Tilburg Spring 2007: Eurasian Griffion Vulture visits the Netherlands

This Eurasian Griffion Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is photographed at the Falcony and Nature exhibition during the Birds of Prey show. Dutch newspapers report that 110-160 wild Griffion Vultures are signaled to search for food in Oss and Maasbracht in the Netherlands, June 19-20 2007 . The birds flew across the continent from the Spanisch Pyrenees to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The last report I checked, reported that the birds are heading towards s' Hertogenbosch. They are migrating, because the Eurpean Law states that carrions need to be cleared away in the Pyrenees. This is a relatively new law and the consequence is that the Griffion Vultures cannot find enough food for survival. Clearly, the migration is a desperate act. Some lost Griffion Vultures are regularly seen in the Netherlands, but not 110-160 birds in packs of 40-60 birds at the same time. Dutch farmers tried to help the animals. They spread out some remnants of meat on their fields. But other farmers complained, because it is illegal to do this and there are risks involved. Remnants of meat could cause diseases. We don't know the outcome. Although it is spectaculair to spot these birds in the Netherlands, Birdlife International and the Vogelbescherming Nederland warned that this is a bad sign. These birds cannot survive in the Netherlands and they expect that the birds will return to their original habitat. Unfortunately, I hadn't time to travel to Oss or Maasbracht to spot these beautiful creatures.

Canon Eos 350D 75-300mm, 1/100 sec

Leiden Spring 2007: Life - A Journey Through Time in Naturalis

LIFE: A Journey Through Time is presented as a photographic exhibition by Naturalis, the National Museum of Natural History of the Netherlands. After its opening on September 23, 2006, the exhibition is scheduled to tour through Europe and around the world.

'Behind The Lens. The simple idea of looking for the past in the present grew into a challenging photographic undertaking that extended over several years. My mission to capture images of nature that could evoke time and origins required lots of research and planning. I wanted to apply both new scientific ideas to my subjects and new photographic techniques to my images. On location, that often meant exposing cameras to all kinds of extremes.' (Frans Lanting, 2006, Life – A Journey Through Time, Taschen USA Edition)

Canon Eos 350D 18-55mm, 1/60 sec.

Leiden Spring 2007: Life - A Journey Through Time in Naturalis

In every part of the exposition there is attention for specific events in life through time.

'The Life Project is a lyrical interpretation of life on Earth from its earliest beginnings to its present diversity. “I wanted to tell the story of life from its earliest beginnings to its present diversity by capturing images that evoke nature through time,” says Lanting. “Ever since, I’ve been on a personal journey through time, looking for situations in the natural world that provide a window on its past.” ' http://www.lifethroughtime.com/

Canon Eos 350D 18-55mm, 1/30 sec.

Tilburg Spring 2007: Portraits of stuffed animals

Stuffed animals like ghosts of the past. Do you see the dead glance of their eyes? It makes me long for vivid animals, like the robin in my garden or the jackdaws robbing bread crumbs from my roof terrace table. Natuurmuseum Brabant.

Canon Eos 350D 18-55mm, 1/60 and flash light.

Tilburg Spring 2007: Portraits of stuffed animals

I am not a fan of stuffed animals, because I rather see the animals alive and well in the wilderness. I think my portraits of these stuffed animals in Natuurmuseum Brabant reflect the lack of life.. But it gives me the opportunity to study these animals up and close.

Canon Eos 350D 18-55mm, 1/60 sec and flash light.

Leiden Spring 2007: Creative aspects in Naturalis

The design of Naturalis is to be admired in its own right. The lights are designed for preserving the delicate bones, feathers, shells and furs of all the animals and the precious plants, as much as possible. Therefore, some darkness is necessary. Sunlight and flash light can do damage to colours and matter. As a visitor you don't have to wander in the dark... The lights in Naturalis are soft, but bright enough to examine stuffed species and fossils.

Canon Eos 350D 18-55mm, 1/10 sec.

Tilburg Spring 2007: Skeleton structures

Details of skeletons in the Natuurmuseum Brabant, a small natural history museum in the heart of Tilburg. The structures of the bones and stones intrigue me to capture parts of it in a photographic image.

Canon Eos 350D 18-55mm

Amsterdam Spring 2007: Playful young coots

Young Eurasian coots in the canals of Amsterdam are swimming near my feet, while I am enjoying a fresh glass of juice. The coots already learned how to beg for food.

Canon Eos 350D 18-55mm

Fulica atra

Amsterdam Spring 2007: Spirit of the Wild

The exposition Spirit of the Wild does also attract dutch wildlife...

Amsterdam Spring 2007: Spirit of the Wild

Impressions of the exposition Spirit of the Wild - Steve Bloom. The open-air exposition at the Westermarkt in Amsterdam gave notice to climate change and other environmental issues. The exposition in itself presented a strong contrast between nature photography and city life.

Canon Eos 350D 18-55mm

Tilburg Spring 2007: Getting close

I am getting close to this eagle at the birds of prey show in Tilburg. Eagles use their super-keen eyesight to scan their surroundings. This eagle seems to scan the people looking at him. They use their powerful hooked bill to tear up their prey, which was demonstrated at the show.

Canon Eos 350D 75-300mm

Tilburg Spring 2007: Eye to eye with reptiles

Reptile Zoo the Oliemeulen in Tilburg gives visitors the opportunity to get eye to eye with reptiles. They differ in colour, shape and some of them are dangerous. Getting in contact with these creatures can stimulate awareness of the importance of biodiversity.

Leiden Spring 2007: Creative aspects in Naturalis

A huge ammonite, shadows of stuffed animals and the inventive design of the museum lend a sight to admire.

Naturalis is a natural history museum. Scientists work together with the University of Leiden and the Medical Centre to uncover more of the human and the non-human world.

Leiden Spring 2007: Creative aspects in Naturalis

I used only 1/10 sec to photograph the objects without a tripod. I was not allowed to use a tripod or flash light. Objects in itself and the presentation of these objects gave me inspiration to create a new work of art.

Tilburg Lente 2007

Arend (welke?) en vale gier

Eagle and Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus)

Valkerij en natuurbeurs bij de reptielzoo 'De Oliemeulen' - Falcony and nature exhibition near reptile zoo 'The Oliemeulen'.

Canon Eos 350D 75-300mm