2024 in a Nutshell & 2025: Diving Into the New Year!

Wishing You Warm and Joyful Holidays!

This is my last blog before I depart for Antarctica – an adventure I’m incredibly excited about! My journey starts on Sunday, November 3rd, and I’ll be back in December, hopefully with some stunning photos captured under magical lighting conditions. As I prepare to explore this unique part of the world, I’d love to share some exciting developments focused on the healing power of nature and nature photography. This theme is central to my work, and I hope it inspires you as well.

The rugged beauty of a Norwegian glacier, captured during our recent road trip. A prelude to the icy wonders awaiting in Antarctica.

Last Friday was filled with insights, inspiration, and connection at the Diversify Nordics Summit. Chisom Udeze, founder of Diversify, opened the day with a powerful quote: "If you think you are too small to make a difference, you have not spent the night with a mosquito." This message echoed throughout the day, reminding us how small steps can spark big changes.

I often get the question: "What do you actually do all day now that you're living in Norway as a trailing spouse?" I heard this question quite frequently before we moved to Norway, and last weekend in the Netherlands, it came up again. I was there for the La Vita è Bella art exhibition at De Nispenhoeve in Prinsenbeek, where I exhibit my work alongside more than 20 other artists. It was wonderful to see my family and (photography) friends again after nearly half a year.

What a wonderful weekend it was to be back in the Netherlands! I thoroughly enjoyed the photo weekend and the chance to reconnect with so many dear people during the art exhibition at the beautiful 'De Nispenhoeve', perfectly organized by John Heller and his wife Wilma.It was special to meet old friends and connect with new faces—from my childhood friend to the manager of my very first job at Philips nearly 20 years ago. Current colleagues and other (photography) friends were also present, such as: Jolanda Pikkaart 👒, René Hogenes, Miranda van Krugten van Dijk, Jacinta Kogelman, Helga Nuchelmans, Mark Heller, Mark Dankers, Mascha van Velzen en Ankie Wetzels.One of the visitors described the exhibition as a unique experience: "It felt like I was being drawn into the work, making me take my time to absorb it all. With the story behind it, it comes even more to life." These kinds of reactions touch me deeply, as this is exactly what I aim for in my work: inviting people to pause and let themselves be carried away by the story. And hopefully, it brings some comfort too. By the way, the exhibition will be open for two more weekends.What stood out to me was how new connections were formed, both personally and through my work. It was a weekend full of warmth, connection, and gratitude. Alongside the exhibition, I also enjoyed lovely breakfasts and dinners with family and friends—it was great to see so many people again.Since last night, I'm back home, and I have to admit, I need a little time to recharge. Now I’ll slowly start preparing for my long-awaited dream trip to Antarctica in six weeks. If you missed it, I shared more about this in my first LinkedIn newsletter.

Is your camera gathering dust? If you’re a nature lover who wants to dive back into photography, this might be the perfect opportunity! In this newsletter, I’ll be sharing some valuable insights from my very first macro photography workshop.

