So this will be about my choice or rather experience with both systems using them side to side and eventually made the maybe unpopular choice. Lets discuss or let me explain because if you talk about this then there are two camps shouting to each other that full frame is better and the future, the other side will shout its all about versatility and the ability to shoot and be flexible in any shooting condition. Rather get further and get the shot than give up halfway there.

Time to take a break from work and do a stay over at the Posbank nature park. I stayed in a very nice hotel (Scandinavian look and feel) in the middle of the forest. The Posbank itself is situated in the middle of the Netherlands in a hilly part of that area with also a lot of heather in the fall. However this time around it was grey, wet and almost warm. For middle of winter this is weird, I guess climate change does exist (sarcasm).

The sand engine (also called Sand Motor - Zandmotor in Dutch) is a type of beach nourishment where a large volume of sediment is added to a coast. The natural forces of wind, waves and tides then distribute the sand along the coast over many years, preventing the need for repetitive beach nourishment. This particular part of the Dutch coast is quite unique and therefor interesting for migrating birds and native water birds.

So on my wish list there are a few birds that I am really keen to photograph, owls being one of those birds. To mee it doesn’t matter which species as long as its in a natural surrounding and the birds are free. There are a lot of birds “sanctuaries” where you can photograph birds. Don’t get me wrong I would also love to rekindle my birds portrait series, but getting birds in a natural habitat or environment on a photo is my preference.

Due to a podcast about birding I was pointed to this specific location and others as well. I have not yet been here or photographed at this location. It’s situated below Rotterdam. It’s a dune area with where fresh water meets the sea. Especially in winter, the salt water flows through channels and creeks far into the area. The low parts of Kwade Hoek are always damp. Sea buckthorns are found in the drier areas. In short a very interesting area for birds. Take a look here, kwadehoek.

So I have a few blog stories still to write. One of those was my search for a “easy” photo of a kingfisher. I have heard that the Lepelaarplassen was one of the spots where there is always a kingfisher present. To be fair when I was there the kingfisher was also there, so true story in that sense. However I did not get the perfect shot.

Now already a few weeks ago but this was the best last day of autumn. The sun was strong and you felt the last sunny days and warmth of the season. This made that there was also a lot to see and photograph. I think a saw the most birds species in this short time frame ever in the dunes. I was there for maybe 4-5 hours, so I guess I was lucky!

A well deserved time off with the two of us exploring the forest and hiking trails in the Achterhoek in the Netherlands. I never visited this part of the country that specific and let me tell you I loved it. It has a diverse landscape, forest and vegetation more so than over here or at the Veluwe. We got our first Red kite (rode wouw) and a Green woodpecker (groene specht) that flew with us along the car, which was very cool to see.

Back to chronologic order to my photography. I was in the dunes at the start of October in full on autumn, however with the weather back then and still is, it was so warm it felt like summer. It was a wonderful day, with temperatures around 18-20gr Celsius. Walking in the sun it was really warm, quite weird actually. My goal was to film the deer in meeting season. In the end I was unlucky, but still got some really cool photos.