A Friday morning, a familiar place, and the promise of sunrise.

At Huys ter Heide, just as the sun began to rise, I found myself standing by a small lake. The water was perfectly still—no wind, no ripples—turning it into a natural mirror. The sun, still low on the horizon and partially hidden, painted the scene in deep yellows, oranges, and blacks. A quiet moment where light and reflection became one.

Scenes like this are a reminder of how much timing matters. A single breath of wind would have broken the illusion.

Not long after, two cranes rested near the water’s edge during their journey north. A rare and beautiful sight… but sometimes nature gives, and sometimes it takes away. A passerby startled them before I could capture the moment.

And that’s okay. The memory remains.

Captured with my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm, 250mm, 1/500 sec, ISO 100.

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Early morning walk at Huys ter Heide, Tilburg – The Netherlands.

Yesterday morning I set out before sunrise with a simple goal: photograph the moonset. Nature, however, had other plans.

The road I normally take into the area was closed, forcing me to take a long detour. By the time I arrived, the Moon had already slipped below the horizon. No moonset today… but perhaps something else.

Just after stepping out of the car and walking into the forest, still adjusting my gear, I suddenly came face to face with two deer. They looked straight at me. I moved slowly, hoping they would stay calm long enough for a photo. They didn’t. They leapt away, and when I checked my camera… the images were far too dark. My settings weren’t ready yet.

A little further along I reached the lakes. In the shallow water stood two Common Cranes (Grus grus) — Kraanvogels. A rare sight here. My excitement lasted only seconds before someone unknowingly walked straight onto the boardwalk and the cranes lifted off into the sky.

Frustration was definitely building.

Then, along a narrow path, three Scottish Highland cattle crossed in front of me. I waited patiently at a respectful distance. As I passed them, one slowly turned back toward me. I knelt behind a fence and finally captured a moment worth keeping.

Shot with my Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm, f/6.4 – 1/500 sec – ISO 3200.

Even when luck seems absent, nature still offers something valuable: the walk itself.

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