I’ve Spent 5 Years Capturing Perfectly Timed Action Shots Of Animals In Nature (35 Pics)

Can you name some of the major influences in your life who've helped you develop and define your photography style?

"Before I started doing wildlife photography 5 years ago, I met two local and talented Belgian photographers, Heikki Put and Koen Cuppens. They inspired me to do more wildlife action photography. They have taught me some of their skills like using a remote control to capture fast animals in motion. I also developed the skill of being very patient in capturing the best moment possible when it comes to animals. These two guys I mentioned earlier are the reason why I’m doing this kind of photography."

What is your favorite type of photos?

"Landscapes, street photography, nature, portraits, and animals. My interests in photography are very mixed. I can enjoy a lot of work from many photographers. But if I need to make a choice, I love the work of Geert Weggen a lot. Our style is totally different."

Do you ever feel burned out by doing creative work?

"Yes, it’s hard to come up with new things and new ideas, but I never feel burned out because being in nature and with animals gives me a lot of joy and pleasure."

How do people mostly react to your work?

"When people look at my work they have smiles on their faces and that's also a reason why I like this kind of photography. It makes people happy and if they are happy I’m also happy. When the corona epidemic started, a lot of people told me that seeing my pictures made them happy. Some people said that it gave them hope and joy in uncertain times—this is the best comment you can get as a photographer."

What part of the creative process do you enjoy the most?

"Good question, I have thought about it before. For me it’s probably building things for the red squirrels, it’s a very fun thing to do. I can put a lot of time into creating the setup, but the fun part is that I don’t have any idea how things can turn out. It's always exciting to see what I have captured in the end."

What inspired you to start an Instagram account for your photos?

"The inspiration for my account came from the idea of having a picture library and connecting with other photographers by learning from them, but things have changed. Right now, I love to upload creative and funny videos and photos of red squirrels. I have a lot of short movies that I need to post, so stay tuned!"

Where did you start as a photographer? Did you explore other forms of art first?

"I started with an iPhone 4 at the age of 21 and at the age of 25, I bought my first DSLR Nikon d5200. Now I’m shooting with the Nikon z6II. I never had any formal education, I've learned everything through trial and error. I made one mistake after another. it's a strange method, but it worked for me."

What motivates you as a photographer? Is it curiosity, the search for beauty, or meaning?

"I just want to spread the love with my pictures and make people happy and laugh. What also motivates me is that I can convey my feelings using my photos. I’m a very positive and happy guy and I want to show that in my images."