Eyes in the emerald shadows. 🌿 🌳🐦
little did I know I was a few feet away from the beauty of the Woodland Kingfisher in its natural element as I strolled through the wooded areas of Ghana, West Africa 🇬🇭🐦.

Shot by O.S. Kev 📸

#pixelfed
#pixelfedphoto
#pixelfedphotography
#birdphotography
#wildlifephotography
#naturephotography
#birds
#wildlife
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#birding
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#woodlandkingfisher

Quiet Sunset Moments

#pixelfed #pixelfedpt #pixelfedphotography #fediverse #landscape #landscapephotography #sunset #sunsetlovers #goldenhour #nature #naturephotography #outdoors #earthfocus #ourplanetdaily #discoverearth #visualsoflife #moodygrams #agameoftones #artofvisuals #depthobsessed #stayandwander #exploretocreate #lightroom #mobilephotography #reflection #serenity #peaceful #eveningvibes #portugal #visitportugal

Skimboarding

#photography #photographer
#beach #beachlife #beachvibes
#sunset #sunsetlovers #sunsetphotography
#goldenhour #goldenlight
#silhouette #silhouettes
#reflections #waterreflection
#sea #ocean #waves
#minimalism #minimalphotography
#landscape #landscapephotography
#nature #naturephotography
#moodygrams #visualpoetry
#quietmoments #slowphotography
#travel #travelphotography
#pixelfed #pixelfedphotography

After almost 2 years, Finally caught a Blue Jay that was willing to sit still and stare back. 😊🐦

Shot by O.S. Kev 📸

#pixelfed
#pixelfedphoto
#pixelfedphotography
#birdphotography
#wildlifephotography
#naturephotography
#birds
#wildlife
#nature
#birdlovers
#birdwatching
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#natureofpixelfed
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#bluejay

Blue and white grape hyacinths, captured from a low angle—small flowers, but full of presence against the light.

This image was taken earlier that same day, before everything took an unexpected turn.

On our way into the city, my wife and I passed a park filled with young ducklings. I asked her to grab my camera from my backpack. As she handed it to me, I spotted more ducklings closer by and instinctively pointed them out… and in that moment, I let go.

SMAK.

The camera hit the ground body-first.

Panic. That instant realization of what just happened. But we were already on our way to a trusted place: Foto Teurlings in Tilburg. There, Chi reassured me—these cameras are built to endure more than we think. Hearing that helped, even if the shock still lingers.

Now it’s in for inspection, and I wait.

The image itself feels almost symbolic now. Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are early spring bloomers, resilient and persistent, pushing through cold soil to bring color back into the world. A quiet reminder that not everything fragile is weak.

Captured with my Canon 5DS R and Sigma 24–70 Art, ISO 100, f/2.6, 1/500 sec.

#GrapeHyacinth #Muscari #SpringFlowers #FlowerPhotography #LowAngle #BlueAndWhite #NaturePhotography #MacroFeel #ShallowDepthOfField #Bokeh #NatureDetails #SpringLight #OutdoorPhotography #NatureLovers #Botany #PlantScience #Resilience #StoryThroughPhotography #CanonPhotography #Canon5DSR #Sigma2470Art #PhotographyTechnique #NaturalLight #ExploringNature #WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #PixelfedPhotography #LightAndLife #MomentsInNature

A low-angle view, looking up at a narcissus against a bright blue sky.

Taken earlier today in full sunlight, this perspective gives the flower a sense of presence—almost as if it’s reaching upward, surrounded by others softly fading into the background. By shooting wide open at f/2.6, the foreground stays sharp while the rest gently dissolves into color and light.

The name “narcissus” traces back to the Greek myth of Narcissus, a young man who became so captivated by his own reflection that he could not look away, eventually fading at the water’s edge. According to the story, the flower bloomed where he was found. While it’s a myth, it does say something timeless about perception, reflection, and how easily we can become absorbed in what we see.

Scientifically, narcissus species are among the early bloomers of spring, using stored energy in their bulbs to flower before many other plants emerge. This gives them a head start in capturing sunlight and attracting pollinators.

Captured with my Canon 5DS R and Sigma 24–70 Art, ISO 100, f/2.6, 1/500 sec.

#Narcissus #Daffodil #Narsis #SpringFlowers #FlowerPhotography #LowAngle #BlueSky #NaturePhotography #MacroFeel #ShallowDepthOfField #Bokeh #NatureDetails #SpringLight #OutdoorPhotography #NatureLovers #Botany #PlantScience #Mythology #NarcissusMyth #GreekMythology #CanonPhotography #Canon5DSR #Sigma2470Art #PhotographyTechnique #NaturalLight #ExploringNature #WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #PixelfedPhotography

It’s amazing how much detail is hidden in something as small and ordinary as a coin.

For this series, I captured a collection of eight macro images using my Canon 5DS R paired with the Canon MP-E 65mm. At this scale, coins transform from everyday objects into intricate landscapes of engraved lines, textures, and symbols.

