Nature portfolio

Project description:

Near my home in the North of the Netherlands there is a small recreational lake. In March many toads and frogs go to this lake to mate and take care of their offspring. The lake has a fairly light and sandy bottom. This makes it possible to take reasonably sharp photos of this process (with the help of a polarization filter). The toads and frogs are very dedicated. In human eyes it is a real orgy with many matings and also regularly a threesome. With this series I wanted to show the different aspects of that dedication. Incidentally, these animals are not doing so well, which is mainly a result of drought, loss of habitat and a decrease in the amount of food. In any case, it will not be due to the dedication of the toads and frogs. They do their utmost to take care of offspring. In short, a series with a wink.

Project description:

In this project, I aim to highlight the alarming effects of global warming through stunning aerial photographs of Icelandic glaciers and rivers. Each journey reveals firsthand the dramatic changes in this fragile ecosystem, deepening my appreciation for its beauty and vulnerability.

The images capture the stark contrast between majestic ice formations and the shifting landscape as glaciers melt and rivers redefine their courses. Each photograph serves as a visual testament to the urgent reality of climate change in Iceland. Once-imposing glaciers, symbols of timelessness, are now receding at an unprecedented rate, revealing the land beneath and altering the balance of this unique environment.
My hope is that these images not only showcase the incredible beauty of Iceland but also provoke reflection on the profound impact we have on our planet. As these iconic natural wonders face the threat of disappearing, it is crucial for us to recognize the responsibility we share in protecting our environment. We must take decisive action towards sustainable practices. Together, we can strive for a future where nature and humanity coexist harmoniously.

Project description:

Ever since I became interested in and committed to nature photography, I have been particularly fond of owls.

Thanks to dedicated conservation and reintroduction projects, little owls have reclaimed some areas in Germany. The loss of their habitats and breeding grounds had taken a heavy toll on their population. Their success story has captivated and fascinated me from the very beginning.

This small owl species can be found again in some areas of Germany, but their density varies greatly from region to region. In many areas they are completely absent. Amongst us, in areas where established breeding pairs use optimal habitats such as orchards, agricultural pastures, areas of dry grassland or similar, their numbers increase near human settlements. There they love the untidy areas where people store firewood, collect bulky rubbish, garden sheds with entrance holes and the like, so that they find plenty of hiding places.

I am always amazed at how little owls can live so close to us humans without being noticed by us. Joggers run right past them. The pile of firewood gets smaller and smaller and nobody notices that a little owl watches over the young on it every evening.

I have been fascinated by little owls since my first encounter and they never escape my notice when I spot them somewhere.

Over the past years observing and photographing them has become my passion. I have been photographing Little owls in several places. My pictures make the invisible visible: showing them in their surroundings and capturing their silhouette-like existence and inconspicuous presence during the day for all to see.

Project description:

Plants are remarkably diverse and form the foundation of most ecosystems, yet they are often overlooked in both conservation and photography. With an estimated 400,000 species, plants are at least five times more diverse than all vertebrates combined—yet vertebrates tend to dominate the spotlight. Meanwhile, when plants are depicted, they're typically portrayed as static elements in the landscape, or they are reduced to abstract forms in artistic imagery. Through this photo essay, I challenge viewers to see plants more actively—to recognize plants as protagonists in the natural world with rich ecologies and compelling natural histories of their own. To that end, I invite viewers to fall in love with my favorite plant: eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). Join me on a photographic journey through the life cycle and ecology of this remarkable species, presented in a chronological sequence.

Skunk cabbage plays a vital role in eastern North American wetlands. Emerging in late winter, it is among the first plants to bloom—often battling snow and ice to do so. Its exceptional cold tolerance is due to its remarkable ability to generate heat. In a process known as thermogenesis, plants may reach an impressive 20°C! This not only protects the plant’s tissues from frost damage, but, when combined with the plant’s namesake odor, it may also help attract pollinators seeking food or shelter. Skunk cabbage importantly sustains invertebrate life at a time when few other plants can. Additionally, it supports wetland ecosystem health by stabilizing saturated soils, improving water quality, and providing habitat for small animals. For instance, its contractile roots anchor the plant so firmly that mature individuals are nearly impossible to remove once established.

Skunk cabbage is a fairly common species, occurring throughout much of its widespread distribution. I took every photograph in this series at my local population—a small woodland pocket nestled within my suburban town, just minutes from home. I hope these images encourage others to explore and embrace their own local open spaces and to recognize that even seemingly ordinary species, especially plants, can have extraordinary ecological stories.

Project description:

En el invierno de 2021, en pleno confinamiento por la COVID, no podía salir de mi término municipal: un pequeño pueblo de la Llanada Alavesa llamado Agurain. Los bosques de la Sierra de Entzia se convirtieron entonces en mi vía de escape. Aquel invierno, y aquellos bosques, fueron mágicos. Poder disfrutar de su paz y de la sensación de bienestar que me ofrecían fue, sin duda, la mejor terapia.

Desde entonces, cada invierno regreso a Entzia en busca de esa misma calma, aprovechando cada temporal de nieve —cada vez más escasos, tristemente— para sumergirme en su atmósfera única. Lo que en Japón llaman Shinrin-Yoku, o baño de bosque.

Este proyecto fotográfico es el fruto de varios inviernos, comenzando por aquel de 2021. Cada imagen recoge no solo un momento en el tiempo, sino también un estado de ánimo. Si a través de estas fotografías consigo transmitir aunque sea una pequeña parte de esa serenidad y romper, siquiera un instante, el ritmo acelerado que nos envuelve, el objetivo estará cumplido.