Nikon D300, 270 mm, F/7.1, 1/250 s, iso 400, tripod.

Past one and a half month I have worked on  a beautiful international assigment. Unfortunately strictly confidential, but in Spring 2013 more news about this mission. Therefore only a image of last winter and I wish everyone  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Nikon D800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 s, iso 1600.

Autumn is over. Last Friday we experienced the first heavy snowfall in the Netherlands. Now winter has really begun. The snow transformed an otherwise less interesting landscape into a beautiful setting for these four fallow deer.

It is also over with the first edition of my National Geographic book ‘Handboek Natuurfotografie Nederland & België’. Within six months the book is sold out and of course I am very happy with this result, especially regarding the turbulent times for publishers of books and magazines. At this moment it’s unclear whether there is going to be a second edition. I have in my possession a very limited number of copies, which is designed for sale during my coming lectures.

Nikon D800, Nikon 200-400 mm op 260 mm, F/4.0, 1/200s, iso 1000, Gitzo GT4542LS, Jobu MKIII Gimbal head.

Every autumn I explore the forest around my hometown Nijmegen/the Netherlands to photograph mushrooms. It never bores my though I try to challenge myself to make images with a different aproach. Also in magazines the topic mushrooms is apparently still popular. Last month I’ve published again a few nice articles in various magazines about mushrooms.

After the first cold nights many species of mushrooms disappear and so I focused last week on red squirrels. Funny animals! But now I ask myself if I have not quit my mushroom addiction……….

Nikon d300, 70 mm, F/8.0, 1/125 s, 200 iso, hand.

This summer I visited for the second time the island Helgoland/Germany. For purchase of all alcoholic beverages and cigarettes Helgoland is quite popular because the stuff is tax-free. For me as a non-smoker and drinker not interesting. But I’m not complaining because also for observing and photographing seabirds this is the place to be. Don’t forget the nearby insel Düne where you can spot and photograph the easy approachable seals (harbour and gray). The most photographed bird of Helgoland is by fare the Gannet, but also other species are wiling subjects. Take by example these Oystercatchers that I photographed on Düne while they where foraging on the beach. I specially like the patterns in the sand. More results from this trip coming up this week on my facebook.

Nikon D300, 67 mm, F/9.0, 1/100s, iso 400, +1.67 EV

Unfortunately the last period was very busy with photography and traveling so I failed to keep up my blog. I will try, at this point, to improve my live. For the fifth year in a row I have won a prize in the international nature photography contest Asferico in Italy. With a photo of a group of house sparrows in the snow, I received a highly commended award in the birds category. More stunning winners on this site: www.asferico.com

I recently visited for the 2nd time one of the Canary islands: La Palma. What a beautiful island with amazing landscapes. Next week I shall place some results of this trip on my facebook.