Hennie van Heerden's Wildlife Diary

A Day at the Dunes

Hennie van Heerden — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:07:11 +0000

The “Amsterdamse Waterleiding Duinen”, in short AWD certainly belongs to my favorite Dutch areas for photography. Not only because of the abundant foxes and fallow deer, although I must admit they are the most spectacular inhabitants of this nature reserve, but also because of the magnificent landscapes and the many birds. The AWD has got it all; dunes, forests, water in the form of numerous canals, (AWD provides drinking water for the city of Amsterdam) vast heather and grass fields.

When I entered the reserve last week a thick fog rose from the many canals. The Swans, ducks and geese where hardly visible, but what an atmosphere. Beautiful! Soon the fog blanket evaporated and the area bathed in golden morning light. Can’t help myself but everytime I’m there, I feel happy. The area is so beautiful there is a surprise around every corner, however small sometimes.

It was still very cold, around -10 to -12 C and the AWD was covered in snow. After an hour or so we decided to sit down alongside one of the canals and get some of the tea we brought with us. But as always, when you sit still, nature finds you! The tea was soon forgotten when we discovered dozens of snipes, fouraging on the banks so what other choice did we have than go down in the snow and shoot our heart out! Actually, we were so busy crawling up to the Snipes that we hadn’t noticed another visitor who was checking us out from behind a couple of reed stems.. Fox!! And we weren’t at all close to the area where the foxes are known to be approachable. The snow covered bank of the canal made for a perfect setting for this beauty and while the teacup was melting a hole in the snow down we went again on our stomachs. Funny how you don’t feel the cold at such moments at all!

She didn’t stay long but allowed us quite a few shots before she went. When afterwards we turned around to save the meanwhile stonecold tea, we were in for another surprise. Apparently her young was checking on mom what she was up to and meanwhile ‘guarded’ our gear that was, in the haste, scattered all around. Wow.. two foxes in our first hour in the dunes!!

The young fox was quite skittish and didn’t come close which was actually good so I could use the 500mm, a lens I prefer because of the nice blurry backgrounds. Also this one didn’t stay very long but I think I got some wonderful shots, especially with the snowy banks as background.

When the adrenaline of the fox encounters had worn off a bit we got on our way again. Like I said, around every corner there are little surprises. Woodcocks flying off when you practically stand on them (never time enough to capture them!), a Bittern and Whooper Swans flying over, Mergansers, Tufted Ducks, and Kingfishers on the canals.

After another hour we again sat down for the next attempt to get some tea down and yes, you guessed it; another fox paid us a visit When some other photographers discovered us, soon she went on her way again but not without our memory cards still buffering!!

Later that day we saw two more foxes but in our hearts we knew that we never would get the setting there like we had had earlier. Sure we shot but the winning photographs of the day were the three earlier foxes! What a glorious day!!

When we slowly made our way back, it’s always quite a hike, we encounter yet one other female fox, an older one. I remember I saw here only once before last year. She completed the score of 6 foxes in one day! Can you imagine that the first couple of times I went to the AWD I couldn’t find even one, despite the 20-odd km I walked, cris-crossing the reserve.

We walked back along the canals with fallow deer as company. A Swan couple swam towards us, like two proud flagships, silently floating by. Can you imagine that I left the reserve with a big smile on my face?!

Photo Exhibition at the National Park “De Hoge Veluwe”

Hennie van Heerden — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:04:12 +0000

My very first photo exhibition!! I’m really proud that a selection of recent photos is exhibited in the visitor centre of the National Park ‘De Hoge Veluwe’!! Next to that, a small movie is shown about me and my other work. So far, the response is heartwarming. So if you have been there already, thank you! And if you are going to go to the ‘Hoge Veluwe’, you’re very welcome to have a peek! It still runs until the 1st of april.

Mijn allereerste foto expositie! Ben hartstikke trots dat een selectie van mijn recentere foto’s momenteel tentoon gesteld worden in het Bezoekerscentrum van Nationaal Park de Hoge Veluwe. Ook wordt er een klein filmpje vertoond over mij en mijn werk. Tot dusver zijn de reacties werkelijk hartverwarmend! Dus mocht je al zijn geweest; dankjewel! En als je nog naar de Hoge Veluwe gaat een dezer dagen ben je van harte welkom om een kijkje te komen nemen!! De expositie loopt nog tot 1 april 2012.

