Some scenes only reveal their magic when you strip them down to the essentials. I rarely choose black and white — often it feels like an escape hatch when colour fails. But on my latest Arnhem adventure, standing on a hill overlooking a quiet valley west of Park Sonsbeek, colour wasn’t the problem… it was the distraction.
Among the dark reds and browns of late autumn, one bright yellow tree stood defiantly luminous. In colour, it looked beautiful. But in black and white, it transformed completely: its yellow leaves turning almost white, while the surrounding forest dropped into deep shadow. The effect resembled infrared photography — a glowing silhouette breaking through a monochrome world.
Nature doesn’t present these contrasts often, at least not with this kind of precision. It reminded me of the way light interacts with pigments: yellow leaves reflect more of the spectrum, so once converted to monochrome, they soar toward the highlights while other wavelengths sink away. A tiny lesson in physics, hidden inside a valley.
I shot it handheld with my Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70 Art at f/2.8, 1/500 sec, ISO 125. The late-afternoon sky was blue with a soft feather-cloud drifting across it — the last warmth of a day that felt oddly mild for the season (yay climate change… said with all the sarcasm required).
Sometimes, simplicity reveals the loudest truth.
#wonderinglens #ByMaikeldeBakker #BlackAndWhitePhotography #InfraredLook #Arnhem #Sonsbeek #NaturePhotography #TreeScenery #MonochromeMagic #FineArtNature #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #HandheldPhotography #ObservationalPhotography #ForestValley #DutchNature #LandscapeFrame #NaturalContrast #AutumnLeaves #LightAndShadow #MoodyLandscape #PhysicsOfLight #InfraredEffect #CreativeMonochrome #PhotoStorytelling #NatureDetails #DutchLandscape #MinimalistNature #PhotographyIsScience #ArtOfObservation #OutdoorAdventures #ForestPhotography #TreePortrait #QuietNature #ValleyView #FramedByNature #WonderingLensPhotography
#canon5dsr
Tiny Lanterns on a Mossy Wall
It seems the forest wasn’t finished surprising me that day. After finding the tiny Mycena adscendens carrying that oversized droplet, we stumbled across another colony — same species, same walk, different tree. Only this time they were a little larger (a whole 2–3 mm!) and lined up in a perfect vertical row along a mossy trunk, like miniature lamps climbing their way toward daylight.
The challenge? Light. Or rather the lack of it. The forest was still wrapped in that wet, grey, sleepy atmosphere. Since my MP-E 65mm was already pushed to its limits earlier, I switched things up and used the Sigma 24–70mm Art on the Canon 5DsR. Shooting at f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 3200, I had to rely on every bit of available light — and a steady hand — to keep those microscopic caps sharp while letting the background melt into soft mossy texture.
What I love about mushrooms like Mycena adscendens is how easily they’re overlooked. People step over them every day without ever noticing the tiny worlds unfolding at their feet. But get close enough — really close — and you discover small universes: droplets clinging like glass ornaments, translucent stems glowing against dark bark.
Same forest, same species, same walk… and yet a completely different story.
That’s the magic of photography: the world doesn’t repeat itself unless you ask it kindly.
#MycenaAdscendens #PorcelainBonnet #Micromushrooms #ForestMicrocosmos #FungiFriday #TinyWorlds #MacroPhotography #CloseUpNature #Mycophilia #MushroomMagic #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #LowLightPhotography #HandheldMacro #DarkForestMood #MossAndFungi #DutchNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #ScientificCuriosity #FieldNotes #NatureDetails #SmallWonders #NaturalTextures #ForestWalks #FungiOfTheDay #MacroLife #MacroVision #NaturePhotography #PhotographyStorytelling #DepthOfField #BokehLove #ISO3200 #F28 #Shutter400 #ForestCreatures #NatureIsArt #ObservationIsKey #MindfulPhotography #ByMaikeldeBakker
It seems the forest wasn’t finished surprising me that day. After finding the tiny Mycena adscendens carrying that oversized droplet, we stumbled across another colony — same species, same walk, different tree. Only this time they were a little larger (a whole 2–3 mm!) and lined up in a perfect vertical row along a mossy trunk, like miniature lamps climbing their way toward daylight.
The challenge? Light. Or rather the lack of it. The forest was still wrapped in that wet, grey, sleepy atmosphere. Since my MP-E 65mm was already pushed to its limits earlier, I switched things up and used the Sigma 24–70mm Art on the Canon 5DsR. Shooting at f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 3200, I had to rely on every bit of available light — and a steady hand — to keep those microscopic caps sharp while letting the background melt into soft mossy texture.
What I love about mushrooms like Mycena adscendens is how easily they’re overlooked. People step over them every day without ever noticing the tiny worlds unfolding at their feet. But get close enough — really close — and you discover small universes: droplets clinging like glass ornaments, translucent stems glowing against dark bark.
Same forest, same species, same walk… and yet a completely different story.
That’s the magic of photography: the world doesn’t repeat itself unless you ask it kindly.
#MycenaAdscendens #PorcelainBonnet #Micromushrooms #ForestMicrocosmos #FungiFriday #TinyWorlds #MacroPhotography #CloseUpNature #Mycophilia #MushroomMagic #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #LowLightPhotography #HandheldMacro #DarkForestMood #MossAndFungi #DutchNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #ScientificCuriosity #FieldNotes #NatureDetails #SmallWonders #NaturalTextures #ForestWalks #FungiOfTheDay #MacroLife #MacroVision #NaturePhotography #PhotographyStorytelling #DepthOfField #BokehLove #ISO3200 #F28 #Shutter400 #ForestCreatures #NatureIsArt #ObservationIsKey #MindfulPhotography #ByMaikeldeBakker
A 1mm mushroom carrying an almost-as-big droplet
Sometimes nature hides its most extraordinary scenes in places most people never look. While walking through the Kampina near Oisterwijk with my wife Christel and my sister-in-law Hanneke — a birthday walk and lunch gift from last October — I noticed something no taller than a grain of rice. There, growing out of the lush green moss on a tree trunk, stood a tiny Mycena adscendens. Barely 1 mm tall, delicate as a whisper… and balancing a raindrop almost as large as its cap.
Photographing something that small is always a technical puzzle. Tripods were impossible on the tree bark, the light was miserable — wet, grey, and sleepy — and the mushroom itself looked like shiny plastic thanks to the moisture. So I relied on my Canon 5DsR paired with the MP-E 65mm, shooting handheld with a flashlight as an improvised lightsource.
1/250s, ISO 3200, and the fixed aperture of the MP-E — a setup that pushes both the photographer and the camera to their limits. At this magnification even your own heartbeat becomes camera shake.
But somehow, everything aligned. The droplet clung to the cap with perfect surface tension, turning the whole scene into a tiny physics lesson: cohesion, adhesion, and gravity negotiating their delicate balance on a 1 mm stage.
Moments like this remind me why I love macro photography — you don’t just take a picture; you discover a world that was already there, quietly waiting.
#MacroPhotography #MicroNature #TinyMushrooms #MycenaAdscendens #FungiFriday #FungusAmongUs #NatureCloseUp #ExtremeMacro #MacroWorld #MacroMagic #Canon5DsR #CanonMacro #MPE65mm #HandheldMacro #NatureIsArt #ForestFinds #DutchNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #MossAndMushrooms #RaindropArt #WaterDroplet #SurfaceTension #MicroWildlife #NatureWalks #PhotographyJourney #StoryBehindTheShot #NaturalWonder #TinyLifeBigWorld #ForestMagic #NatureLovers #ScienceInNature #PhotographersOfPixelfed #MacroCommunity #HiddenWorlds #ByMaikeldeBakker
Sometimes nature hides its most extraordinary scenes in places most people never look. While walking through the Kampina near Oisterwijk with my wife Christel and my sister-in-law Hanneke — a birthday walk and lunch gift from last October — I noticed something no taller than a grain of rice. There, growing out of the lush green moss on a tree trunk, stood a tiny Mycena adscendens. Barely 1 mm tall, delicate as a whisper… and balancing a raindrop almost as large as its cap.
