Sunset Poles

My favourite stretch of beach here in the Netherlands is between Bergen and Hargen. You can find multiple lines of these poles, running into the sea, and wave breakers in the form of stone dams, with loose rocks beside them, offering good foregrounds for seascapes. The best quality of this beach, though, is that there's usually nobody there in the evening. You can be here all by yourself, which is something I very much enjoy.

Soon, a few photography friends and I will be presenting each other our best shots of the past year. And with selecting your best shots, comes the dismissal of the ones you really like, but ultimately don't make the cut. I will be sharing those shots here, in chronological order. This is number 5 of 19.

📷 5D Mark IV · 16-35mm
⚙️ 16mm · f/11 · ISO 20 · 0.3s
📆 2025-04-19 · 20:38

#landscape #landscapephotography #seascapephotography #seascape #sea #waves #beach #sand #poles #evening #eveningsky #goldenhour #sunset #sirui #canon #5dmarkiv #1635mm #netherlands #nederland #schoorl #bergenaanzee #hargen

Lago di Sorapis

One of the most stunning places I've been to in the Dolomites. Last year I was here on a warm summer day. Earlier this autumn, though, the lake looked radically different, being completely frozen over. Both times, I did the easy hike up (route 215), and the considerably harder hike down (route 216 & 213). The latter offers the most sensational views over the surrounding mountains and is very well worth the effort. You mustn't be afraid of heights, though.

📷 5D Mark IV · 16-35mm
⚙️ 16mm · f/22 · ISO 200 · 1/200s
📆 2025-10-03 · 13:16

#landscape #landscapephotography #mountains #mountainview #mountainscape #lake #mountainlake #frozen #cold #snow #larch #trees #autumn #fallcolours #vanguard #canon #5dmarkiv #1635mm #italy #italia #dolomites #dolomiti #veneto #lagodisorapis #puntasorapis

Forcella Marcoira

This viewpoint can be found on the alternative route to or down from Lago di Sorapis. The regular route 215 is a relatively easy, and so quite busy hike. You'll encounter countless other hikers there. And because the path is very narrow at times, small queues can form at certain points along the way.

How different this is on joint route 216-213 going down (or 213-216 going up). You'll likely only encounter a handful of other people. Which is nice, but it can also be a curse. There is at least one very steep descent over loose scree that's quite tricky. I would not feel comfortable descending there all by myself. Luckily, I was joined by a Dutch couple going down here, too.

When that tricky part is done, though, this amazing view over Gruppo del Cristallo is the reward. Which is very much worth the effort, in my opinion.

📷 5D Mark IV · 16-35mm
⚙️ 16mm · f/11 · ISO 200 · 1/200s
📆 2025-10-03 · 16:30

#landscape #landscapephotography #mountains #mountainscape #mountainview #people #selfportrait #selfie #afternoon #vanguard #canon #5dmarkiv #1635mm #italy #italia #dolomites #dolomiti #cortinadampezzo #lagodisorapis #forcellamarcoira

Sea Surf

This eroded piece of driftwood was lying in the surf when I stumbled upon it. The waves were engulfing it every now and then. I set up my tripod and waited for the right moment to catch an incoming wave. I like how the water seems to hug the driftwood, as if the sea isn't quite ready to let go of it yet.

📷 5D Mark IV · 16-35mm
⚙️ 16mm · f/16 · ISO 200 · 0.8s
📆 2023-02-09 · 17:27

#sea #seaside #surf #waves #beach #beachday #driftwood #evening #goldenhour #sunset #longexposure #ndfilter #sirui #canon #5dmarkiv #1635mm #netherlands #nederland #bloemendaal #bloemendaalaanzee #parnassia

Berlin Sunrise

This beautiful song by Fink plays in my head every time I see the sun rise when I'm in Berlin. Like here, at the Insel der Jugend (Island of Youth). To get here, I cycled through Mitte, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg and Alt-Treptow with hardly anyone on the streets around me. A wonderful feeling.