One thing that stood out to me is how often Queen Elizabeth II appears. Across many countries and decades, her portrait has been one of the most widely circulated faces in the world. Not surprising when you consider the historical reach of the United Kingdom. Interestingly, while the Netherlands has a long royal history as well, Dutch monarchs are rarely seen on foreign currency.

Beyond portraits, coins tell stories through symbols. Animals, plants, and national icons appear everywhere—tigers, blossoms, even an opossum. Others feature architecture or tools like compasses, each reflecting something meaningful about a country’s identity.

From a technical perspective, extreme macro reveals the physicality of minting: tiny ridges, micro-scratches, and the depth of engraved metal. What feels smooth to the touch becomes a rugged terrain under magnification.

A small object, carrying history, identity, and craftsmanship—all in the palm of your hand.

#MacroPhotography #MacroWorld #CanonMPE65 #Canon5DSR #CoinPhotography #Numismatics #CloseUp #ExtremeMacro #DetailPhotography #Texture #MetalTexture #Currency #Coins #HistoryInObjects #QueenElizabethII #RoyalPortrait #Symbolism #DesignDetails #HiddenDetails #MicroWorld #PhotographyTechnique #StudioPhotography #CreativePhotography #ExploringDetails #Magnification #ArtInDetails #WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #PixelfedPhotography

Old paper money, seen from a different world.

For this series, I explored an idea using my Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens—diving deep into the details of historical banknotes. A friend kindly brought part of his collection, and this is one of the first results: a Belgian 100 franc note, captured at extreme magnification.

At first glance, you might think you’re looking into the eyes of a lady. But look again—this is actually part of a bearded man. When isolated like this, reality shifts. Scale changes perception.

What fascinated me most are the physical details: the thickness of the ink, the tiny fibers of the paper, and the precision of printing techniques from the early 2000s. These notes were not just currency—they were carefully engineered objects designed to resist forgery through complexity at both visible and microscopic levels.

Captured with my Canon 5DS R and Canon MP-E 65mm.

#MacroPhotography #MacroWorld #CanonMPE65 #Canon5DSR #CloseUp #ExtremeMacro #DetailPhotography #Texture #PaperTexture #InkDetails #Banknote #BelgianFranc #OldMoney #CurrencyArt #HiddenDetails #OpticalIllusion #AbstractPhotography #Perception #VisualIllusion #FineDetails #PhotographyTechnique #StudioPhotography #CreativePhotography #ExploringDetails #Magnification #MicroWorld #ArtInDetails #MoneyArt #HistoricalObjects #DesignDetails #WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #PixelfedPhotography #LightAndLife #VisualStory #AbstractView #PhotographyArt #HiddenWorld #MacroShot

On a winter’s day in the Kampina, I crossed paths with one of my favorites: the Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus), or kuifmees in Dutch.

A small, energetic bird with its unmistakable crest—like a tiny mohawk—usually hidden high in pine canopies. Not an easy one to spot, let alone photograph. But after days of snow, this little one came down, likely searching for food beyond its usual shelter.

There it was, hopping in and out of the snowy branches, quick, alert, and full of character.

Moments like these make the list grow. The robin, the kingfisher, the long-tailed tit… and now this one. Each encounter a reminder of how much life surrounds us, if we just take the time to look.

One planet. One responsibility. In a universe where life is rare, this feels worth protecting.

Captured in the Kampina.

Picture made with the Canon 5D Mark 4, f6,3 1/500 ISO 3200 at 400mm with the Sigma 100/400mm

#CrestedTit #LophophanesCristatus #Kuifmees #Kampina #DutchNature #NatureNetherlands #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #ForestBirds #WinterNature #SnowyForest #NatureMoments #BirdLovers #WildlifeLovers #NatureObservation #OutdoorPhotography #NatureWalk #HiddenNature #SmallBirds #CanonPhotography #PhotographyTechnique #NaturalLight #ExploringNature #QuietMoments #MoodyNature #NatureLovers #Canon5Dmark4 #WildNetherlands #ForestLife #NatureStories #SimpleBeauty #OnePlanet #ProtectNature #Biodiversity #WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #PixelfedPhotography #LightAndLife #NatureConnection #MomentsInNature

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.

#HuysTerHeide #DutchNature #Sunrise #Reflection #MirrorWater #GoldenLight #MorningLight #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #NatureMoments #CalmWaters #Stillness #LightAndReflection #OutdoorPhotography #NatureWalk #WildlifeMoments #Cranes #BirdMigration #NatureObservation #CanonPhotography #Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #250mm #PhotographyTechnique #NaturalLight #ExploringNature #QuietMoments #MoodyNature #NatureLovers #DutchLandscape #EarlyMorning #NatureStories #SimpleBeauty #WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #PixelfedPhotography #LightAndLife #MomentsInNature #reflections