Photographing something that small is always a technical puzzle. Tripods were impossible on the tree bark, the light was miserable — wet, grey, and sleepy — and the mushroom itself looked like shiny plastic thanks to the moisture. So I relied on my Canon 5DsR paired with the MP-E 65mm, shooting handheld with a flashlight as an improvised lightsource.
1/250s, ISO 3200, and the fixed aperture of the MP-E — a setup that pushes both the photographer and the camera to their limits. At this magnification even your own heartbeat becomes camera shake.
But somehow, everything aligned. The droplet clung to the cap with perfect surface tension, turning the whole scene into a tiny physics lesson: cohesion, adhesion, and gravity negotiating their delicate balance on a 1 mm stage.
Moments like this remind me why I love macro photography — you don’t just take a picture; you discover a world that was already there, quietly waiting.
#MacroPhotography #MicroNature #TinyMushrooms #MycenaAdscendens #FungiFriday #FungusAmongUs #NatureCloseUp #ExtremeMacro #MacroWorld #MacroMagic #Canon5DsR #CanonMacro #MPE65mm #HandheldMacro #NatureIsArt #ForestFinds #DutchNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #MossAndMushrooms #RaindropArt #WaterDroplet #SurfaceTension #MicroWildlife #NatureWalks #PhotographyJourney #StoryBehindTheShot #NaturalWonder #TinyLifeBigWorld #ForestMagic #NatureLovers #ScienceInNature #PhotographersOfPixelfed #MacroCommunity #HiddenWorlds #ByMaikeldeBakker
Circles of Light and Stone
Some buildings stop being places of worship and become places of wonder. The Eusebius Church in Arnhem — now the Stichting Eusebius Arnhem, a museum celebrating the city’s history — is one of them.
When I stepped inside, the calm air carried a sense of timeless geometry. My eyes were immediately drawn upward to the large golden light rings suspended from the high arched ceiling. Perfectly stacked, they seemed to hover between heaven and history — a bridge between sacred architecture and modern design.
I stood directly beneath them, camera in hand — the Canon 5DsR paired with the Sigma 24–70mm Art — and aligned the frame so that every circle, every rib of the arch, fell into balance. Light as a subject. Symmetry as a teacher.
Photography, after all, is a study of how light defines form — and sometimes, in places like this, both feel eternal.
#ArchitecturePhotography #EusebiusArnhem #StichtingEusebius #Arnhem #ArchitecturalSymmetry #ChurchInterior #PhotographyOfLight #DutchArchitecture #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #LightAndShadow #GoldenLight #GeometricComposition #SymmetryInDesign #PerspectiveStudy #ArchitecturalDetails #ModernLighting #HistoricArchitecture #VisualBalance #LightPatterns #SacredGeometry #UrbanExploration #ArchitecturalInspiration #DesignAndLight #ObservationalPhotography #NetherlandsPhotography #ArchedCeiling #ArtInArchitecture #VisualObservation #ComposedByLight #PhotoStudy #PhotographyLovers #ArchitectureAndArt #StoryInLight #ArchitecturalPhotography #LightAndForm #CreativeComposition #CulturalHeritage #DocumentaryPhotography #PhotographyAsStudy #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography
Some buildings stop being places of worship and become places of wonder. The Eusebius Church in Arnhem — now the Stichting Eusebius Arnhem, a museum celebrating the city’s history — is one of them.
When I stepped inside, the calm air carried a sense of timeless geometry. My eyes were immediately drawn upward to the large golden light rings suspended from the high arched ceiling. Perfectly stacked, they seemed to hover between heaven and history — a bridge between sacred architecture and modern design.
I stood directly beneath them, camera in hand — the Canon 5DsR paired with the Sigma 24–70mm Art — and aligned the frame so that every circle, every rib of the arch, fell into balance. Light as a subject. Symmetry as a teacher.
Photography, after all, is a study of how light defines form — and sometimes, in places like this, both feel eternal.
#ArchitecturePhotography #EusebiusArnhem #StichtingEusebius #Arnhem #ArchitecturalSymmetry #ChurchInterior #PhotographyOfLight #DutchArchitecture #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #LightAndShadow #GoldenLight #GeometricComposition #SymmetryInDesign #PerspectiveStudy #ArchitecturalDetails #ModernLighting #HistoricArchitecture #VisualBalance #LightPatterns #SacredGeometry #UrbanExploration #ArchitecturalInspiration #DesignAndLight #ObservationalPhotography #NetherlandsPhotography #ArchedCeiling #ArtInArchitecture #VisualObservation #ComposedByLight #PhotoStudy #PhotographyLovers #ArchitectureAndArt #StoryInLight #ArchitecturalPhotography #LightAndForm #CreativeComposition #CulturalHeritage #DocumentaryPhotography #PhotographyAsStudy #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography
Arnhem Outside the Station
Stepping out of Arnhem Central Station onto the upper level, I was met by a tall office building — its structure bending softly like a wave, mirroring the organic lines of the station itself. Sea-green contours wrapped around dark blue windows, forming a calm visual rhythm that instantly drew me in.
I captured this scene with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70mm Art, using a polarizing filter — a tool often misunderstood, but scientifically fascinating. Light travels as waves vibrating in all directions, but when it reflects off non-metallic surfaces like glass or water, those waves align into a single plane. A polarizing filter selectively blocks that oriented light, reducing glare, increasing contrast, and deepening color saturation. In this case, it turned an ordinary glass facade into a layered play of tone and texture.
Some photographers avoid polarization for fear of “over-saturation,” but for me, it’s about control — sculpting light rather than altering reality. This image is straight from the camera, no edits needed. Just light, reflection, and the quiet geometry of modern architecture.
#ArnhemCentraal #ArnhemArchitecture #ModernArchitecture #UrbanDesign #ArchitecturalWave #PolarizingFilter #LightPhysics #OpticsInPhotography #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #ArchitecturalDetails #UrbanObservation #ArchitecturalContrast #BuildingDesign #ArchitecturalComposition #DutchArchitecture #ArchitecturalGeometry #GlassAndSteel #ArchitecturalTexture #ReflectionPhotography #ArchitecturalStudy #LightAndShadow #ArchitecturalPhotographyLovers #UrbanGeometry #ArchitecturalPatterns #ArchitecturalScience #ArchitecturalBalance #ArchitecturalPerspective #ArchitecturalExploration #DesignAndStructure #ArchitecturalSymphony #CityArchitecture #ArchitecturalBeauty #ArchitecturalLines #ArchitecturalArt #ArchitecturalInspiration #UrbanSpaces #OpticalScience #ScientificPhotography #ByMaikeldeBakker
Stepping out of Arnhem Central Station onto the upper level, I was met by a tall office building — its structure bending softly like a wave, mirroring the organic lines of the station itself. Sea-green contours wrapped around dark blue windows, forming a calm visual rhythm that instantly drew me in.
I captured this scene with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70mm Art, using a polarizing filter — a tool often misunderstood, but scientifically fascinating. Light travels as waves vibrating in all directions, but when it reflects off non-metallic surfaces like glass or water, those waves align into a single plane. A polarizing filter selectively blocks that oriented light, reducing glare, increasing contrast, and deepening color saturation. In this case, it turned an ordinary glass facade into a layered play of tone and texture.
Some photographers avoid polarization for fear of “over-saturation,” but for me, it’s about control — sculpting light rather than altering reality. This image is straight from the camera, no edits needed. Just light, reflection, and the quiet geometry of modern architecture.