Smashing book review!!

Hennie van Heerden — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:27:31 +0000

Ended 2011 with a fantastic bookreview on ‘the World of Hennie van Heerden’ in one of Holland’s biggest newspapers De Telegraaf!. 4 star rating!! Unexpected but boy, I’m so happy with it!!

Nederlandse boek website: www.wereldvanhennievanheerden.nl

English book website: www.worldofhennievanheerden.com

Not one but two!!

Hennie van Heerden — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:26:09 +0000

Yesterday I received an email with a wonderful Christmas gift; The National Wildlife Federation congratulated me with not one, but two honorable mentions in their 2011 Photo Contest!! Already winning the first prize in the category birds with the little heron in the river “Braving the Waves” was fantastic but now the Dung Beetle shot (“Gladiators”) and the young leopard in the Mashatu tree “High and Mighty” also received this great honor. Wow! Great Christmas present!

The most beautiful fall ever..

Hennie van Heerden — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:31:56 +0000

After all the excitement of last weekend I needed to unwind so I went to the Veluwezoom. A sure destination to forget everything and just focus on nature. When the sun broke through the light fog I was absolutely stunned by the beauty of the forest. I really think that this year’s fall is the most beautiful ever in Holland! The colors are so rich and deep, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything like it. Or maybe I just didn’t see it before in the way I do now.

People often say to photographers ‘you only look through the viewfinder and forget to just enjoy all that is beyond that view”, but I find that ever since I photograph I see a lot more! Not only animals but also scenery, although I’m not much of a landscape photographer. When I got into the more serious photography, I also learned more about animals and nature in general. About the turn of the seasons, about the return of the migrating birds, about animals that go into hibernation and about the light and weather conditions to be expected. And.. and that’s about the most important lesson learned; to be out there at the best time to see animals and nature at its best: early mornings.

Two blogs ago I wrote about the feeling that overpowered me when I walked through the rays of the sun, shining through the fog, on an early morning. This morning I had the same feeling. The views were so magnificent, so beautiful, it was just.. humbling. And yes, I also have heared that word used in the most inappropriate ways, but it’s the best word that comes to my mind when I walk through scenes like the ones I’ve included here.

What a fantastic day!

Hennie van Heerden — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:30:53 +0000

It took nearly a year of preparations with its peak in the last few months, but boy, was it worth it!! Last saturday we held the VNF 25th anniversary jubileum Photo Festival in the “Hanzehof” in Zutphen. It was fantastic!! The quality level of the presentations shown was exceptionally high, which makes me even more proud to be part of the VNF. Super presentations of David Pattyn, Karel Tomeï, Gertjan Straalman and Jari Peltomäki but also suberp presentations of our own VNF members like, Jan Vermeer, Wim Weenink, Jan Huttinga and many others! It was hugely inspiring and although I saw most of the presentations from the side of the stage, the pictures shown were mindblowing. I felt really privileged to be hosting this day.

Picture to the right is a phone photo taken by my sister in law of me, opening the festival.

The festival was featured on the TV Gelderland news bulletin and they shot footage at the festival. But they also wanted to show ‘the passionate photographer’ at work . So they asked me if they could come the next day and shoot at my place. Well, of course they could but when I rolled out of bed the next morning after all the excitement and adrenaline had worn out, the mirror told me that it was probably not such a good idea Anyway, they came and I took them to two places where I took some of my favorite pictures; the roe deer in the forest and a Kingfisher I shot a few weeks ago. It was great fun!! Later also TV Oost took over the feature so the clip was also broadcasted on monday.

I think we can all look back to a fantastic festival and by the sounds of the feedback we received from visitors we can be very proud of ourselves!

First Prize Category Birds National Wildlife Federation 2011!

Hennie van Heerden — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:55:16 +0000

Oh my…
This year, for the first time in my life, I entered two photo contests. Up until then I always had this hesitation to send in one of my shots because I was afraid it would ruin my own pleasure about a picture. I do realize that that sounds kind of weird, but I really can be thrilled with a picture, for varying reasons. Either because of a special moment, or because it was taken at a – to me – special location, or maybe just because it brings a smile to my face. Whatever, but a shot can really make me happy.

