Squiver is not a real word. Only a few people use it as an alternative for ‘to photograph’. Used in a sentence you would get something like: ‘Marsel tried to squiver a wild unicorn, but he left the lens cap on’. I designed our website myself.
My MacBook Pro. When I’m traveling I use it as primary storage for my images, to edit and select shots, for email, and to watch movies.
I spend about as much time on research and planning as that the actual trip will take. I wouldn’t want to travel around the globe to shoot a certain species, only to find out that it’s hibernating. Most of my research simply starts on the internet.
As little as possible. Nature photography usually involves a great deal of hiking in uneven terrain, and lugging around a heavy camera bag will seriously limit your possibilities. Depending on my subject and travel limitations, I usually carry two camera bodies, wide-angle and zoom lenses, a flash, and a tripod.
In Nepal we were walking through the high grass, searching for rhinos. We suddenly heard heavy breathing only a few feet away from us: a rhino. Due to its poor eyesight, it tends to charge aimlessly and unpredictably, so we ran to the nearest tree and waited until it had retreated into the high grass again.
I was born and raised in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. After two years of studying Dutch Language & Literature at the University, I switched to the Academy of Arts and graduated with a BA in Art Direction and Graphic design.
I’ve always been fascinated by photography, but the whole darkroom thing at the academy scared me off. I didn’t start taking pictures until after I graduated.
My first camera was a pink-lilac colored Haking point & shoot camera with yellow buttons. My first SLR was a Nikon F-401. I have been shooting Nikon ever since.
I currently use three Nikon DSLR cameras: the D4s, D4 and D810.
For wildlife photography I prefer large mammals. The larger the subject, the shorter the lenses that I can use, the more habitat I can include. My ideal wildlife image is actually a landscape image with an animal in it. For landscape photography I prefer graphic locations with powerful shapes and clean lines.
In my work I try to simplify, to get rid of the extraneous; simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. I can go to great lengths to isolate my subject and use only the key elements that are essential to the story: no more, no less. I also like to use powerful shapes with clear outlines. The results are often very clean and graphic.
Most filters can easily be emulated in Photoshop with much more control. The only filters I still use are neutral density filters to lengthen exposures, and a polarizer to reduce glare and control reflections.
The same things that I do for a living: traveling, enjoying nature, and taking pictures. I also like to listen to metal, and eat Ben&Jerry’s, Nutella and M&M’s. Not necessarily all at the same time.
Every digital image needs some kind of post-processing. But it is more than just a necessary evil, it is also a creative tool. For me, post-processing is what spices are for a chef. You have to start with the best ingredients and cook them to perfection – by adding the right spices you can turn a good dish into a great dish.