#ArnhemCentraal #ArnhemArchitecture #ModernArchitecture #UrbanDesign #ArchitecturalWave #PolarizingFilter #LightPhysics #OpticsInPhotography #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #ArchitecturalDetails #UrbanObservation #ArchitecturalContrast #BuildingDesign #ArchitecturalComposition #DutchArchitecture #ArchitecturalGeometry #GlassAndSteel #ArchitecturalTexture #ReflectionPhotography #ArchitecturalStudy #LightAndShadow #ArchitecturalPhotographyLovers #UrbanGeometry #ArchitecturalPatterns #ArchitecturalScience #ArchitecturalBalance #ArchitecturalPerspective #ArchitecturalExploration #DesignAndStructure #ArchitecturalSymphony #CityArchitecture #ArchitecturalBeauty #ArchitecturalLines #ArchitecturalArt #ArchitecturalInspiration #UrbanSpaces #OpticalScience #ScientificPhotography #ByMaikeldeBakker
Arnhem Central Station — Time bends the building inside
Inside Arnhem Central Station, space itself seems to fold and breathe. The same great window from the outside now reveals its inner rhythm — twisting, curving, as if the entire structure has been gently bent by time. Standing at the base of the staircase, you feel like you’ve stepped inside a living shell, a snail house of steel and glass.
The staircase begins in the lower left and ascends gracefully to the upper right, tracing the shape of the curved window. Above, the roof dips and sways like a wave caught mid-motion. The central column — smooth, rounded, and branching — rises like a fossilized tree, supporting the weight of the flowing roof. Around it all, people move, signs blink, trains come and go. Life rushes by, but the building stands still, frozen in its own temporal rhythm.
Photographed with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70mm Art, this image required some dodging and burning to balance the strong contrast — the bright daylight outside versus the darker interior tones. A study in form, flow, and perception, where architecture seems to capture the motion of time itself.
#ArnhemCentraal #ArchitecturePhotography #ModernArchitecture #ArchitecturalCurves #UrbanDesign #ArchitecturalArt #ArchitecturalFlow #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #ArchitecturalStructure #ArchitecturalInspiration #ArchitecturalObservation #UrbanGeometry #ArchitecturalForm #LightAndShadow #ArchitecturalDetails #BuildingDesign #PublicArchitecture #ArchitecturalPerspective #ArchitecturalBeauty #ArchitecturalPhotographyLovers #DutchArchitecture #EngineeringArt #ArchitecturalComposition #ArchitecturalLines #DesignAndStructure #UrbanSpaces #ContemporaryArchitecture #ArchitecturalStudy #ConcreteAndGlass #ArchitecturalRhythm #CityArchitecture #ArchitectureIsArt #LightStudy #ArchitecturalMovement #ArchitectureAndTime #StructureAndForm #ArchitecturalBalance #UrbanArtistry #ByMaikeldeBakker
Inside Arnhem Central Station, space itself seems to fold and breathe. The same great window from the outside now reveals its inner rhythm — twisting, curving, as if the entire structure has been gently bent by time. Standing at the base of the staircase, you feel like you’ve stepped inside a living shell, a snail house of steel and glass.
The staircase begins in the lower left and ascends gracefully to the upper right, tracing the shape of the curved window. Above, the roof dips and sways like a wave caught mid-motion. The central column — smooth, rounded, and branching — rises like a fossilized tree, supporting the weight of the flowing roof. Around it all, people move, signs blink, trains come and go. Life rushes by, but the building stands still, frozen in its own temporal rhythm.
Photographed with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70mm Art, this image required some dodging and burning to balance the strong contrast — the bright daylight outside versus the darker interior tones. A study in form, flow, and perception, where architecture seems to capture the motion of time itself.
#ArnhemCentraal #ArchitecturePhotography #ModernArchitecture #ArchitecturalCurves #UrbanDesign #ArchitecturalArt #ArchitecturalFlow #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #ArchitecturalStructure #ArchitecturalInspiration #ArchitecturalObservation #UrbanGeometry #ArchitecturalForm #LightAndShadow #ArchitecturalDetails #BuildingDesign #PublicArchitecture #ArchitecturalPerspective #ArchitecturalBeauty #ArchitecturalPhotographyLovers #DutchArchitecture #EngineeringArt #ArchitecturalComposition #ArchitecturalLines #DesignAndStructure #UrbanSpaces #ContemporaryArchitecture #ArchitecturalStudy #ConcreteAndGlass #ArchitecturalRhythm #CityArchitecture #ArchitectureIsArt #LightStudy #ArchitecturalMovement #ArchitectureAndTime #StructureAndForm #ArchitecturalBalance #UrbanArtistry #ByMaikeldeBakker
Arnhem Central Station – A staircase curves around the window
Standing outside Arnhem Central Station, you immediately sense that the architecture is more than functional — it’s sculptural. The air was hazy that morning, a soft grayish-blue sky that blurred the edges of things, making the contrasts stronger.
My eyes were drawn to the slow, sweeping curve of the staircase as it wrapped clockwise around the large glass window — a window that itself seems to flow like water into the structure. Fifty shades of gray intertwined: steel, concrete, shadow, and reflection. The soft light turned everything into gradients — from the darkest corners beneath the stairs to the pale glint along the roofline.
It’s a moment where design and nature meet — the man-made mimicking organic motion. The roof seems to drip toward the earth, its forms bending gracefully, not rigidly. The color splash of the blue window completes the scene, the human touch in a landscape of engineered elegance.
No need for editing — the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70mm Art caught it just as it was. Light, curve, and composition — all in perfect balance.
#ArchitecturePhotography #ArnhemCentraal #Arnhem #ModernArchitecture #ArchitecturalLines #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #ArchitecturalDesign #LightAndForm #UrbanLandscape #ArchitecturalObservation #ArchitecturalCurves #StreetGeometry #DocumentaryPhotography #ArchitecturalStudy #UrbanTextures #ModernDesign #EngineeringArt #ArchitecturalPerspective #CityDetails #LightAndShadow #ArchitecturalBeauty #ConcreteAndGlass #PhotographyOfDesign #UrbanExploration #ArchitecturalComposition #PublicSpaces #DutchArchitecture #ArchitecturalPhotographyLovers #MinimalArchitecture #ArchitecturalPatterns #VisualBalance #GeometryInArchitecture #ArchitecturalStructure #LightStudy #ArchitectureIsArt #CityArchitecture #UrbanArtistry #DesignAndLight #ByMaikeldeBakker
Standing outside Arnhem Central Station, you immediately sense that the architecture is more than functional — it’s sculptural. The air was hazy that morning, a soft grayish-blue sky that blurred the edges of things, making the contrasts stronger.
My eyes were drawn to the slow, sweeping curve of the staircase as it wrapped clockwise around the large glass window — a window that itself seems to flow like water into the structure. Fifty shades of gray intertwined: steel, concrete, shadow, and reflection. The soft light turned everything into gradients — from the darkest corners beneath the stairs to the pale glint along the roofline.
It’s a moment where design and nature meet — the man-made mimicking organic motion. The roof seems to drip toward the earth, its forms bending gracefully, not rigidly. The color splash of the blue window completes the scene, the human touch in a landscape of engineered elegance.
No need for editing — the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70mm Art caught it just as it was. Light, curve, and composition — all in perfect balance.
#ArchitecturePhotography #ArnhemCentraal #Arnhem #ModernArchitecture #ArchitecturalLines #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #ArchitecturalDesign #LightAndForm #UrbanLandscape #ArchitecturalObservation #ArchitecturalCurves #StreetGeometry #DocumentaryPhotography #ArchitecturalStudy #UrbanTextures #ModernDesign #EngineeringArt #ArchitecturalPerspective #CityDetails #LightAndShadow #ArchitecturalBeauty #ConcreteAndGlass #PhotographyOfDesign #UrbanExploration #ArchitecturalComposition #PublicSpaces #DutchArchitecture #ArchitecturalPhotographyLovers #MinimalArchitecture #ArchitecturalPatterns #VisualBalance #GeometryInArchitecture #ArchitecturalStructure #LightStudy #ArchitectureIsArt #CityArchitecture #UrbanArtistry #DesignAndLight #ByMaikeldeBakker
Arnhem Central Station makes people look small
During my visit to Arnhem — home turf of my photo buddy Kevin — I decided to give street photography another go. Kevin makes it look so easy. With his tiny Fuji mirrorless and a 24mm lens, he just hip-shoots away and somehow always nails it.