It's storytime! I’m excited to share a bit more about myself and my journey, giving you a glimpse into the passion behind my work. I’m also delighted to invite you to my upcoming Stardust exhibition in the Netherlands. On top of that, I’m thrilled to announce that a lifelong dream will come true in November when I embark on a journey to Antarctica! Keep reading to find out how you can follow this new adventure.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve explored more of our beautiful new homeland – Norway – and soaked in everything this breathtaking country has to offer. Majestic waterfalls, shimmering lakes, awe-inspiring glaciers, winding mountain paths... And yes, we even came face to face with wild reindeer! My camera was working overtime, and with nearly 3,000 photos to go through, I’ve got my work cut out for me. But here’s a sneak peek!After almost three weeks of vacation, I’m excited to get back to building my business. For example, I’ve joined 1x (.com), a platform for high-quality art photography, where photos are reviewed by experts and, if good enough, published and potentially even awarded. The first photo is already uploaded, so I’m eager to see the results.The coming month is packed with exciting activities. In just 2.5 weeks, I’ll be traveling to the Netherlands for the art exhibition 'La Vita è Bella' at De Nispenhoeve in Prinsenbeek, where I’ll be showcasing my work alongside more than 20 other artists. I’m really looking forward to seeing my family and (photography) friends again after nearly half a year.At the end of September, I’ll be attending the Diversify Nordics Summit in Oslo, the very first conference on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. There will be 100 speakers from various disciplines, and I’m excited to be volunteering for the event.In addition, next week I have my second session with my business mentor, and I’ll be participating in the National Geographic photo competition. A few years ago, it was my dream to have my photos published in National Geographic. While that dream has shifted a bit as I focus more on using my (nature) photography to contribute to health and well-being, it would still be amazing to see my work in that iconic magazine. Who knows what the future holds!Want to stay updated on my journey and projects? Sign up for my newsletter (https://lnkd.in/e5cSneG7)! The first edition will be out next week.

Join me and over 20 other artists at the art exhibition ‘La Vita è Bella', which means 'life is beautiful,' at the stunning Galerie De Nispenhoeve and Sculpture Garden in Prinsenbeek. The Nispenhoeve chose this name for the expo because it is beautiful and inspiring, reflecting the beauty we add to the lives of many through our art. For three weeks, I will showcase several works from my "Stardust" series. Traveling all the way from Norway, I will be present for the opening weekend on September 14th and 15th.

Healing arts encompass diverse forms of expression, including dance, music, writing, and visual arts, each with profound effects on healing and wellness. For me, the focus is on the transformative power of visual arts, particularly photography, on health and well-being. Art has the remarkable ability to divert thoughts, offering solace not only to patients but also to caregivers, healthcare providers, loved ones, and visitors. Nature-inspired artworks, such as serene seascapes or tranquil heaths, possess a particularly soothing and therapeutic allure. My artistic endeavors draw inspiration from the beauty of nature, aiming to provide support and instill hope, strength, and serenity.

Here’s another look back at our past six weeks. There have been plenty of developments and news, so we hope you enjoy the read :-).

Today marks two months since we left for Norway. Time flies! Here’s a recap of the past month, including (once again) a mini-move and an update on how our new life here is shaping up. Enjoy the read!

Time flies. It's been a month since we left for Norway. Here's a (rather detailed) recap of our first real month in the beautiful north!

In August, I enrolled in an online course on art therapy. Up until now, I hadn't made time for it because my focus was mainly on selling my inventory of Healing Artworks, my work, and of course, emigrating to Norway. I appreciate that there's slowly more tranquility now, allowing me to tie up those loose ends.

It's already our second week here in Norway. We recently had a mini move from the center of Oslo to Greverud, a village about 8 kilometers away from Ski. On June 3rd, we'll be moving to our final destination in Ski, and our belongings will be delivered. I'm looking forward to finally settling in.

Sinds 2018 schrijf ik fotoblogs voor Nature Talks en interview ik verschillende fotografen. Hierbij een overzicht van de verschillende artikelen die ik heb geschreven.

Voor Nature Talks sprak ik met onderwater- en walvisfotograaf Tony Wu over zijn liefde voor de zee. Lees het in deze photo blog.

For the Nature Photographer of the Year (NPOTY) Contest I'm writing photoblogs. Immediately after the award ceremony, I talked with winner Csaba Daróczi's about his winning image Jump! Read the full story here.

In dit artikel heb ik voor natuurfotografie.nl Karin Van Couwenberg geïnterviewd over het fotoboek “The Magic of Hope”.

Voor natuurfotografie.nl schreef ik deze Wildlife & Conservation-special. Vier natuurbeschermende fotografen uit de Lage Landen komen aan het woord.

Voor natuurfotografie.nl schreef ik deze Wildlife & Conservation-special. Vier natuurbeschermende fotografen uit de Lage Landen komen aan het woord.