Workshop in "Het Leudal" // The last colors of Autumn

Today I gave another photography workshop in my local nature reserve. “Het Leudal” for two nice guys from Belgium. My clients were really into learning how to find new compositions, look for leading lines, framing, and just looking and experiencing a forest (in this case) for photography. Also very much to just slow down and enjoy nature ofcourse.

We did walk about 9km through the area and encountered a lot of nice places. Some Leudal classics, and beautiful random encounters. Some interesting conversations about photography accompanied us during our walks. We all had a great day. Thank you for joining me today guys, and to you: Thanks for checking out this blogpost. Below is a selection of photographs from today.

The Classic. A long exposure at the watermill in Het Leudal

A well spotted beautiful leaf with waterdrops by one of the participants. I had to shoot it too ofcourse.

The beautiful landscape in Het Leudal

A rainy morning in the forest

Today I woke up early, headed to the forest and show a few snaps. The rain didn’t stop me. I actually liked it, as it added some mood to the photographs.

Forest photography in the rain is a captivating and ethereal experience. As the raindrops cascade through the lush green canopy, the forest comes alive with an enchanting atmosphere. The rain adds an element of mystery and intrigue to the photographs, creating a soft and dreamlike ambiance. The moisture in the air enhances the vibrant colors and textures of the foliage, making them appear more saturated and vivid. Every droplet becomes a reflection of the beauty within the forest, transforming ordinary scenes into extraordinary moments.

Through the lens, one can capture the dance of rain-kissed leaves, the glistening bark, and the delicate balance between light and shadow. Forest photography in the rain is an opportunity to explore the hidden corners of nature, revealing its secrets and inviting viewers into a world of tranquility and awe.

Film Photography - Nikon F601

Hi there folks, it feels like its been ages since I’ve made a new blogpost. And whilst I am saying this I figured out that my last blog dates from May. So its about time I did something about that!

I have been trying out some film photography recently. Something I have never really done before. And it is safe to say that I am a complete noob with zero experience when it comes to all thins analog photography. But just that is what I like about trying out something new. Go in blank, find out how things work. And make plenty of mistakes.

Below you can see a gallery of images that came out of my 2nd ever roll of film. The first one I messed up completely whilst trying to shoot black and white film on an old Olympus Trip 35. This little camera did not want to advance my film correctly, as I found out once “filled up” the roll of film. A complete bust. After this failed attempt it took me a few weeks to try again, and give it a second chance.

I did so this time with a Nikon F601 and 35-70mm lens that I had laying around the house without actually ever knowing having it. Ah well, I guess I got lucky… this camera already felt much more comfortable, and did the trick for me. It was great fun shooting this thing, and thinking about settings and all that a little bit differently compared to what I am used to whilst shooting digitally.

Click the photographs to see them in their full size/ratio!

As you can see from this gallery the images came out quite nice, to look at. None of them are masterpieces. But they don’t need to be. Shooting film for me is just having fun and trying something else.

I also had a go at scanning the negatives at home. Doing it by DSLR scanning. But as you can see I need more practice at that, and perhaps better gear. Specifically a dedicated macro lens to get clearer images and resolution. I now shot these with my 50mm F1.8 and macro extension tubes. Which comes with losing control of aperture and quite the challenge to nail focus. I guess all good things comes with practice, time and patience. I will keep shooting film every now and then and perhaps try different things for scanning my images. Thanks for reading!

This is the camera I have shot above images on. The Nikon F601 and a 35-70mm F3.3-4.5 lens. A camera from the early 90’s.

Ninlingspo River in Autumn - Belgium - Photo's & Cinematic Video

A few days ago I went on a daytrip some 1,5h from home. Into the Belgian region called “De Ardennen”. Here you have a completely different landscape then what I am used to at home. Mountainlike valleys, very big and dense forests, forest streams with cascades and small waterfalls and just a lot of space. As it is early Autumn I was hoping to catch this forest with some good colors. And although the transition in colors hasn’t been fully completed yet, the forest still looked really nice.

The Ninglinspo is the only mountain river in Belgium and the trail along this river has the same name. The Ninglinspo is a unique hike in the Ardennes and I recommend it to everyone. Located in the south of the Ardennes, near Aywaille and Remouchamps, you can enjoy the beauty of nature, the waterfalls, the adventurous trails and the wild character of the nature in the area.

Admittedly, the name is complicated. But the beauty of the route near Aywaille is stunning. The trail follows the course of the mountain stream. This walk is a true classic and has therefore been declared an 'Exceptional Natural Heritage of Wallonia'.

You walk along paths and over bridges from one side of the river to the other. The difference in height of 350 meters over three kilometers creates waterfalls. Natural pools have been carved out by the force of the water. These listen to pretty names like "bath of Diana". The water can whirl wildly when it has rained heavily, while in a dry period the river gently flows downstream. Put on your walking shoes, bring food and drink for a picnic and walk this idyllic route. And don’t forget your camera!

Check out this video I have shot during my daytrip there, nice and slow moving cinematic shots to unwind and relax. And maybe get inspired to make it out to place yourself?

My Gear

Recently I have made a new page on this website. To give you an overview of most of my gear that I work with. From my main Camera, to lenses, which drone I use and so on. Feel free to check it out and if you have any questions about one of the items on my list, or want to talk photography gear in general feel free to get in touch!