Me? Not so much. My Canon 5DsR with the Sigma 24–70 Art isn’t exactly what you’d call “discreet.” Every click sounds like a miniature thunderclap echoing through the station. So instead of blending in, I hide in corners, under staircases, or anywhere people don’t look.
That’s where I found this shot — standing beneath the staircase, drawn first by the sweeping architectural lines. Then came the couple, walking right into the frame. Kevin called it “fishing” — waiting patiently for the scene to complete itself. It’s new to me, but I have to admit… it works.
Sometimes photography isn’t about chasing the shot. It’s about waiting for life to wander into it.
#StreetPhotography #Arnhem #ArnhemCentraal #ArchitecturePhotography #UrbanExploration #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #DutchArchitecture #BlackAndWhitePhotography #ModernDesign #PhotoStory #DocumentaryPhotography #WaitingForTheMoment #CandidPhotography #StreetShot #PhotographersLife #UrbanGeometry #LinesAndLight #HumanScale #PerspectivePlay #StoryInALens #EverydayLife #VisualNarrative #TravelThroughLenses #LifeInFrames #CaptureTheMoment #CreativeAngles #BehindTheLens #CanonPhotography #CityLife #DutchDesign #CompositionMatters #LightAndShadow #PhotoFishing #StreetLens #ThroughMyEyes #VisualPoetry #DocumentingReality #PhotographyJourney #ByMaikeldeBakker
During my visit to Arnhem — home turf of my photo buddy Kevin — I decided to give street photography another go. Kevin makes it look so easy. With his tiny Fuji mirrorless and a 24mm lens, he just hip-shoots away and somehow always nails it.
Me? Not so much. My Canon 5DsR with the Sigma 24–70 Art isn’t exactly what you’d call “discreet.” Every click sounds like a miniature thunderclap echoing through the station. So instead of blending in, I hide in corners, under staircases, or anywhere people don’t look.
That’s where I found this shot — standing beneath the staircase, drawn first by the sweeping architectural lines. Then came the couple, walking right into the frame. Kevin called it “fishing” — waiting patiently for the scene to complete itself. It’s new to me, but I have to admit… it works.
Sometimes photography isn’t about chasing the shot. It’s about waiting for life to wander into it.
#StreetPhotography #Arnhem #ArnhemCentraal #ArchitecturePhotography #UrbanExploration #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #DutchArchitecture #BlackAndWhitePhotography #ModernDesign #PhotoStory #DocumentaryPhotography #WaitingForTheMoment #CandidPhotography #StreetShot #PhotographersLife #UrbanGeometry #LinesAndLight #HumanScale #PerspectivePlay #StoryInALens #EverydayLife #VisualNarrative #TravelThroughLenses #LifeInFrames #CaptureTheMoment #CreativeAngles #BehindTheLens #CanonPhotography #CityLife #DutchDesign #CompositionMatters #LightAndShadow #PhotoFishing #StreetLens #ThroughMyEyes #VisualPoetry #DocumentingReality #PhotographyJourney #ByMaikeldeBakker
Birds of the Spoorpark
The Spoorpark in Tilburg isn’t exactly a nature refuge — it’s more of a social hub where the city’s “fearless of humans” kind of birds thrive. Yet even here, life unfolds with quiet grace. The mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) glide through the shallow water, joined by a white domestic duck — perhaps a feral hybrid, its yellow beak gleaming in the sun. A solitary common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) patrols the edges, always alert, always alone.
Around 11:00, with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70mm Art, I crouched to eye level to meet them on their own terms. That low perspective transforms everything — reflections sharpen, depth of field softens, and suddenly you’re no longer a spectator but a participant in their small, vibrant world.
Every feather, ripple, and movement becomes a study in adaptation — a living reminder that even in the heart of the city, evolution doesn’t rest.
Photography, after all, is just another way of studying light and life.
#BirdsOfTheSpoorpark #UrbanWildlife #AnasPlatyrhynchos #GallinulaChloropus #DomesticDuck #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #NatureObservation #ScientificPhotography #WildlifePhotography #UrbanEcology #Tilburg #Spoorpark #CityNature #Birdwatching #Ornithology #NatureStudy #LightAndLife #MacroPerspective #DocumentaryPhotography #FieldObservation #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #LowAnglePhotography #NatureLovers #ScientificCuriosity #ArtOfObservation #NaturalBehavior #UrbanBiodiversity #CanonPhotography #SigmaArtLens #StoryOfNature #WildlifeInTheCity #DutchPhotography #EcologicalPerspective #EverydayWildlife #MindfulObservation #NatureThroughTheLens #ScientificArt #FeathersAndLight
The Spoorpark in Tilburg isn’t exactly a nature refuge — it’s more of a social hub where the city’s “fearless of humans” kind of birds thrive. Yet even here, life unfolds with quiet grace. The mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) glide through the shallow water, joined by a white domestic duck — perhaps a feral hybrid, its yellow beak gleaming in the sun. A solitary common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) patrols the edges, always alert, always alone.
Around 11:00, with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24–70mm Art, I crouched to eye level to meet them on their own terms. That low perspective transforms everything — reflections sharpen, depth of field softens, and suddenly you’re no longer a spectator but a participant in their small, vibrant world.
Every feather, ripple, and movement becomes a study in adaptation — a living reminder that even in the heart of the city, evolution doesn’t rest.
Photography, after all, is just another way of studying light and life.
#BirdsOfTheSpoorpark #UrbanWildlife #AnasPlatyrhynchos #GallinulaChloropus #DomesticDuck #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #NatureObservation #ScientificPhotography #WildlifePhotography #UrbanEcology #Tilburg #Spoorpark #CityNature #Birdwatching #Ornithology #NatureStudy #LightAndLife #MacroPerspective #DocumentaryPhotography #FieldObservation #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #LowAnglePhotography #NatureLovers #ScientificCuriosity #ArtOfObservation #NaturalBehavior #UrbanBiodiversity #CanonPhotography #SigmaArtLens #StoryOfNature #WildlifeInTheCity #DutchPhotography #EcologicalPerspective #EverydayWildlife #MindfulObservation #NatureThroughTheLens #ScientificArt #FeathersAndLight
A Spiraling Staircase to the Sky
Looking up from the base of the tower, I couldn’t resist capturing this perfect counter-clockwise spiral (clockwise from this perspective)— a design that would’ve made Leonardo of Pisa, better known as Fibonacci, smile. Geometry and nature often speak the same language, and this staircase seemed to echo that universal rhythm.
Taken with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24-70 Art, the composition builds on simplicity: steel beams spiraling upward, holding wooden steps that catch the morning light. The hazy autumn sky added that subtle blue-green tint — a result of sunlight scattering through fine moisture and dust particles.
Sometimes, the most fascinating patterns aren’t found in forests or fields, but in the engineered forms we create. Photography, after all, is just another way of studying light and life.
#ArchitecturePhotography #Fibonacci #GoldenRatio #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt #Tilburg #Spoorpark #GeometricPatterns #ArchitecturalDetails #LightAndForm #PerspectivePhotography #MathematicsInNature #ScientificPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography #StructuralDesign #UrbanExploration #LinesAndCurves #SteelAndWood #MorningLight #ByMaikeldeBakker
Looking up from the base of the tower, I couldn’t resist capturing this perfect counter-clockwise spiral (clockwise from this perspective)— a design that would’ve made Leonardo of Pisa, better known as Fibonacci, smile. Geometry and nature often speak the same language, and this staircase seemed to echo that universal rhythm.
Taken with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma 24-70 Art, the composition builds on simplicity: steel beams spiraling upward, holding wooden steps that catch the morning light. The hazy autumn sky added that subtle blue-green tint — a result of sunlight scattering through fine moisture and dust particles.
Sometimes, the most fascinating patterns aren’t found in forests or fields, but in the engineered forms we create. Photography, after all, is just another way of studying light and life.
