Uploads from hvhe1, tagged veluwe

Playtime!

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:54:58 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

It was still very early in the morning when I found two young roe deer bucks at the Veluwwezoom last week. I had switched off the car and let it roll downhill, so they hadn't noticed me at all and went on with what they were doing: Playing!!!

It was such a delight to watch.. They were chasing each other with amazing speed through the dry heather bushes. They obviously had such fun and I swear I saw a smile on this one's face! :-)

Prince on the pluch perch..

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:58:52 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Bluethroats have been on my wishlist for as long as I can remember. But so far I hadn't managed to get a decent picture of it.

So a couple of weeks ago, when the Bluethroats had just returned, I went to an area where I knew they had been seen the year before. When I came to a marsh-like area, covered in cattails I thought that this might make a nice background for the colorful bird. So I sat myself down and waited. And waited... And... waited some more. And - as always - just before I was about to give up because the light was going anyway (not to mention my bum being completely numb from sitting completely still on a boardwalk), there it was!! Singing its little head off. A few days later our prince was rewarded for his hard vocal work by the arrival of a little Bluethroat princess :-)

Sorry for not being much on Flickr lately. Been travelling quite a lot and busy with lots of other things. But I'll try and better my life!

And then there was snow

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:59:14 -0800

hvhe1 posted a photo:

When I looked outside my living room window, the first dust-like snowflakes began to fall and the weather forecast predicted more. So I packed in the camera, and drove to the National Park ' De Hoge Veluwe'. At first everything was still green but when the hours passed, the snow covered everything in a white blanket. And yes, as normal as it may seem to many people throughout the world, here in Holland we still get excited when snow falls :-)

When I drove up a little road there was a car behind me. Apparently my 20km/hour bugged the hell out of him because he nearly touched my bumper! So I drove to the side to let him pass. When I was done thinking up names for this so called nature lover I looked up and found myself eye-to-eye with this young roe deer buck, his antlers still covered in velvet, checking me out through the curtain of falling snow flakes.

I guess I have to be thankfull to this hasty driver for making me stop..

Autumn splendour

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:05:05 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Just returned home from a trip to Gambia but I haven't been able to process the pictures I shot there, as I'm busy with the preparations of the 25th anniversity photo festival of our photoclub, the VNF (Vereniging Natuurfotografen).

I wanted to share this picture with you as it is part of an absolutely touchingly beautiful presentation about the National park de Veluwe which will also be shown at the festival. As our photoclub is located in Apeldoorn, which is located almost next to the Veluwe, lots of members sent in their most beautiful pictures of this area.

For those of you who live in Holland; the festival promises to become a fantastic event, with lots of famous guest speakers, among which Wild Wonders of Europe photographer Jari Peltomaki and one of Holland's most well-known nature photographers (who is also a member of our club) Jan Vermeer. I'm presenting the festival and it would be awesome to see you all there!

You can read more about it on my blog. The festival will be held on saturday 5th of November in the Hanzehof in Zutphen. You can read more about the photoclub and the festival at the club's site: VNF-Apeldoorn. Hope to see you all at the festival on the 5th!!

Sunset spotlight

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:16:25 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

I was going through my archives to find the most beautiful pictures I took during the last couple of years, to include in the (soon) to be published book. It's supposed to be in the bookstores end of August.

I totally got lost in the wonderful memories all those pictures represent.

I came across this one, which I haven't posted on Flickr yet. I must admit I love the light here. It is as if this beautiful stag has his own special moment in the spotlights. What makes this shot even more special to me, is that this particular stag, which was my absolute favorite of all the stags at the National Park de Hoge Veluwe, was killed just last year...

What do you think, shall I include it in the book?

Birthday Baby

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 09:12:10 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Look what I've got for my birthday!! :-)

I was out early in the morning yesterday and I really couldn't have wished for a better birthday present than the sight of the little Wild Boar Piglets, playing right next to the car.

I've updated the Wildlife Diary with the most fantastic last few days..

The flight of the Honey Buzzard

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:38:43 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

The alarm clock of my cell phone was set to the usual 4.30. Despite the fact that it literally was lying next to my ear, I slept right through it. For weeks already I try to be 'in the field' at around 5 or 5.15 and, let's face it, there is a point where your body needs the rest.

Well anyway, the outcome was that I was 'late' at my destination, a National Park nearby. At least too late for the first light. And indeed, the sightings were not that great. A few Roe deer, some Hare, but that was it. Also the light had already turned quite harsh.

Until I turned a corner and I saw 'something' sitting on a little branch. When I saw the shape and the color I immediately thought "Hawk"! I got really excited because I had never been able to capture these magnificent birds-of-prey although they have a nest just in the corner of our meadow.
So I veeeery carefully made my way towards the branch but before I even got a shot, it flew off. I sat back, a bit disappointed but much to my surprise, a shadow fell over the field.. It returned!! Granted, it landed one branch further away but still! I started shooting and to my absolute thrill it flew off, straight towards me! It landed on a branch closer to me.
This shot is when it finally took off to disappear entirely..

