On A Snail's Trail

The deeper and darker the forest is, the more extravagant in appearance are the animals that live in it.

These naked, red snails are of European descent and in summer thousands of them cross the mossy paths of the German forests - some unlucky ones get crushed by cyclists, unable to stop.

My Companion

You might have noticed a slight change in scenery lately. After 5 years in Africa, without having been to the Old World, I spent a holiday of six weeks in Europe. 

One week and one day for every year spent in the South. 

This was my beloved companion. The 30 year old orange Peugeot bicycle of my mother. It was released from it's uncomfortable and dusty position under the garage roof, where it has been tied up for decades. My brother's friend Olli gave him tender love and care. Bless you Olli !

My companion was allowed to roam free again.

You could almost hear him sigh.

And believe me: to what places of wild and un-tamed beauty I was driven !

Into the woods and over the land.!

Where the trees are known to someone by their very own personal name

In Wonderland

WHERE C.C.CIDERON FOUND HIS SWING

and what happened when he did !

up, up, up,...and up

VERY RURAL

I spend a day at a friends place by the river and in the bush.

The set up is rural, African and beautiful

Everything that you need is there 

FOREST GIFTS

Summer is definitely here. Even if it is windy and stormy and the sea is cold.

There are all the signs of summers abundance around us. Not only moths, birds, bees and butterflies but also some delicious looking gifts from the forest.

The most beautiful thing to look at - and the most difficult to photograph. 

Get a peak under the umbrella of a summer mushroom. 

The golden warm color is so inviting. And the white flesh smelling of forest and moss. With pasta and garlic. Yummy.

If I just knew which ones to cook.

IN THE FOREST

The forest is your rescue remedy. If you are tired go there.

They breathe for us. And they clean the air for us.

They can heal you. But you have to go there often.

Big trees exhale god's breath.

They are like you.

The way they bend and curve is the way life made them to. Just like you.

There is really no difference between you and them.

Only that they are stronger.

And live longer to see more.

IN A TIGHT EMBRACE

I Learned To Look Closer

I do not like to combine things in pairs and create symmetry. But I like those two raindrops. They compliment each other.

A friend asked me the other day: Where to you get all these motifs from for your photos? How do you see all these things ? 

The answer is easy. I have traveled all my life and lived in different countries. And I have enjoyed this tremendously. It was my daily bread and I have treasured each and every experience.
Since I have set up my own business I have no more time to travel like before and all the income earned is re-channeled into the business.

So I said to myself: Let's go and look what there is to see!. Let's go and see what there is right in front of  my eyes. !

And there is so much just in front of my eyes. I only had to walk ten meters to see amazing things.

I LEARNED TO LOOK CLOSER BECAUSE I COULD NOT GO SO FAR ANYMORE. 

And in the end that was the best thing that could happen. Cause now I can see.

THE PERFECT BALANCE

Happiness in life is often about achieving the perfect balance. Thew difficulty is to know what is perfect for oneself. But a decision has to be made.

Like the falling flower, already dead, that has nevertheless decided to stay in a place where it normally does not belong to, with the help of a rain-drop and it's own lightness in death.

And succeeds.

Prints of my photos are available in my gallery :  Chocolat Negro Flashlight