#ArchitecturePhotography #Fibonacci #GoldenRatio #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt #Tilburg #Spoorpark #GeometricPatterns #ArchitecturalDetails #LightAndForm #PerspectivePhotography #MathematicsInNature #ScientificPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography #StructuralDesign #UrbanExploration #LinesAndCurves #SteelAndWood #MorningLight #ByMaikeldeBakker
Every ugly has a pretty.
That thought crossed my mind while waiting for my camera buddy at the Tilburg Central Station. In front of me stood one of the newest buildings in town — and arguably one of the ugliest. It looms over the Burgemeester Stekelenburgplein, even blocking the view of our beautiful library.
But as I stood there with my Canon 5DsR and the Sigma Art 24–70, I started to look differently. Lines, angles, contrast — they all began to form something unexpected. The vertical structures reached upward, cutting through the morning sky like strokes of graphite on paper. Suddenly, it wasn’t an eyesore anymore, but a study of geometry and tone.
Photography, after all, teaches us to see — even in the places we’d rather look away from.
#BlackAndWhitePhotography #ArchitecturePhotography #UrbanLines #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt2470 #GeometryInNature #CityPhotography #Tilburg #TilburgCity #ModernArchitecture #FindingBeauty #LightAndShadow #PhotographyStudy #EveryUglyHasAPretty #CompositionMatters #MonochromeMagic #ArtThroughTheLens #StreetComposition #BuildingDesign #ByMaikelPhotography
That thought crossed my mind while waiting for my camera buddy at the Tilburg Central Station. In front of me stood one of the newest buildings in town — and arguably one of the ugliest. It looms over the Burgemeester Stekelenburgplein, even blocking the view of our beautiful library.
But as I stood there with my Canon 5DsR and the Sigma Art 24–70, I started to look differently. Lines, angles, contrast — they all began to form something unexpected. The vertical structures reached upward, cutting through the morning sky like strokes of graphite on paper. Suddenly, it wasn’t an eyesore anymore, but a study of geometry and tone.
Photography, after all, teaches us to see — even in the places we’d rather look away from.
#BlackAndWhitePhotography #ArchitecturePhotography #UrbanLines #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt2470 #GeometryInNature #CityPhotography #Tilburg #TilburgCity #ModernArchitecture #FindingBeauty #LightAndShadow #PhotographyStudy #EveryUglyHasAPretty #CompositionMatters #MonochromeMagic #ArtThroughTheLens #StreetComposition #BuildingDesign #ByMaikelPhotography
Experimenting with Double Filters
Yesterday morning I woke up at 5 a.m. It was dark, cold, and quiet — the kind of silence that makes you wonder if you should just crawl back into bed. But the sky was clear with some clouds forming near the horizon, and experience told me this could become one of those fiery sunrises worth losing sleep over.
So I packed my Canon 5DsR with the Sigma Art 24–70 mm and headed to the Loonse en Drunense Duinen. Besides chasing light, I had something else in mind — a little experiment. I wanted to see what would happen if I combined a polarizing filter with a transparent plastic petri dish (from Corning).
If you’ve ever looked at a car’s rear window through polarized sunglasses and seen those oily rainbow patterns — that’s birefringence at work. When two polarizing surfaces interact with certain plastics, they reveal hidden stress patterns in vivid colors.
So I rotated both filters until the sky exploded into gradients of purple, turquoise, and gold. No Photoshop tricks here — just light, plastic, and curiosity playing together.
Sometimes, science and art meet right in front of your lens.
#ExperimentalPhotography #CreativeFilters #PolarizerEffect #OpticalPhenomena #Birefringence #PetriDishExperiment #ScienceInArt #NatureAndLight #SkyPhotography #ColorPlay #OpticsInNature #PhotographyExperiment #LandscapePhotography #AtmosphericLight #SkyMagic #MorningGlow #NaturalLight #PhotographyArt #ExploringLight #CreativeProcess #FieldExperiment #AbstractNature #PhysicsOfLight #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt2470 #DutchLandscape #LoonseEnDrunenseDuinen #NaturePhotography #VisualExploration #CuriousMind #ArtOfSeeing #PhotographyIsScience #ChasingLight #SkyWatcher #ExperimentalArt #BehindTheLens #ColorInspiration #LightAndShadow #OpticalArt #ByMaikelPhotography
Yesterday morning I woke up at 5 a.m. It was dark, cold, and quiet — the kind of silence that makes you wonder if you should just crawl back into bed. But the sky was clear with some clouds forming near the horizon, and experience told me this could become one of those fiery sunrises worth losing sleep over.
So I packed my Canon 5DsR with the Sigma Art 24–70 mm and headed to the Loonse en Drunense Duinen. Besides chasing light, I had something else in mind — a little experiment. I wanted to see what would happen if I combined a polarizing filter with a transparent plastic petri dish (from Corning).
If you’ve ever looked at a car’s rear window through polarized sunglasses and seen those oily rainbow patterns — that’s birefringence at work. When two polarizing surfaces interact with certain plastics, they reveal hidden stress patterns in vivid colors.
So I rotated both filters until the sky exploded into gradients of purple, turquoise, and gold. No Photoshop tricks here — just light, plastic, and curiosity playing together.
Sometimes, science and art meet right in front of your lens.
#ExperimentalPhotography #CreativeFilters #PolarizerEffect #OpticalPhenomena #Birefringence #PetriDishExperiment #ScienceInArt #NatureAndLight #SkyPhotography #ColorPlay #OpticsInNature #PhotographyExperiment #LandscapePhotography #AtmosphericLight #SkyMagic #MorningGlow #NaturalLight #PhotographyArt #ExploringLight #CreativeProcess #FieldExperiment #AbstractNature #PhysicsOfLight #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt2470 #DutchLandscape #LoonseEnDrunenseDuinen #NaturePhotography #VisualExploration #CuriousMind #ArtOfSeeing #PhotographyIsScience #ChasingLight #SkyWatcher #ExperimentalArt #BehindTheLens #ColorInspiration #LightAndShadow #OpticalArt #ByMaikelPhotography
Photography in a Nutshell
Sometimes photography is romanticized — as if every step outside delivers a masterpiece. But the truth is gentler and more humbling. Out of a hundred frames, maybe one or two feel “good.” And the truly great ones? They appear like rare gifts, one in a thousand.
You plan your walks, chase forecasts, and watch the light… only to find that nature doesn’t follow your schedule. The storm breaks too far away. The colors fade just before you arrive. But once in a while, the sky ignites — red, orange, and gold tearing through the dark clouds — and for a few seconds, you remember why you keep coming back.
Stay too long in one place, and you’ll miss a hundred unseen wonders. Chase too many horizons, and you might overlook the beauty right before your lens. Photography is that balance — between patience and pursuit, light and shadow, control and surrender.
In the end, anyone can take a picture. But those who see — who feel, wait, and listen to the world — capture something more.
(Taken with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma ART 24–70mm lens at Westkapelle.)
#PhotographyJourney #NaturePhotography #LandscapeLovers #PhotographyLife #Westkapelle #SunriseMagic #StormySky #DutchCoast #CanonPhotography #SigmaArtLens #FineArtPhotography #PhotoOfTheDay #ChasingLight #GoldenHourMagic #VisualStorytelling #NatureInspires #MoodyLandscapes #LightAndShadow #EmotivePhotography #PhotographyInANutshell #CoastalScenes #PhotographyIsLife #SeascapePhotography #NaturalDrama #CreativeMindset #BehindTheLens #RealPhotography #PhotographyReality #PhotographyTruth #DutchNature #ArtOfSeeing #MasteringLight #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #WestkapelleMoments #MoodyMorning #PhotographyWisdom #PhotographyTips #ByMaikelPhotography #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #ByMaikeldeBakker
Sometimes photography is romanticized — as if every step outside delivers a masterpiece. But the truth is gentler and more humbling. Out of a hundred frames, maybe one or two feel “good.” And the truly great ones? They appear like rare gifts, one in a thousand.
