Last week’s storm brought more than just dramatic skies and roaring waves — it also brought a reminder of the courage and skill of those who protect lives at sea. As I photographed the storm at sunset, I suddenly caught flashing lights from the corner of my eye. A large vessel stormed across the beach: the KNRM (Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij).

Within moments, the lifeboat hit the water, cutting through crashing waves with incredible force. The sheer power of the launch was breathtaking — in one frame, the ship burst through a backlit wave, sending a giant spray skyward, and in the next, it rose above the water as if weightless. To witness such a scene, and to capture it, felt like pure luck and timing.

The KNRM is staffed largely by volunteers, men and women who risk the elements to rescue others in need. Seeing them in action, even in training or readiness, is a striking reminder of the human dedication behind maritime safety.

These shots were taken with my Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm, with the storm winds and salt spray making it as much a battle for my gear as for the lifeboat crew. Once again, cleaning up after the shoot was no small task — but moments like these are worth every grain of sand.

#KNRM #reddingboot #lifeboat #zeerescue #stormchasing #stormyseas #roughseas #zeeland #westkapelle #canon5dmarkiv #sigma100400 #maritimesafety #wavesplash #oceanpower #seastorm #nauticallife #coastguard #maritimerescue #canonphotography #seaphotography #stormphotography #actionshot #photographerslife #zeelandbeach #oceanwaves #rescueatsea #maritimevolunteers #courageatsea #canonshooters #wavecrash #seascapephotography #canonphotographer #lifesavers #maritimeheroes #photographycommunity #stormwatching #northsea #dutchcoast #seapower #pixelfed

During a morning walk to the nature reserve Natuurpark Oranjezon we passed a row of pastel-colored beach houses. I was just about to photograph them when two people strolled by, followed by a young boy, head down, slowly kicking his ball forward with an air of boredom. That was the moment I pressed the shutter.

The scene struck me as a double contrast: the boy’s mood against the lively, cheerful backdrop, and the pale sand blending with his hair against the colorful beach houses framed by dark dunes. It’s a reminder that sometimes life feels gray, even when surrounded by color.

Although this wasn’t shot in a city, it still belongs to street photography. The genre isn’t limited to actual streets — it’s about candid, unposed human moments unfolding in their natural environment. Whether in a square, a metro station, or here on the beach, the essence of street photography lies in observing and capturing the fleeting stories of everyday life.

Taken with my Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm.

#streetphotography #beachhouses #natuurparkoranjezon #canon5dmarkiv #sigma100400 #storytellingphotography #decisivemoment #humanpresence #documentaryphotography #photographylovers #moodyphotography #contrastphotography #streetlife #streetmood #seasidephotography #dutchcoast #everydaymoments #candidshot #photographerslife #visualstorytelling #timingiseverything #photooftheday #moodytones #lifeincolor #dutchphotography #streetcapture #candidphotography #humanstories #fleetingmoment #storyinapicture #photographysoul #sandandsea #streetstylephotography #streets_storytelling #environmentalportrait #moodyvibes #lensculturestreets #streetsincolor #visualnarrative #momentcaptured #streetframe

The day after the storm we returned to the beach, and the North Sea was more furious than ever. The wind cut across the shore with brutal force, and the waves rose higher than I have ever seen before — each one crashing with a power that humbles you.

We arrived just as sunset painted the aftermath. Between two storm fronts, the light broke through the clouds in a way that seemed almost otherworldly. Though the sun itself was hidden, its glow illuminated the scene in gold, turning even the wild waves into liquid fire. In the middle of this chaos stood the red buoy, a small but steady marker battling the storm — I call this shot “Red Buoy in the Stormy Golden Waves.”

Photographing in these conditions is always a challenge. I traveled, as usual, with most of my gear, but the sandblasting was relentless. Every gust carried grains that crept into zippers, joints, and even deep into my camera bag. The next day was spent carefully cleaning my Canon 5D Mark IV, Sigma 100–400mm, and everything else — a reminder that nature always leaves its mark, even on the tools we use to capture it.

This image is more than a photograph; it is a moment of resilience, light, and raw power held together in one frame.

#stormphotography #redbuoy #canon5dmarkiv #sigma100400 #zeeland #northsea #stormywaves #oceanpower #goldenwaves #stormylight #coastalphotography #seascapelovers #weatherphotography #extremeweather #sandblasted #naturephotography #dutchcoast #westkapelle #seaandsky #moodylandscape #oceanenergy #climatephotography #wildsea #stormchasing #wavecrash #stormclouds #canonphotography #landscapephotography #northseacoast #stormwatch #dramaticlight #backlitwaves #sunsetglow #oceanstorm #powerofnature #weatherwatching #seascapeart #stormylightscape #naturepower #seascapephotography #photographerslife

Last Saturday I found myself at Westkapelle, Zeeland, during a fierce southwesterly storm. The sea was alive with raw energy, its rhythm both terrifying and mesmerizing. My first image captures a red buoy fighting its endless battle against towering waves — a symbol of resilience in an outraged sea. The backlit waves revealed deep emerald tones through their translucent crests, crowned with foamy white spray, the buoy holding steady above.

A gull flew straight toward me in another frame — simple, yet powerful. Its wings spread against the turbulent backdrop, it seemed to embody the calm determination needed to survive such storms.

The third shot froze the sheer force of water as it crashed violently against the wooden breakers, sunlight catching the spray in a fleeting golden shimmer.

And finally, my favorite: sunset breaking through storm clouds, with beams of light stretching across the horizon. Even in the midst of chaos, nature reveals its beauty — a reminder that turbulence and serenity are often only a moment apart.

Captured with the Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm, these images remind me why storms have always fascinated both scientists and artists: they are nature’s raw poetry.

#stormphotography #zeeland #westkapelle #canon5dmarkiv #sigma100400 #seascapephotography #stormyseas #oceanpower #climatephotography #weatherphotography #wavepower #stormchasing #stormylight #sunsetphotography #seabirds #gull #coastalphotography #northsea #dutchcoast #wildsea #seascapeart #canonphotography #naturephotography #extremeweather #windandwaves #stormysky #dramaticlight #wavecrash #stormwatch #climateawareness #landscapephotography #oceanenergy #seastorm #stormclouds #moodylandscape #backlitwaves #seascapelovers #weatherwatching #naturepower #photographerslife #sunsetstorm

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

Paris, 2011.
These two looked so effortlessly cool I almost asked them for fashion advice.
Nikon D700 + vintage 28mm f/2.8

#streetphotography #paris #filmlook #nikond700 #manualfocus #vintageglass #28mm #streetstyle #everydayparis #candidmoment #photographyarchive #fromthearchives #lensculture #photographerslife