It is Christmas Eve. While the world outside feels a bit restless with refugee flows, fear for and threat of terrorist attacks, deforestation and climate change, I try to find some inner peace. I find it in this picture. The importance of friendship and brotherhood is indescribably. Sometimes a picture can tell more than one can say.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy NewYear.

It is this time of the year again. My challenging macro subjects have disappeared. No more flowers, no more insects and no more toadstools. And frankly I don’t mind that much. There is a time for working and there is a time for resting. About a week ago Edwin and I visited the beautiful Wadden Island Texel. The weather was rough but temperatures were oké. Excellent for relaxing and enjoying nature. Photography surely was not on top of my list. Except…. the day we visited Ecomare. Ecomare is more than a seal sanctuary. It is also a sea aquarium, a bird sanctuary and a nature museum. My heart was directly stolen by the young common seals. Once they were weakened or abandoned. They were found and Ecomare rescued them. Now in a little bassin these sweet and inquisitive pubs were patiently waiting for their return to the Wadden Sea, one day in the future. It looked as if they felt save, at ease and protected in their temporary stay. Like being in mothers womb again. They just totally represented my feeling of wanting to cocoon. Enjoy little seals and good luck with your return to the great sea!

Edwin and I are back from London, were we attended the annual award ceremony of the prestigious nature photo contest ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year‘ in the beautiful ambiance of the Natural History Museum. Edwin has won the first prize in the category Amphibians and Reptiles with an underwater image of a Crested Newt. I am so proud of him!

The day after the award ceremony Edwin had the chance to meet Frans Lanting in the exhibition hall of the Natural History Museum. I guess it’s needless to introduce Frans Lanting to you, being one of the most famous nature photographers of the world. From the beginning of Edwin’s love for nature photography Frans has been his great inspiration. To meet him now was like a dream come true. I am so happy for him.

Now normally I don’t report all the prizes Edwin wins here on my website. But this one is just so special. Winning this award and specially meeting Frans Lanting is like a crown on his now 10 year anniversary as  a professional nature photographer. And when Frans finally offered to make a picture of Edwin and me in front of his winning image, I figured this picture and accompanying story was just too good to not share with you…

Picture made by Frans Lanting.