You plan your walks, chase forecasts, and watch the light… only to find that nature doesn’t follow your schedule. The storm breaks too far away. The colors fade just before you arrive. But once in a while, the sky ignites — red, orange, and gold tearing through the dark clouds — and for a few seconds, you remember why you keep coming back.
Stay too long in one place, and you’ll miss a hundred unseen wonders. Chase too many horizons, and you might overlook the beauty right before your lens. Photography is that balance — between patience and pursuit, light and shadow, control and surrender.
In the end, anyone can take a picture. But those who see — who feel, wait, and listen to the world — capture something more.
(Taken with the Canon 5DsR and Sigma ART 24–70mm lens at Westkapelle.)
#PhotographyJourney #NaturePhotography #LandscapeLovers #PhotographyLife #Westkapelle #SunriseMagic #StormySky #DutchCoast #CanonPhotography #SigmaArtLens #FineArtPhotography #PhotoOfTheDay #ChasingLight #GoldenHourMagic #VisualStorytelling #NatureInspires #MoodyLandscapes #LightAndShadow #EmotivePhotography #PhotographyInANutshell #CoastalScenes #PhotographyIsLife #SeascapePhotography #NaturalDrama #CreativeMindset #BehindTheLens #RealPhotography #PhotographyReality #PhotographyTruth #DutchNature #ArtOfSeeing #MasteringLight #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #WestkapelleMoments #MoodyMorning #PhotographyWisdom #PhotographyTips #ByMaikelPhotography #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #ByMaikeldeBakker
A walk through Huis ter Heide & Bosrijk
A few days ago, my wife Christel and I wandered through the northern part of Huis ter Heide, bordering the Efteling Bosrijk. The air was calm, soft clouds drifted by, and sunlight occasionally broke through — just enough to paint the forest in warm tones.
While walking, I noticed a flawless Imleria badia — known as the Bay Bolete or “Kastanjeboleet” in Dutch. It stood proud among fallen leaves, its chestnut-brown cap glistening slightly from the forest’s moisture. This species plays an essential role in the ecosystem, forming symbiotic mycorrhizal bonds with trees like pines and beeches, exchanging nutrients that keep forests thriving.
Later, Christel spotted a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), poised on a wooden fence, turning its head just as she clicked the shutter on our Canon 5D Mark IV with the Sigma 100–400mm. That curious glance over its shoulder made the shot come alive — pure serendipity.
We ended our walk at Klaas Vaak Lake, where the houses of Efteling Bosrijk mirrored perfectly in the still water. The reflections of reds, greens, and browns looked like a painter’s palette — a calm, storybook ending to a wonderful day outdoors.
#ByMaikelPhotography #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #Canon5DsR #Canon5DMarkIV #SigmaArt2470 #Sigma100400 #EurasianRedSquirrel #SciurusVulgaris #BayBolete #ImleriaBadia #Kastanjeboleet #MacroPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #ForestWalk #DutchNature #NatureLovers #Mycorrhiza #Symbiosis #FungiFriday #FungusAmongUs #EftelingBosrijk #HuisTerHeide #NoordBrabant #ReflectionShot #WoodlandCreatures #MushroomMagic #AutumnVibes #NaturePerfection #CanonPhotography #ForestFloor #EcoWonder #WildlifeMoments #NaturalBalance #EarthFocus #BokehLovers #InTheWoods #LensLove #PhotographyStory #ByMaikeldeBakker
A few days ago, my wife Christel and I wandered through the northern part of Huis ter Heide, bordering the Efteling Bosrijk. The air was calm, soft clouds drifted by, and sunlight occasionally broke through — just enough to paint the forest in warm tones.
While walking, I noticed a flawless Imleria badia — known as the Bay Bolete or “Kastanjeboleet” in Dutch. It stood proud among fallen leaves, its chestnut-brown cap glistening slightly from the forest’s moisture. This species plays an essential role in the ecosystem, forming symbiotic mycorrhizal bonds with trees like pines and beeches, exchanging nutrients that keep forests thriving.
Later, Christel spotted a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), poised on a wooden fence, turning its head just as she clicked the shutter on our Canon 5D Mark IV with the Sigma 100–400mm. That curious glance over its shoulder made the shot come alive — pure serendipity.
We ended our walk at Klaas Vaak Lake, where the houses of Efteling Bosrijk mirrored perfectly in the still water. The reflections of reds, greens, and browns looked like a painter’s palette — a calm, storybook ending to a wonderful day outdoors.
#ByMaikelPhotography #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #Canon5DsR #Canon5DMarkIV #SigmaArt2470 #Sigma100400 #EurasianRedSquirrel #SciurusVulgaris #BayBolete #ImleriaBadia #Kastanjeboleet #MacroPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #ForestWalk #DutchNature #NatureLovers #Mycorrhiza #Symbiosis #FungiFriday #FungusAmongUs #EftelingBosrijk #HuisTerHeide #NoordBrabant #ReflectionShot #WoodlandCreatures #MushroomMagic #AutumnVibes #NaturePerfection #CanonPhotography #ForestFloor #EcoWonder #WildlifeMoments #NaturalBalance #EarthFocus #BokehLovers #InTheWoods #LensLove #PhotographyStory #ByMaikeldeBakker
A Quiet Guardian of the Forest
On our walk through the forest near an old, forgotten building, my wife suddenly looked up — and there he was. A Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus, or Ruigpootuil in Dutch), resting quietly on the edge of the roof, half asleep but faintly aware of the world. Every now and then, one bright yellow eye would peek open, catching a shimmer of the noon light.
The oak trees around him were dressed in their autumn palette — green fading into yellow and deep orange-brown. In that setting, his mottled plumage blended perfectly with the wood and leaves, a masterclass in camouflage. Boreal owls are rare in the Netherlands, typically nesting in old woodpecker holes in mature coniferous or mixed forests. Occasionally, one finds refuge in an old structure like this — proof of how wildlife adapts when natural habitats change.
Photographed first with the Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm (effectively ~600mm thanks to the crop sensor), and then with the Canon 5DsR and the same lens. The 5DsR reveals even more detail when zoomed in, but for social media, the 7D’s reach gives it a beautiful balance of sharpness and framing.
A quiet encounter, a patient gaze — and a reminder that even in silence, the forest watches back.
#BorealOwl #Ruigpootuil #AegoliusFunereus #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #OwlPhotography #BirdPhotography #DutchNature #CanonPhotography #Canon7DMarkII #Canon5DsR #Sigma100400 #ForestLife #AutumnColors #Surea #NoordBrabant #BirdsOfEurope #OwlsOfTheWorld #ForestMagic #NatureStory #MacroAndMore #WildlifeStories #NatureLovers #EcologyInFocus #AnimalCamouflage #ConservationThroughPhotography #NaturalHabitat #PhotographyDetails #QuietMoments #BirdingNetherlands #AvianBeauty #WoodlandCreatures #ScientificPhotography #StoryBehindTheShot #AutumnVibes #CanonWildlife #EyesOfTheForest #DutchWildlife #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #ByMaikelPhotography
On our walk through the forest near an old, forgotten building, my wife suddenly looked up — and there he was. A Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus, or Ruigpootuil in Dutch), resting quietly on the edge of the roof, half asleep but faintly aware of the world. Every now and then, one bright yellow eye would peek open, catching a shimmer of the noon light.
The oak trees around him were dressed in their autumn palette — green fading into yellow and deep orange-brown. In that setting, his mottled plumage blended perfectly with the wood and leaves, a masterclass in camouflage. Boreal owls are rare in the Netherlands, typically nesting in old woodpecker holes in mature coniferous or mixed forests. Occasionally, one finds refuge in an old structure like this — proof of how wildlife adapts when natural habitats change.
Photographed first with the Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm (effectively ~600mm thanks to the crop sensor), and then with the Canon 5DsR and the same lens. The 5DsR reveals even more detail when zoomed in, but for social media, the 7D’s reach gives it a beautiful balance of sharpness and framing.
