Found image: Red bridge over the stream

When I bought my Agfa Clack some years ago, it came with its manual. Tucked inside was this slide. The film edge is marked RVP, which is code for Fujifilm Velvia, that super-saturated ISO 50 transparency film.

I doubt that my Clack’s original owner made this image with the Clack. This image has an odd 11×7 aspect ratio, where the Clack makes 9×6 images. Also, this image is sharp all the way out to the corners, and is well exposed. The Clack performs far better than a box camera with a meniscus lens ought to, but it doesn’t perform this well.

I scanned it to see how well my Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II scanner handles Velvia. The answer: really well. I did a couple quick tweaks in Photoshop to bring the scan’s colors and exposure into line with what I see on the slide itself, and I applied some sharpening.

I have no idea where this scene is. The house looks European to me, though. The van at bottom left looks like something built in the last 30 years or so. I can’t make out all the words on that van, but they look like they might be in German.

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Comments

20 responses to “Found image: Red bridge over the stream”

  1. brandib1977 Avatar

    The scene looks very European to me too. What a fun mystery!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Maybe some reader will recognize the place and tell us where it is!

      1. brandib1977 Avatar

        That would be amazing. You will have to let us know if that happens.

        1. Jim Grey Avatar

          It’s the Bourtange fortress in Groningen, the Netherlands. Google it.

          1. brandib1977 Avatar

            So it is! How did you solve the mystery?

        2. Jim Grey Avatar

          The very next commenter nailed it.

          1. brandib1977 Avatar

            Love it!

  2. DougD Avatar
    DougD

    I vote for Holland. Water, bridges, dykes. Of course half the country looks like this scene so it would be pretty hard to place.

    1. DougD Avatar
      DougD

      Actually Jim, it looks like the Bourtange fortress museum in Groningen in the Netherlands.

      Check it out.

      1. Jim Grey Avatar

        Holy cow, that’s absolutely what it is. You are amazing.

        1. DougD Avatar
          DougD

          I’m there for you buddy. Good luck out there today.

  3. Shirley B. Avatar
    Shirley B.

    That’s exactly what I was going to point out: It’s Bourtange.

    Being from The Netherlands, however, I have a different view than DougD: it’s very recognizable, because it is one of the few places that was built like this and still exists.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Outstanding! It’s confirmed then. I looked the place up on Google — it’s quite something!

    2. Jeroen Avatar
      Jeroen

      Well, yes and no: the fortifications, canals and most buildings were razed in the early 20th century and restored in the second half. Very interesting story though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bourtange

      1. Jim Grey Avatar

        Fascinating – thank you for the link!

  4. Shirley B. Avatar
    Shirley B.

    Yes, it is. I visited once, it was like going back in time. The cars of the inhabitants seemed totally out of place. Very much worth a visit.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I looked it up to see if I was close to it at all when I visited Germany many years ago. I spent a lot of time in Krefeld, which is near the border with the Netherlands, near Venlo. Not so much – about 2.5 hours north. But it would be something to visit if I ever go back.

      1. Shirley B. Avatar
        Shirley B.

        Sounds like a plan 👍🏼

  5. kennethwajda Avatar
    kennethwajda

    I’ve used Velvia a lot, that’s certainly Velvet Media!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Every single roll of the stuff I’ve shot is one someone gave me! My favorite slide film was the old E100G. But Velvia certainly has its charms.

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