Sometimes nature reminds you that the best moments are the ones you didn’t plan for. Last week, I set off with my wife Christel to Huis ter Heide near Tilburg, hoping for birds and landscapes in the soft early morning light. The birds were quiet, the landscapes less inspiring than I’d hoped—but the insects stole the show.

First came the hardworking Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum), captured close-up as it buried itself in a flower’s nectar. Next, a Pyrausta purpuralis, a tiny but striking moth with purple and gold tones, resting perfectly still on a leaf. Both were taken with my Canon 5D Mark III and the MP-E 65mm f/2.8 Super Macro—a lens built for the extreme close-ups that reveal details our eyes often miss.

Switching to my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm, I caught a vivid Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) perched near the water, and finally, a Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) warming itself on a sunlit leaf.

This is why I carry nearly 15 kg of gear on long walks: two cameras, four lenses, and a tripod. Because in nature, the unexpected is always waiting.

#HuisTerHeide #NaturePhotography #MacroPhotography #BugPhotography #InsectPhotography #BombusPascuorum #CarderBee #PyraustaPurpuralis #MothPhotography #DragonflyPhotography #SympetrumSanguineum #RuddyDarter #ParargeAegeria #SpeckledWood #CanonPhotography #Canon5DMarkIII #Canon7DMarkII #Sigma100400 #MPE65 #SuperMacro #NatureLovers #NatureObsessed #NatureOnEarth #WildlifePhotography #MacroNature #NatureFocus #PhotographyGear #NatureBrilliance #NatureSeekers #NatureHealing #PhotographyLovers #WildlifeMacro #MacroWorld #NaturePerfection #DiscoverNature #NatureShot #NaturePhotographyDaily #MacroBug #NatureCaptures #NatureBeauty #CanonGear

The past week I’ve been outside a lot, though my energy hasn’t always matched my ambitions. Depression has a way of slowing everything down, even the things you love. Reviewing my photos took longer than expected, but today I’m sharing a few from the Loonse en Drunense Duinen—a landscape where sand moves like water, shaped by the wind and light.

Most of these images were taken during sunset with the Canon R5 paired to my older Canon EF-S 15–85mm f/3.5–5.6 lens. The mirrorless R5 brings amazing advantages—sharp autofocus, high resolution, silent shooting—but it also has drawbacks compared to my DSLRs. At its price, every strength and weakness matters. I’m still weighing whether it’s the right step forward.

The last photo is something special: the Japanese Gentian (Gentiana scabra), or Blue Heart. I captured it with the Canon 5D Mark III and the MP-E 65mm Super Macro, a unique lens capable of up to 5x life-size magnification. At this scale, the flower becomes a world of intricate detail—textures and colors most people will never see with the naked eye.

Some days I walk with a camera, other days just with my thoughts. Either way, being out there helps.

#LoonseEnDrunenseDuinen #GentianaScabra #BlueHeart #CanonR5 #MirrorlessPhotography #Canon5DMarkIII #MPE65 #SuperMacro #PhotographyTherapy #MentalHealthJourney #NatureHealing #NaturePhotography #SandDunes #LandscapePhotography #MacroPhotography #WildflowerPhotography #SunsetPhotography #PhotographyLovers #CanonLens #PhotographyGear #NatureBrilliance #NatureObsessed #NatureIsAwesome #EarthFocus #NatureLovers #NatureShot #DiscoverNature #NaturePerfection #MacroWorld #MacroNature #WildlifePhotography #NatureOnEarth #NatureMagic #NatureSeekers #NaturePhoto #PhotographyTherapy #NatureFocus #NaturePhotographyDaily #NatureCaptures #MentalHealthMatters #HealingThroughNature

50mm lens with a 25mm extension tube to get (some) detail of a slowly melting ice cube.
#52frames #52frames_macro #canon #canon5dmarkiii #photography

Flowers of the Kampina – Part 3

Summer in the Kampina is a feast for the senses, and nowhere is this more evident than in its wildflowers.

I began with Sagittaria graminea (smalbladig pijlkruid), its delicate white petals catching the morning light, while a honeybee worked busily at the top of the frame. Nearby, the toxic yet beautiful Cicuta virosa (waterscheerling) stood tall, its blossoms framed by a shimmering bokeh from the water behind.