Anyway, mid August the first ‘verdict’ came in. A shot of mine of two Dung Beetles fighting over a dung ball which I took in Mala Mala, South Africa last December got to the finals of “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” (I know.. maybe it was kind of far fetched since I’ve only been into the more serious photography for about 4 years now but still reaching the finals I considered already a compliment).

But what it did was sort of diminish my expectations for the second, almost equally big contest I entered. The National Wildlife Federation’s Photo Contest. When you’ve ever layed eyes on the quality level of the photographical material in their magazine and on their website, the courage to enter a photo to the annual photo contest sinks right into your big toe.. Must admit that I closed my eyes when my finger hovered over the ‘send’ button.

But last week, an email came in: “Your photo “Braving the Waves” of the Green-backed Heron Fishing has won First place in the Birds category, Pro level, of our 2011 National Wildlife Photo Contest.”……
Wow! I’m really over the moon!

Although the NWF only announces the winners on the 21st of November, I got special permission to publish this, well at least to me, great news in time before the VNF photo festival next week. Thanks NWF!
To the Dutch: I DO see you there, don’t I?? Hurry up in ordering your tickets! Only 5 days left! Order your tickets at: Foto Konijnenberg!

VNF jubileum festival 5 november Hanzehof Zutphen

Hennie van Heerden — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:11:55 +0000

Voor het eerst in mijn blog schrijf ik eens in het Nederlands omdat dit toch vooral een Hollands evenement betreft.

(I’m sorry for writing this blog entry in Dutch, but it’s about a Dutch Photo Festival, which I’m going to present on November 5th, and I guess it’s kind of a Dutch party)

Ik ben al een aantal jaren lid van de Vereniging Natuurfotografen en dan van de afdeling Apeldoorn. En dit jaar hebben we een feestje te vieren!! De club bestaat namelijk 25 jaar en we gaan dit groots vieren op 5 november a.s. in de Hanzehof in Zutphen. En raad eens wie het festival gaat presenteren (ben nu al zenuwachtig en val straks vast van het podium af of zoiets..)

Er wordt al bijna een jaar aan de organisatie van dit festival gewerkt en het belooft dan ook een fantastische dag te worden.

Zo komen er internationaal en nationaal bekende gastsprekers waaronder ‘Wild Wonders of Europe” fotograaf Jari Peltomaki, Dutch photographer of the year David Pattyn en zal ons eigen clublid Jan Vermeer, 2x winnaar van Wildlife Photographer of the Year het festival openen met een prachtige presentatie over Africa. Niet de minste namen zou ik zeggen!! Verder zijn er werkelijk supermooie foto-presentaties te bewonderen van o.a. Karel Tomei en zal Gertjan Straalman een presentatie geven over filmen met de spiegelreflex camera. (heb ik zeker nodig want daar bak ik niks van ). Verder is er een ontroerend mooi klankbeeld over de Veluwe te zien, samengesteld uit ingezonden leden-beelden. Ongelooflijk hoe mooi dit relatief kleine Nederlandse Natuurgebied in beeld is gebracht!

Voor het volledige programma verwijs ik graag naar de website van het VNF-Apeldoorn en voor kaartverkoop naar de website van Foto Konijnenberg.

Het aantal toegangskaarten is redelijk beperkt dus bestel snel! Het zou ontzettend leuk zijn jullie daar allemaal te zien!

The Golden Cathedral

Hennie van Heerden — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:20:22 +0000

Because of visitors and a custom made workshop I was preparing, going out to photograph was not an option during the last 10 days, except for one morning that I went to the Veluwezoom. There wasn’t much going on as sunrise is already too late in this season; by the time it’s light enough to photograph, around 7.30 AM, the joggers, cyclists and bikers are also around, causing the animals to go into hiding for the day.

By the time I was driving back, the light autumn fog was lifting and the sun was already high in the sky setting the forest on fire with beautiful golden rays. It was as if was driving through a golden natural cathedral. That really made my day!

Proud as a peacock..

Hennie van Heerden — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:13:12 +0000

Finally…. The book is out!!

My first really really official book has just been published! I am proud as a peacock!

Better yet, actually there are two books;

Have a look at the Dutch version or the English version.

I feel like I’ve just given birth Without the pain that is..