Bubblech one of these days, preferably a hot Summer day...which means never, as this Summer is the coldest and wettest and crappiest in decades, so even if that funky drink existed, my chances of making this scenario come true are practically zero, 'thanks Summer', lol :D 
Fizzy Bubblech Puddle Movie I've made a wicked reflection movie of this puddle as well, watch it on my YouTube channel, thanks :)
Saturday 02/06/2012
These Shoes Were Made For Reflectin' Slightly edited shots of my new personalized Sneakers. Taken with my Sony HX1. I like having my very own personal gear, and what has started so harmlessly some years ago with the wickedcool 'AmsterSam' T-shirts, has now become some kind of obsession, luckily for me the good people of Nike have this great online tool where you can customize your own shoes and have them made just for you, a service that makes me scream with joy once again that I am living in the 21st Century. Needless to say, I could not resist creating some awesome old school Cortez sneakers with my personal Tag on the back, I hope you like them as much as I do! If you want to make your own version, or if you like the ones I've made very much, you can visit the Nike iD website where the creator thingie lives, it's fun :) 
Friday 01/06/2012
Thank God It's Friday! Slightly edited shots of the lovely Miss A in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. Thank God it's Friday! I'm not sure why I'm saying that, as I've been off from work all week long, and every day felt like a holy, blessed, wonderful Friday...and now that it's actually Friday, and I have only 2 vacation days left, I feel a bit down, because next Monday I have to go back to work, booo! I keep telling myself 'C'mon Dude, it's a job, there are lots of folks out there who'd kill for one!' but it's not working, I just don't want to do that job anymore, I'm done with it, it ate my soul and then some, so if you're interested in a secure position, let me know, we'll just shave your head and pretend you are me, hahaha :D 
Thank God it's Friday! 
Images 'borrowed' from http://whilewereyoung.com!
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