A quiet encounter, a patient gaze — and a reminder that even in silence, the forest watches back.
#BorealOwl #Ruigpootuil #AegoliusFunereus #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #OwlPhotography #BirdPhotography #DutchNature #CanonPhotography #Canon7DMarkII #Canon5DsR #Sigma100400 #ForestLife #AutumnColors #Surea #NoordBrabant #BirdsOfEurope #OwlsOfTheWorld #ForestMagic #NatureStory #MacroAndMore #WildlifeStories #NatureLovers #EcologyInFocus #AnimalCamouflage #ConservationThroughPhotography #NaturalHabitat #PhotographyDetails #QuietMoments #BirdingNetherlands #AvianBeauty #WoodlandCreatures #ScientificPhotography #StoryBehindTheShot #AutumnVibes #CanonWildlife #EyesOfTheForest #DutchWildlife #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #ByMaikelPhotography
A patch of green and splashes of red and white.
Taken with my Canon 5DsR and Sigma Art 24–70 in Surea, between Gilze and Oosterhout — a gray day, yet the forest was alive with colour and quiet stories. On a bed of moss and fallen leaves stood a single Amanita muscaria — the fly agaric — but not as we usually know it. Its brilliant red cap was covered in a delicate white layer that resembled a dusting of snow. Only later did I realize: this wasn’t weather, but another fungus growing upon it. A fungus infecting a fungus — a rare and fascinating encounter.
In mycology, such infections occur when parasitic species like Hypomyces invade the fruiting body of another mushroom, spreading their hyphae through its tissues. They slowly consume the host’s nutrients, altering its colour, texture, and even shape. This quiet struggle plays out unseen, yet it’s part of the forest’s endless cycle of decay and renewal — nothing in nature is truly wasted.
I crouched low in the moss to capture it, trying to show not just a mushroom, but a story of resilience, interdependence, and the hidden wars of the microscopic world.
#AmanitaMuscaria #MacroPhotography #NaturePhotography #FungalInfection #FungiOnFungi #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt2470 #Surea #BrabantNature #NatureReserve #ForestFloor #MossLovers #Mycology #WildNetherlands #Ecology #MicroEcosystem #DutchNature #AutumnForest #ForestMagic #Biodiversity #MacroWorld #PhotographyAndScience #CloseUpNature #NaturalWonder #InterspeciesConnection #RareFind #FungalDiversity #InTheField #NatureStories #Mycophile #HiddenWorlds #MushroomLovers #FlyAgaric #ForestResearch #NatureEducation #StoryInLight #MacroLife #ForestDetails #EcoBalance #ByMaikelPhotography
Taken with my Canon 5DsR and Sigma Art 24–70 in Surea, between Gilze and Oosterhout — a gray day, yet the forest was alive with colour and quiet stories. On a bed of moss and fallen leaves stood a single Amanita muscaria — the fly agaric — but not as we usually know it. Its brilliant red cap was covered in a delicate white layer that resembled a dusting of snow. Only later did I realize: this wasn’t weather, but another fungus growing upon it. A fungus infecting a fungus — a rare and fascinating encounter.
In mycology, such infections occur when parasitic species like Hypomyces invade the fruiting body of another mushroom, spreading their hyphae through its tissues. They slowly consume the host’s nutrients, altering its colour, texture, and even shape. This quiet struggle plays out unseen, yet it’s part of the forest’s endless cycle of decay and renewal — nothing in nature is truly wasted.
I crouched low in the moss to capture it, trying to show not just a mushroom, but a story of resilience, interdependence, and the hidden wars of the microscopic world.
#AmanitaMuscaria #MacroPhotography #NaturePhotography #FungalInfection #FungiOnFungi #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt2470 #Surea #BrabantNature #NatureReserve #ForestFloor #MossLovers #Mycology #WildNetherlands #Ecology #MicroEcosystem #DutchNature #AutumnForest #ForestMagic #Biodiversity #MacroWorld #PhotographyAndScience #CloseUpNature #NaturalWonder #InterspeciesConnection #RareFind #FungalDiversity #InTheField #NatureStories #Mycophile #HiddenWorlds #MushroomLovers #FlyAgaric #ForestResearch #NatureEducation #StoryInLight #MacroLife #ForestDetails #EcoBalance #ByMaikelPhotography
Bye bye, Westkapelle It’s been an unforgettable trip — four seasons in just one week! From storms to sunshine, every moment brought new opportunities to capture the beauty of this place. Now that I’m home, still recovering from the long journey and endless laundry, I’m slowly making my way through all the photos. There are so many still waiting to be shared.
For now, I’ll keep it short and let the images do most of the talking. Here are two shots of Westkapelle’s iconic lighthouses, taken with my Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm, and one captured with my Canon 5DsR paired with the Sigma ART 24–70mm.
There’s something timeless about lighthouses. They don’t just guide ships — they remind us that even in rough seas, a steady light can lead the way.
I am off to bed now...
#Westkapelle #Lighthouse #SeasideViews #CoastalPhotography #CanonPhotography #SigmaLens #Canon5DMarkIV #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt #Seascape #OceanMood #DutchCoast #Zeeland #PhotographyLovers #NaturePhotography #ByMaikelPhotography #TravelPhotography #BeachWalks #LightAndSea #DailyWonder
For now, I’ll keep it short and let the images do most of the talking. Here are two shots of Westkapelle’s iconic lighthouses, taken with my Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm, and one captured with my Canon 5DsR paired with the Sigma ART 24–70mm.
There’s something timeless about lighthouses. They don’t just guide ships — they remind us that even in rough seas, a steady light can lead the way.
I am off to bed now...
#Westkapelle #Lighthouse #SeasideViews #CoastalPhotography #CanonPhotography #SigmaLens #Canon5DMarkIV #Canon5DsR #SigmaArt #Seascape #OceanMood #DutchCoast #Zeeland #PhotographyLovers #NaturePhotography #ByMaikelPhotography #TravelPhotography #BeachWalks #LightAndSea #DailyWonder
There’s a jetty at Westkapelle, near the KNRM rescue station. At first glance, it looks like many others: a path of wood reaching into the sea. But when you take a closer look, it reveals a story written in salt, waves, and time.
From the start, the jetty looks strong, straight, well-maintained. Walk further and cracks begin to show, scars of endless storms, bolts rusting, wood worn down. At the very end, the jetty seems to surrender — twisted, broken, almost consumed by the sea. Yet, beneath it, you can still see how often it has been repaired. Again and again, people tried to keep it standing.
It struck me how much this resembles life. We all start with strength and promise, but storms leave marks. Salt crystals, like tiny blades, slowly break down the wood’s fibers; waves hammer it endlessly, reshaping it grain by grain. And still, despite everything, it stands.
Each scar tells a story — of survival, of endurance, of humanity. Just like the jetty, we are never untouched, but always carrying traces of time. And maybe that’s where the beauty lies: not in perfection, but in the evidence of having weathered the storm.
Canon 5DsR + Sigma ART 24/70mm
#Westkapelle #Zeeland #Jetty #SeaAndSky #StoryInWood #WeatheredByTime #DutchCoast #KNRM #SeascapePhotography #LandscapePhotography #PhotographyArt #NaturePhotography #DutchLandscape #OceanWaves #CoastalLife #Resilience #ScarsTellStories #Survival #Endurance #HumanSpirit #HiddenStories #WabiSabi #EmbraceTheScars #PhotographyIsLife #maikeldebakker #SeasideMood #OceanPhotography #WoodAndWater #CanonPhotography #SigmaArtLens #Canon5DsR #ThroughMyLens #SeascapeStory #CoastalMood #WavesAndWood #NatureAndTime #DecayAndBeauty #WestkapelleJetty #PhotoStory #WonderInDetails #ByMaikelPhotography
From the start, the jetty looks strong, straight, well-maintained. Walk further and cracks begin to show, scars of endless storms, bolts rusting, wood worn down. At the very end, the jetty seems to surrender — twisted, broken, almost consumed by the sea. Yet, beneath it, you can still see how often it has been repaired. Again and again, people tried to keep it standing.