But what a thrill!! I sat back to 'chimp' through the images on my display and suddenly I noticed that it wasn't a Hawk, but something even more exciting! A Honey Buzzard! They are quite rare in Holland and to find an adult male in full plumage is something I dreamed about, but never expected to find. And the harsh light I dreaded, turned to my advantage as it shone through the wings as it flew off. Pfuw!!

So despite the fact that this is quite a crop, I'm sooo happy with it!!!

Talking about being happy with something, (well, and honoured :-), check out the Wildlife Diary if you feel like it.

Lots of hugs to you all!

Fairy Fawn

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:11:58 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Yesterday morning I tried my luck again with the Roe Deer babies. It's funny but up until now I've lived with the Roe Deer all my life, but had very rarely seen a fawn. But this year it seems that I all of a sudden understand where, and more importantly, hów to look because I see them almost every time I'm out photographing. But still, capturing them is a different ballgame. While the doe is at ease with me (I like to think that she knows me by now and trusts me, which is probably total nonsense :-)), the babies are still enormously skittish. They jump all over the place!! And as it's invariably early in the morning so with difficult lighting conditions I think I have the largest collection of blurry fawn pictures! :-)

I would really like to address one more thing; Deer fawns, when they are just born, are left alone in hiding by the doe. When you stumble upon a deer fawn, don't think it's abandoned because, of course with the exception of when you are a 100% sure that the mother is dead, the doe will be nearby, keeping an eye on you. Whatever you do, don't touch it or pick it up. Fawns have no scent whatsoever in their first weeks, as to not attract predators to their location. When you touch it (or its immediate surroundings), it will smell of humans and the mother will not return to feed it. You will condemn it to death by starvation and I'm absolutely sure you don't want that.

I've had the most lovely weekend, if you are interested, have a look at the Wildlife Diary

Full force

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:46:43 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Although I don't usually post two pictures of the same subject closely after each other, I was so happy with this one, I just had to.

At the National Park De Hoge Veluwe in Holland, rutting season has definitively begun! The huge Stags are having daily dominancy fights over the herds of females and the calls can be heard from far off. Every year its a spectacular sight!

This particular stag, I call him "Koeiekop", which means so much as Oxhead, is the oldest and most agressive one of the stags. He defends his harem with a vengeance and every time another stag is entering the field he attacks full force. His massive bulk can accelerate with incredible speed!

Invariably, the fiercest fights are at sunset, when the light is rapidly fading. And with a speed explosion like that, you need shutterspeed. Two things that don't go well together.

So my hopes were not very high to capture this spectacular event, but nonetheless raised iso values(and kept my fingers crossed). When he indeed attacked one of the younger stags, I followed him with maximum frames per second. Much to my excitement, one shot (only) turned out exactly right!! Sharp head of the deer and motion-blurred background, something I had hoped for, but never expected to really get!
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Something else; a couple of weeks ago I received an email of Flickr staff to remove the links to my website from the narratives underneath my pictures. To tell you the truth, I didn't even know that it was forbidden, but apparently a fellow Flickr member had reported me to Flickr staff accusing me of using Flickr for commercial purposes. To the best of my knowledge I've never tried to sell you guys anything but merely linked to share events (the wildlife diary) and other things that happened to me lately. But anyhow, rules are rules and I was summoned to remove them, otherwise my account would be deleted. So, no matter the emails I sent (never heard anything back on them, which I think is rather unpolite), I removed the links.

What apparently is allowed is a link to your website on your profile, and underneath your picture a link to your blog or photo-portfolio. So voila! Here's my brandnew blog :-). With absolutely no commercial purpose whatsoever, but merely to share the wildlife diary with you. :-)

Getting ready for the girls

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:43:12 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Every day, the tension among the big Red Deer stags is building on the heather fields of 'De Hoge Veluwe', a National Park in Holland. The young ones are being chased away now by the bigger, stronger ones and and the first, still not very loud, calls can be heared over the fields. The Stags are restless and nervous. Can't be long now before the rutting season is in full flow.

This one paid particular attention to his looks. He tossed up chuncks of heather and caught it again with his antlers, decorating them with pink little heather flowers. I bet he's a real looker for the Red Deer Ladies!

No pain .. No gain..

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 07:13:47 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

The huge Red deer stags at 'de Hoge Veluwe' are preparing for rutting season. They scrape the velvet of their antlers to get ready for the dominancy fights which will soon start. I have actually no idea if it hurts or not, but by the looks of the blood on the antlers it's not entirely painless.. His expression caught me. He looked kind of sad but I'm quite sure that once he's lost those strips of velvet, he'll be the King of his harem soon!

Guys.... It has been the most INCREDIBLE last couple of days!!! I can't even begin to describe what all happened, but it all started with a newspaper article last thursday.. From there, my whole world turned upside down ...
Read a short description of my adventures during the last couple of days HERE!