The humble Prunella vulgaris (gewone brunel or bijenkorfje) was next—a true bee magnet. I captured it with my Canon 5D Mark III and MP-E 65mm macro lens, a rare, specialized lens that magnifies from life-size to five times life-size without additional accessories. It’s a tool for those who want to dive into the smallest worlds nature hides.

At the northeast near Huisvennen, I wandered into a sea of blooming clover. My photo shows just one flower, but the meadow was alive with bees darting between blossoms.

The heath is also in bloom, painting the landscape in purples and pinks. In the early morning, unopened buds still held tiny dew droplets—each a perfect lens for the rising sun.

Finally, the Galeopsis tetrahit, here in a pale form with purple specks. While modest in appearance, it belongs to the vast orchid family—one of the oldest and most diverse plant families on Earth.

Next: Part 4 – Birds of the Kampina.

Hashtags:
#Wildflowers #Kampina #MacroPhotography #Canon5DMarkIII #Canon7DMarkII #Sigma100400 #MPE65mm #SagittariaGraminea #CicutaVirosa #PrunellaVulgaris #CloverFlower #HeathInBloom #GaleopsisTetrahit #OrchidFamily #BeeFriendly #PollinatorLove #NatureCloseUp #DutchNature #Oisterwijk #WildNetherlands #MacroMagic #FloralPhotography #BotanyLovers #PlantScience #FlowerDetails #TinyWorld #FlowerMacro #InsectPollination #BeePhotography #NatureArt #BokehLovers #MorningDew #BloomSeason #SummerFlowers #WildFlora #NatureObservation #PhotographyForTheSoul #BotanicalBeauty #PlantDiversity #WildflowerSeason #HiddenNature

The Wonderful World of Fungus – Part 2

After last week’s rains, the Kampina near Oisterwijk revealed a hidden kingdom—one that thrives quietly beneath our feet. This week, I set my lenses to macro mode and explored the intricate, often overlooked life of fungi and slime molds.

First, I found Rickenella fibula, a tiny moss-dwelling mushroom just a few millimeters tall, its orange caps glowing against the green carpet. Nearby, Mycena stylobates stood on delicate stems, their translucent caps perched above fallen leaves. Looking closely, I could see the long, thread-like hyphae weaving underneath—nature’s living network, breaking down leaf litter and recycling nutrients.

Then came the slime molds. One bright orange species looked like clusters of tiny eggs, each a potential transformation into a spore-bearing structure. Another, still a mystery to me, appeared as a single white, chalk-like sphere on moss—perhaps the fruiting body of another slime mold, or something else entirely. Nature loves to leave puzzles for us to solve.

After hours in this miniature world, I reached the heart of the Kampina and paused at a weathered workman’s hut before heading home. My Canon 5D Mark III with MP-E macro lens captured the fine details, while the Canon 7D Mark II with Sigma 100–400mm kept watch for the bigger picture.

Next up: Part 3—The blooming heath and wildflowers of the Kampina.

Hashtags:
#MacroPhotography #Canon5DMarkIII #Canon7DMarkII #Sigma100400 #MPE65mm #FungiPhotography #RickenellaFibula #MycenaStylobates #MossLovers #TinyMushrooms #FungusAmongUs #SlimeMold #Mycology #MushroomLovers #FungiMacro #ForestFloorFinds #NatureCloseUp #DutchNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #WildNetherlands #MushroomSeason #MicroWorld #FungiFriday #InstaFungi #MycoBeauty #ForestMagic #MossAndFungi #TinyWorld #FungiOfTheNetherlands #MacroMagic #MushroomArt #SlimeMoldSpotting #MysteryMushroom #SporeLife #NatureDetails #HiddenNature #WildlifeMacro #NatureObservation #CloseUpNature

Summer’s Small Wonders

It’s been an intense week job hunting—stressful, but necessary. When the tension builds, I return to my medicine: walking and photography. This time of year, midsummer, wildlife can be scarce. So I turned my attention to the smaller residents of the Kampina near Oisterwijk.