📷 5D Mark IV · 16-35mm
⚙️ 16mm · f/16 · ISO 200 · 1.3s
📆 2025-08-15 · 06:08

#city #outskirts #park #trees #river #water #reflection #island #bridge #boat #earlymorning #sunrise #goldenhour #vanguard #canon #5dmarkiv #1635mm #germany #deutschland #berlin #spree #inselderjugend

Reichstag

Last week it was hot in Berlin, at around 35 degrees. It was so warm, that when I visited the Reichstag, they had closed the walkways in the glass dome on the roof. I was seriously disappointed. But I quickly saw that this situation offered the rare chance of shooting an empty Kuppel.

Because the ground floor and the two entrances were open, there were people inside for much of the time. But I stayed patient, and ultimately I was rewarded for that. I actually got a photo of the glass Reichstag dome, with no people in it. I'm very happy with this shot.

📷 5D Mark IV · 16-35mm
⚙️ 16mm · f/11 · ISO 200 · 1/15s
📆 2025-08-14 · 19:24

#architecture #architecturephotography #patience #emptyplaces #glassdome #evening #eveningphotography #sunstar #blackandwhite #bw #bwphotography #vanguard #canon #5dmarkiv #1635mm #germany #deutschland #reichstag #kuppel

Viewpoint

One of the better views I've had in the Dolomites, in last year's summer. This autumn I'll be here again. I can't wait to see what this looks like with autumn colours. Is it the end of September yet?

📷 5D Mark IV · 16-35mm
⚙️ 16mm · f/16 · ISO 200 · 1/30s
📆 2024-08-17 · 15:36

#landscape #landscapephotography #mountains #mountainscape #rocks #ledge #viewpoint #trees #valley #clouds #sirui #canon #5dmarkiv #1635mm #italy #italia #dolomites #dolomiti #sorapis

Goodbye Leiden

The last two years, I've visited Leiden numerous times. Many a Wednesday I took the train to the 'Key City' ('Sleutelstad') for my studies. But last week I graduated, and apart from collecting my diploma some day in October, there'll be little reason to go to Leiden anymore. Which is a shame, as it's truly a beautiful town. I will surely miss it.

📷 5D Mark IV · 16-35mm
⚙️ 28mm · f/11 · ISO 200 · 8s
📆 2023-11-22 · 17:06

#city #cityview #citylights #cityphotography #urban #urbanphotography #citygate #streetlight #bridge #water #canal #reflection #evening #eveningphotography #bluehour #longexposure #canon #5dmarkiv #1635mm #netherlands #nederland #leiden #sleutelstad #morspoort #morschpoort

Mont-Saint-Michel

This beautiful rock island looks amazing at night. This is the view I had a couple of years ago from the meadows just southeast of it. I arrived here when it was still light. By the time the island and especially the Abbey atop looked this Disney-like, though, darkness had fallen. What also started happening, was the tide rising. Because the grounds here slope up ever so slightly, the water comes up really quickly. While I managed to keep my feet dry, I did have to run for it.

📷 7D Mark II · 16-35mm
⚙️ 16mm · f/8 · ISO 400 · 30s
📆 2018-05-04 · 23:02

#sea #seascape #seascapephotography #island #abbey #monastery #lowtide #puddle #reflection #night #nightlights #floodlights #nightphotography #nightsky #stars #starrynight #bluehour #longexposure #manfrotto #canon #7dmarkii #1635mm #france #normandy #normandie #montsaintmichel

Drowning House

This small wooden shack on poles was once built as a shelter for people who lost their way at sea, or for those whose boat was lost in the waves and washed ashore. Nowadays, when we all have GPS, it's a hiking destination more than anything else. Most people come here by horse carriage or 4x4, though. Not me. I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise at sea and a warm golden hour at this wonderful location, all by myself.

📷 7D Mark II · 16-35mm
⚙️ 35mm · f/8 · ISO 100 · 1/50s
📆 2019-07-26 · 06:36

#sea #seascape #seascapephotography #beach #beachlife #sand #dunes #house #shack #shelter #earlymorning #goldenhour #allbymyself #canon #7dmarkii #1635mm #netherlands #nederland #terschelling #drenkelingenhuisje