Lord of the Forest

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:11:30 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

I promised you stag shots, didn't I? :-)

Larspiration

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Tue, 05 May 2009 08:30:28 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

There are so many people on Flickr who's work I admire. But there aren't that many people that tought me to actually lóók differently. Even without camera (but also with :-))

Lars van de Goor is one of those people. His work has a light, a sense of depth and a sort of 'zen'-feeling to it that I absolutely love. While I normally scan an area for animal models, I've noticed that, inspired by him, I became more and more aware of the symmetry in nature. I drive the same road to work for 12 years already, but only the other day I noticed how wonderfully the sun lit up the foggy tunnel of trees in the morning and it immediately reminded me of Lars' work.

The above shot was taken at the Veluwezoom, when the morning sun set the still bare reddish brown beeches on fire. I was stepping out of the car to shoot some Highlanders that strolled through the forest when I looked over my shoulder and got 'Larspirated' to take this shot.
Thanks Lars, for making me see!

Oh and @ Panorama Paul: sorry!! Still taken with the telezoom I'm afraid. Guess I'll never learn how to use that wide-angle. But at least it's some sort of a landscape ! :-)

Aureole

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:06:55 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Slowly, ever so slowly, nature is coming back to life in Holland. And so do I :-)
I wouldn't mind hibernating during those long wintermonths.. :-)

Last saturday I was at the Veluwezoom, a gorgeous Nature Reserve not far from were I live. It was a cold and grey drizzly day and I was about to give up and return home when all of a sudden the clouds broke and the sun bathed the fields of dried heather, surrounding this wild Islandic pony with an aureole of light.

The Veluwezoom is an area that still has vast heather fields, a vanishing thing in Holland nowadays - Besides horses, sheep and Scottish Highlanders (the animal variety) roam freely. Their grazing keeps the heather short and prevents trees and shrubs from festering the precious heather fields. They are wild - or as wild as can be in Holland - and live only from what Nature gives them.

Captain Hook

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:46:16 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Ok, it's not the shot that sóme of you expect.. And the Flickrites involved know perfectly well who I mean (you... perverts...you!!! :-) ) but I personally love this one.
(have this wonderful, but rather explicit shot of the mating red deer with Captain Hook as leading man... I've been called a sissy, a wimp, a pussy etc, but I don't want to post it on Flickr as I don't want to offend anyone)

This (safe) shot however, shows clearly how Captain Hook got his name...Shot in heavy rain, I think he definitively looks regal.

I just wanted to say goodbye for 2 weeks; I'm off on a business trip to the US (Chicago). I'm still trying to convince my boss that it will be great to see Bald Eagles in the weekend in-between and that I hónestly (!) will not spend the whole weekend photographing them!!
I guess you guys will be the first to know if I was convincing enough.. :-)

Bye for now and have a lovely weekend!!

(and with f4, 1/20sec; thank you Capt. Hook for standing so still..)

The Bold and the Beautiful

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:22:02 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

I've been to the Veluwe National Park now for almost 2 weeks every evening right after work to watch the Red deer in rutting season. I never knew that it could be so impressive. Shot literally thousands of pictures and I just can't choose which one to post. Each has it's own beauty, be it the vulnerability of the little calves, the elegant grace of the females or the proud behaviour of the fabulous stags. I love it all.
The two weeks covered just about everything a deer family has to offer; the stag fights, the mating, nurturing of the young, the 'bitch fights' (pardon the word). It was breathtaking to be able to witness.

This is "Captain Hook" as I call him. He is the dominant stag in a particular field of the Veluwe. I've seen him with a herd of up to 40 females. He was in many fights, lost the females to another Stag who I baptized as Koeienkop, which freely translated would be OxHead in english, only to win them all back the next day. It's like watching a soap opera!

Need....

nobody@flickr.com (hvhe1) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:19:07 -0700

hvhe1 posted a photo:

Over the years, Hans and I have travelled to many countries to see nature and wildlife. But close to home, practically around the corner from where I live, Holland harbors a treasure of wildlife and nature that I had never been to. The National Park “De Hoge Veluwe”. How silly is that....

Last Sunday I persuaded Hans to come with me. September is rutting season for the huge red deer in the Park. My hopes weren’t high, since the newspapers had mentioned that the Park was overcrowded with people who wanted to witness the rather noisy and impressive mating ritual of the Deer. Says something about us Dutch probably :-)

Off we went and we arrived at the gate first thing in the morning. After immediately spotting 2 red deer, my enthusiasm grew. The more disappointed I was when after those 2 we saw none more. Indeed it was very busy in the park. From a guy who visited the park often I learned that I should come back in the hours just before sunset. I did together with my parents and Joyce (Jaydot), my sister-in-law. We arrived at 5.30 PM. We got in line with the huuuuge Canons and Nikons and waited. Hmmm, nothing much happened. After an hour or so my dad mentioned his rather hollow stomach and Jaydot practically drooled from lack of wine :-). Reluctantly I packed in the camera and walked to the car. And then it happened….
A huge male galloped on to the open space just outside the forest, chasing his harem of about 12 females and their young onto the meadow. I think I must have set up tripod and camera in record time! We stayed for another hour, watching the male trotting around, bellowing and trying his luck with the females (not that he got any…). It was awesome!!

Yesterday I went back alone. The deer were even closer then. It was marvelous and I think I became instantly hooked on the Park. I will be there a lot in the future!

I'm off now to see them again but will be back later this evening.