With my Canon 5D Mark III and MP-E macro lens, I captured a common honeybee at work. Then a Calopteryx splendens—known in Dutch as the weidebeekjuffer—its metallic blues shimmering in the sun. A gatekeeper butterfly (Pyronia tithonus) with weathered wings reminded me that beauty exists in imperfection. Another posed with wings closed, its patterned eyes giving the illusion of a cross-eyed stare—an optical quirk of insect anatomy.

A small emerald moth (Hemistola chrysoprasaria) rested among blooming heath (Calluna vulgaris), a gentle hint that summer’s edge is near. Nearby, four perfectly shaped green leaves formed the silhouette of a butterfly—nature’s accidental mimicry.

Switching to my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm, I explored further. After a week of rain, the forest floor has begun to transform—mushrooms emerging like quiet sculptures. These fruiting bodies of fungi are not just beautiful; they are vital recyclers, returning nutrients to the soil and supporting entire ecosystems.

Next up: a closer look at the “wonderful world of fungus.” Until then, I’ll keep walking, keep noticing, and keep sharing.

#MacroPhotography #Canon5DMarkIII #Canon7DMarkII #Sigma100400 #MPE65mm #WildlifeMacro #NatureCloseUp #InsectPhotography #BeePhotography #Damselfly #CalopteryxSplendens #Weidebeekjuffer #ButterflyPhotography #PyroniaTithonus #GatekeeperButterfly #SmallEmeraldMoth #HemistolaChrysoprasaria #HeathFlowers #CallunaVulgaris #LeafMimicry #NaturePatterns #SummerNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #DutchNature #Biodiversity #InsectMacro #Pollinators #WildlifeOfTheNetherlands #InsectsOfInstagram #MothOrButterfly #NatureObservation #CloseUpNature #MacroMagic #SmallWorldBigBeauty

Zoutelande, Dunes, and a Dutch Coastguard Surprise

While walking atop the dunes of Zoutelande, we were suddenly circled by a low-flying SAR helicopter of the Dutch Coastguard. Its altitude kept dropping, and we instinctively kept our distance — unsure if we were witnessing a real rescue operation.

Was someone lost or in danger? The tension grew as the beachguard’s pickup truck rushed past us. We stepped aside to clear the way, hoping for the best, watching the helicopter hover lower and lower over the shoreline. For a moment, it felt serious.

But then the truck returned and stopped beside us.

"Just a training drill," the diver explained with a smile. “They didn’t even tell us.” We all shared a brief moment of relief and mutual respect.

What could’ve been a tense moment turned out to be a well-executed practice — a reminder of the unseen work that keeps our coasts safe. Coastguards train hard for moments they hope will never come, and it’s a privilege to have witnessed a piece of that commitment.

And yes — I captured the scene with my Canon 5D Mark III and Sigma 100–400mm lens. Now, with full respect to their mission, I can share these images.

—

#zoutelande #coastguarddrill #sarhelicopter #searchandrescue #dutchcoastguard #canon5dmarkiii #sigma100400 #helicopterphotography #dutchbeaches #safetyfirst #coastalwatch #emergencytraining #beachlife #natureandrescue #dutchlandscape #dunescape #zoutelandemoment #coastalpatrol #lifeguardduty #hoveringheli #realmoments #unseenheroes #thankyouservices #zeelandsafety #strandwacht #photostory #visualreportage #coastlinesafety #naturewalks #dunewalk #emergencypreparedness #rescueoperation #dutchresilience #civicduty #publicsafety #landscapestory #militarytraining #witnessingnature #actofkindness #safeandaware #maikeldebakker

Zoutelande Through My Lens — Stories in Stillness

Photography is often about more than light and focus — it’s about perspective, emotion, and timing. These four images, taken with my Canon 5D Mark III and Sigma 100–400mm lens, represent a quiet but powerful narrative from last Sunday in Zoutelande.

📸 Image 1: My wife walking away between the wave breakers, avoiding the deeper water where I stood. A moment of everyday humor and love — where practicality meets poetry in motion.

📸 Image 2: A young girl standing alone on a small, sandy island surrounded by water. She gazes out toward the ocean, her solitude and wonder mirroring our own curiosity about the world beyond.