It struck me how much this resembles life. We all start with strength and promise, but storms leave marks. Salt crystals, like tiny blades, slowly break down the wood’s fibers; waves hammer it endlessly, reshaping it grain by grain. And still, despite everything, it stands.
Each scar tells a story — of survival, of endurance, of humanity. Just like the jetty, we are never untouched, but always carrying traces of time. And maybe that’s where the beauty lies: not in perfection, but in the evidence of having weathered the storm.
Canon 5DsR + Sigma ART 24/70mm
#Westkapelle #Zeeland #Jetty #SeaAndSky #StoryInWood #WeatheredByTime #DutchCoast #KNRM #SeascapePhotography #LandscapePhotography #PhotographyArt #NaturePhotography #DutchLandscape #OceanWaves #CoastalLife #Resilience #ScarsTellStories #Survival #Endurance #HumanSpirit #HiddenStories #WabiSabi #EmbraceTheScars #PhotographyIsLife #maikeldebakker #SeasideMood #OceanPhotography #WoodAndWater #CanonPhotography #SigmaArtLens #Canon5DsR #ThroughMyLens #SeascapeStory #CoastalMood #WavesAndWood #NatureAndTime #DecayAndBeauty #WestkapelleJetty #PhotoStory #WonderInDetails #ByMaikelPhotography
Into the Distance
The raw power of the last storm left its mark on the coastline in ways that words alone can’t capture. One wave barrier along the beach had been half-buried in sand, transforming the landscape into something entirely new. Behind the sand, seawater was trapped, forming a wide temporary lagoon. It’s a reminder of how coastlines are constantly reshaped—new land created in mere hours by natural forces that would take humans days of heavy labor to replicate. And just as quickly as it appears, nature can undo her own work with the next storm.
Standing at the far end of the wave breakers, I was struck by the illusion of infinity. The long row of wooden posts stretched out toward the horizon, now divided by the sudden dune as if the sea itself had been cut in two. It felt both surreal and epic, a fleeting sculpture carved by wind, waves, and time.
Scenes like these remind us that the shore is alive—never fixed, always shifting. Every tide, every storm, every grain of sand tells a part of the story. We are just lucky enough to be there to witness it.
Taken with my Canon 5DsR (51 megapixels) and Sigma ART 24/70mm lens.
#IntoTheDistance #BeachPhotography #StormImpact #CoastalChange #NaturePower #SandDunes #WaveBreakers #Seascape #CanonPhotography #SigmaArt2470 #Canon5DsR #CoastalGeology #ShiftingSands #DynamicCoastline #NaturalForces #StormScars #SeashoreMagic #OceanView #CoastalProcess #LandFormation #BeachVibes #LandscapePhotography #EpicNature #ChangingEarth #EarthScience #CoastalErosion #SandAndSea #NatureIsArt #SeascapePhotography #SeaAndSky #OceanPhotography #ClimateAndCoast #Geoscience #CoastalEcosystem #StormySea #TideAndTime #BeachWalk #CoastalBeauty #NaturePowerful #MotherNature
The raw power of the last storm left its mark on the coastline in ways that words alone can’t capture. One wave barrier along the beach had been half-buried in sand, transforming the landscape into something entirely new. Behind the sand, seawater was trapped, forming a wide temporary lagoon. It’s a reminder of how coastlines are constantly reshaped—new land created in mere hours by natural forces that would take humans days of heavy labor to replicate. And just as quickly as it appears, nature can undo her own work with the next storm.
Standing at the far end of the wave breakers, I was struck by the illusion of infinity. The long row of wooden posts stretched out toward the horizon, now divided by the sudden dune as if the sea itself had been cut in two. It felt both surreal and epic, a fleeting sculpture carved by wind, waves, and time.
Scenes like these remind us that the shore is alive—never fixed, always shifting. Every tide, every storm, every grain of sand tells a part of the story. We are just lucky enough to be there to witness it.
Taken with my Canon 5DsR (51 megapixels) and Sigma ART 24/70mm lens.
#IntoTheDistance #BeachPhotography #StormImpact #CoastalChange #NaturePower #SandDunes #WaveBreakers #Seascape #CanonPhotography #SigmaArt2470 #Canon5DsR #CoastalGeology #ShiftingSands #DynamicCoastline #NaturalForces #StormScars #SeashoreMagic #OceanView #CoastalProcess #LandFormation #BeachVibes #LandscapePhotography #EpicNature #ChangingEarth #EarthScience #CoastalErosion #SandAndSea #NatureIsArt #SeascapePhotography #SeaAndSky #OceanPhotography #ClimateAndCoast #Geoscience #CoastalEcosystem #StormySea #TideAndTime #BeachWalk #CoastalBeauty #NaturePowerful #MotherNature
Storms by the sea are never just about wind and waves — they’re about raw forces of nature colliding in ways you can feel with your whole body. During last week’s storm, taking sharp pictures felt like a battle in itself. Every shot was handheld, because even a tripod wouldn’t survive the gale. The wind howled, the sea roared, and then came the sand — endless grains, propelled like tiny bullets by the gusts, mixed with salty sea spray.
In the first image, the wave breakers bear the marks of that power. Lines of airborne sand cut past the poles, revealing just how ferocious the storm’s energy was. Scientifically, this process is called saltation — grains lifted and bounced by wind, gaining enough speed to carve and erode whatever they strike. It’s the same force that shapes dunes and slowly wears down coastlines.
The second image shows a man braving the storm near the shore. His stance, his struggle, and the visible streams of sand all capture what it means to endure weather at its fiercest. To stand on that beach was to be humbled — by the sheer scale of forces that shape landscapes and remind us of the balance between human presence and natural power.
These moments were captured with the Canon 5DsR + Sigma ART 24/70 and the Canon 5D Mark IV + Sigma 100/400. A tough test for both camera and photographer — but worth every grain of sand.
#stormforce #sandblasted #windpower #beachstorm #zeeland #westkapelle #canon5dsr #canon5dmarkiv #sigma2470art #sigma100400 #coastalforces #gailwinds #seastorm #naturepower #weatherphotography #stormchaser #seasideview #beachlife #roughweather #oceanenergy #wavebreakers #coastalprotection #seastates #weatherwatching #extremeweather #coastalphotography #seascapes #windstorm #stormyweather #canonphotography #stormcapture #coastalstorm #dutchcoast #northsea #natureelements #weatherlovers #beachphotography #canonshooters #intenseweather #photographycommunity #pixelfed
In the first image, the wave breakers bear the marks of that power. Lines of airborne sand cut past the poles, revealing just how ferocious the storm’s energy was. Scientifically, this process is called saltation — grains lifted and bounced by wind, gaining enough speed to carve and erode whatever they strike. It’s the same force that shapes dunes and slowly wears down coastlines.
The second image shows a man braving the storm near the shore. His stance, his struggle, and the visible streams of sand all capture what it means to endure weather at its fiercest. To stand on that beach was to be humbled — by the sheer scale of forces that shape landscapes and remind us of the balance between human presence and natural power.
These moments were captured with the Canon 5DsR + Sigma ART 24/70 and the Canon 5D Mark IV + Sigma 100/400. A tough test for both camera and photographer — but worth every grain of sand.
#stormforce #sandblasted #windpower #beachstorm #zeeland #westkapelle #canon5dsr #canon5dmarkiv #sigma2470art #sigma100400 #coastalforces #gailwinds #seastorm #naturepower #weatherphotography #stormchaser #seasideview #beachlife #roughweather #oceanenergy #wavebreakers #coastalprotection #seastates #weatherwatching #extremeweather #coastalphotography #seascapes #windstorm #stormyweather #canonphotography #stormcapture #coastalstorm #dutchcoast #northsea #natureelements #weatherlovers #beachphotography #canonshooters #intenseweather #photographycommunity #pixelfed
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