Go With the Flow
Whether it’s a brush, a chisel, a pen, a camera or a gouge…It doesn’t matter much to me. As long as creativity flows, I don’t care which tool serves the purpose. Whether the result becomes a painting, a story, a photograph, or a sculpture, as long as what lives inside me is free to come out.
All I do is open the doors that allow my inner world to give shape to whatever needs to be born. Keeping that flow locked only leads to blockages. So: go with the flow.
Newborn Words
Although my camera spent much of this year gathering dust, I certainly did not stand still. Quite the opposite.
Countless short stories came into being, this time shaped by words rather than images.
And of course, I’m grateful that my photos continued to spread. From private collectors to multinationals, from cute little canvases on the wall to prints in the millions… everything was greatly appreciated, thanks so much for all your support!
Fox Stories
Naturally my beloved foxes were abundantly present this year. I wrote an extensive article filled with fox facts, ranging from monogamous fox love to climbing, swimming, fighting, sniffing, hunting and jumping foxes.Illustrated with fox pictures, of course!
I also rewrote the famous medieval tale Reynard the Fox, giving the fox the well-deserved Hall of Fox Fame.
And… for anyone still wondering whether foxes (and other animals) can laugh, the answer can be found in my Smiling Foxes article.
Laughing Animals
Speaking of laughing animals… I wrote about Smiling Zen Seals, these beach Buddhas that appear chronically content, smiling and cheerfully waving as they face wind, sand and weather.
Missing Legs
This year I also solved no fewer than two missing-leg mysteries: The case of the five-legged pink grasshopper and that of the one-legged sanderling.
Forest Elves, Shy Owls, Stoic Swans and Ravishing Storks
I wrote about my encounter with the cutest hungry little forest elf.
Other birds also received their own stories this year, such as the sneezing little owl, the steadfast urban swan
and the Grande Dame of the skies, the white stork.
Rare Sagas, Snorkel Wasps and Miniature Hummingbirds
Insects, too, were given ample attention this year, from the extremely rare Saga hellenica to the friendly green giant, also known as the digger wasp and the award-winning design of the hummingbird hawk-moth.
Abstraction, Creativity and Art in Nature Photography
The often overlooked child of nature photography – abstract nature photography – finally took a more prominent place.
Because even within nature photography, there is room to abstract. In that same spirit, I shared my thoughts on how nature photography can be art.
And as a small side path of this creative approach, I showed the art of nature itself through iridescent spider webs.
Oh and speaking about Creative Nature photography, dis I already mention I wrote with ea team of authors on this new book ‘Creatieve Natuurfotografie‘?
Closing
2025 does not end with a bang, but quietly, with words that find their own way and stories that speak in whispers.
My camera is in hibernation, but whatever wants to emerge will always find its form.
I leave the door ajar.
2026, you are welcome.
I can’t wait to see you flow.
And…… wishing you a beautiful, healthy, peaceful and creative New Year! <3