📸 Image 3: Here, lines take over the story — the towering dunes on one side, the endless sea on the other, and a wooden walkway that leads the eye straight to the horizon. Composition meets contemplation.

📸 Image 4: A solitary blue beach cabin, perfectly framed by sand and dune. It stands quiet and grounded — a symbol of stillness amidst the natural elements.

Each photo is a reminder that beauty lies in how we see things — and sometimes, in the space between what is and what could be.

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#zoutelande #landscapephotography #beachvibes #dutchcoast #canon5dmarkiii #sigma100400 #leadinglines #coastalphotography #zandduinen #zeelandnatuur #naturestory #visualnarrative #photographerslife #bluecabin #solitude #seascape #seadunes #compositionmatters #wavebreakers #dutchlandscape #naturalframe #oceanvibes #lifebythesea #dunesofholland #seasideview #perspectivephotography #sandpatterns #emotiveimagery #natureandpeople #climateandcoast #wanderlustphotography #natuurbeleving #femalefigure #everydaybeauty #photographyart #lensbasedmedia #beachperspective #wandelendvrouw #kustzicht #zoutelandemoment #maikeldebakker

Where the Dunes Meet the Sea — Zoutelande’s Living Landscape

Last Sunday, as I stood atop the dunes of Zoutelande, I took in a breathtaking view. Below me, the coastline buzzed with life: grandparents at the water’s edge with their grandchild, a small sailboat drifting peacefully across the sea, and beside me in the dune grass, a woman absorbed in her book — both of us quietly observing the world below.

These dunes are more than just scenic vantage points. In the Netherlands, they are vital to our survival. Formed over centuries by wind and tide, dunes serve as natural coastal defenses, protecting our low-lying country from storm surges and sea-level rise. Their height, structure, and vegetation act as buffers against the power of the North Sea.

They are also vibrant ecosystems. From hardy dune grasses to rare species like sea holly and sand lizards, dunes are full of life adapted to shifting sands and salty air. Their fragile balance reminds us of how deeply interconnected we are with nature.

So the next time you find yourself on a dune, take a moment. Look out, breathe in, and appreciate this living landscape — a place of peace, protection, and resilience.

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#zoutelande #dunes #duinen #nederlandnatuur #coastaldefense #beachlife #dutchcoast #landscapelovers #coastalecosystems #naturephotography #canon5dmarkiii #ecology #sustainablecoast #sigma100400 #natuurfotografie #coastallandscape #waddenzee #wildnetherlands #erosioncontrol #dunehabitat #dunegrass #protectnature #duneecology #zeeland #zandduinen #lifebythesea #natureinspiration #climateresilience #maikeldebakker #landschapvanzee

Pride Walk – Roze Maandag, Tilburg Kermis (Final Part)
“The Right to Shine”

Yesterday was unforgettable. Not just because of the color, the heat (28°C by the end!), or the crowd — but because of the feeling. For a moment, the noise of the world faded: no wars, no greed, no oppression. Just people being themselves. Free, radiant, proud.

These final images are my favorites, because they capture what this walk is really about — the right to be the best version of yourself. Whether you're loud or quiet, glittering or grounded, Pride celebrates the spectrum of humanity in all its vibrant truth.

Love was in the air — and with it came a flicker of hope. Hope that we can build a future where equality, science, sustainability, and kindness are the foundations of our society. A world where everyone shines, not just a few.

As a humble photographer, I’m honored to reflect that light. Let’s not let this be just a dream. Let’s walk forward together — for each other, for nature, for justice.

With love,
Maikel de Bakker
📸 Just here to help you shine.

#pridewalk2025 #rozemaandag #tilburgsekermis #lgbtqia #freedomtobe #shinebright #bornthisway #righttobeyou #celebratediversity #equalrights #sustainabilitynow #photowithpurpose #canon5dmarkiii #sigma100400 #hopeforhumanity #inclusionforall #loveiseverything #communitymatters #documentingtruth #peaceandpride #tilburgpride #togetherforchange #supportallidentities #proudphotographer #fromtheheart #humanityfirst #diversitymatters #scienceandhope #standupforlove #maikeldebakker