#172 Somewhere In The Woods

Just a stream, a lot of green and one of those places I could have stayed for hours.

Just a stream, a lot of green and one of those places I could have stayed for hours.

I’m starting to think bad weather makes some of the best photographs. Stadspark was soaked that morning. Water everywhere, mist hanging between the trees and reflections in places where there normally aren’t any. I’ve walked through this park countless times, but for a few minutes it felt like somewhere completely different. That’s one of the things I love about going…

This was probably my favorite beach in Corsica. It was remote enough that it never felt crowded, the sunsets were ridiculous, and it also happened to be a great nudist beach. I stayed there for three days — one night sleeping directly on the beach and two nights in the car park. And when I say it was empty, I…

The Kinda Days I Want To Remember… Boys messing around at a playground in Sittard while I had my camera with me. Nothing extraordinary to anyone else, I guess. But to me? Priceless. These are the moments I’ll remember forever.

On one of my morning escapes I stopped by Zuyderland. The light was getting interesting, so I switched to a wide-angle lens and took a few shots.

We Stayed Until The Light Was Gone The waves were getting darker, the sky was burning orange and neither of us was in any hurry to leave. We kept walking until there wasn’t much light left. Then we pitched our tents in the dunes and slept there. I still remember the stars that night. I remember telling my mate how…

Me and a mate were driving along the west coast of New Zealand, jumping from one beach to another — Karekare, Piha and whatever else we could find along the way. Karekare was different. The sheer size of the beach, the remoteness, and the fact that as far as we could see there was nobody else around. Just the two…

The whole place was completely calm. Meanwhile, the sky looked like it was putting on a show just for itself. Glad I was there for it.

I remember standing there watching people look at photographs I had taken around Sittard. It probably wasn’t a big deal to anyone else. To me, it was huge.

…and I’m starting to understand why I keep getting up so early. There’s something about the morning light, the freshness of the air, and the empty streets. Love it.

From down there, it’s a maze of narrow streets. From up here, somehow it all makes sense.

This was taken during a trip to Zeeland a while back. The sun was dropping toward the horizon, turning everything orange, when this ship slowly moved into the frame. I remember watching it and thinking… yeah, this is the shot. Felt like I was in the right place, at the right time, with a camera in my hand.

A few weeks ago I bought a new bike. The Fiido Titan Adventure Bike. And I had no idea how much it would change my mornings. Over the last three weeks I’ve found myself waking up before five, excited like a little kid… packing my coffee gear, camera and heading out exploring. Those early rides have become something I absolutelly…

This morning started with no destination. Just a full battery on the bike. A camera clicked onto my camera bag… And enough coffee to convince myself I knew where I was going. I didn’t. About an hour later I found myself standing on a tiny road I’ve probably cycled past twenty times before. Except today the light was different. Soft.…

One of my first photos after getting an apartment in Sittard. This used to be my view from the window, and to this day I think it was one of the best views of St. Peter’s Church and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart I could have wished for. I photographed it at every time of day.…

While driving over one of the mountain passes in the French Alps, we got caught in an incredible storm. Luckily, it only lasted a few minutes. It was one of those intense mountain downpours that make you wonder if it’ll ever stop. A few minutes later it was over. The clouds opened up, the peaks came back into view, and…

You get almost forced into photography when you’re in Český Krumlov.Seriously. You walk around one corner… there’s another photo. Cross the bridge… another shot. Look up… another one. It feels like the whole town was designed by a photographer. I remember walking around with my camera thinking, “This place is incredible.” Twenty minutes later I was still saying the same…

Shot from Cesky Krumlov. After visiting the old town for a big chunk of the day I ended up by the Vltava river… Some incredible scenery down there.

While riding from Kollenberg to Parkbos Millen and on toward Germany, the sun came up in full glory. A beautiful sunrise. I stopped, took a moment, and grabbed a few photos. Here’s one of them.

I tried a vertical panorama this time. Stacked 6 images vertically, and this is what came out of it. You won’t see all the details here because I had to resize the image, but on a big screen it really shines. Anyway… Enjoy Friday

Shot from the woods in Zavada, the Czech Republic A few days ago I got my hands on some new black & white Lightroom presets, and I’ve been testing them ever since. It’s interesting how a single click can turn a dull, uninspiring shot into something that actually works. I really like the look and feel of these presets. They’ve…

Sunrise on the Kollenberg.

I don’t really remember where I took this photo. All I remember is the silhouette… and that soft, orange morning glow. Sometimes that’s all that sticks. Not the place. Not the details. Just the feeling.

Great morning mountain bike ride around the Maas river. And perfect Sunday morning. Paradise for taking photos… the fog difused the light perfectly. Everything looked like I was in a movie.

Early morning just outside of Limbricht. I took this photo to remember how good the morning felt. One of those you know you’ll want to come back to later. I rode my mountain bike into the nearby woods, set up a small camp, made a cup of fresh coffee, and just sat there for a bit. Quiet. Cold air. Nothing…

Frozen, fresh, beautiful and peaceful is exactly what I need right now. Shot from Kollenberg, Sittard

Putstraat in Sittard getting ready for carnaval.

As a kid, January was my favourite month of the year because of the snow we used to get in Karviná — deep, heavy powder that made every day feel like pure fun. Build bunkers. Build snowmen. Build slides and igloos. Endless play until it got dark. Golden days. Simple joy. These days? Here? Hmm. You might’ve heard about Russia’s…

Morning shot from Sanderbout, Sittard A bridge crossing over the railway tracks.

The sky is on fire, but everything else is still. Empty paths. Light reflecting off the windows. People already at work. Already deep into their 9–5s. And I’m here… Grateful for this moment. Grateful that I’m able to stand here, walk these empty paths, and take it all in — knowing that some people can’t. Some people wish they could,…