EYEEM 2015 PHOTO AWARDS 'THE GREAT OUTDOORS'

In August I was very pleased to hear one of my photo's was selected as finalist of the EyeEm 2015 Photo Awards by an international jury in New York. Over 200.000 photos have been submitted to this fast growing global photo competition which is in it's second year. EyeEm is a Berlin based photo sharing community with over 13 million users. A hundred finalists, spread over ten categories, will have their photo exposed in New York on September 18 after which the exposition will travel the world, travelling to cities like Tokyo and London.

On the evening of September 18 EyeEm will announce the winners of each category and the grand winner; the Photo of the Year.
I am fortunate to be invited to witness this amazing event, so I'll fly to New York and hope to meet the leading photographing talent of the moment.

This is about the photograph, chosen by the jury. 'Morning in Saeftinghe'.

On April 14 I had an appointment with Pepijn Calle of foundation 'Het Zeeuwse Landschap'. The road were still very quiet. On the horizon I could see the colours blue and orange, playing with the darkness of the night and bands of clouds were moving across a bright moon. Quite a picture.

Such was the dawn of day in eastern Zeeuws Flanders. There was no time to stop, admire, or even take a photo. I was to meet Pepijn at six and I don't like to be late. I knew Pepijn would already be waiting there on the edge of the historic Drowned Land of Saeftinghe. This man is a true early bird.

The Drowned Land of Saeftinghe is a beautiful  place with a very dramatic past. For me it also symbolises what we stand for in the Netherlands and Zeeland especially. The love and hate relation with the sea.

"This will be an orientating visit" :Pepijn told me. "When you have more time, you're welcome to return and take more photo's."

Pepijn is a ecologist with 'Het Zeeuwse Landschap'. He grew up next to Saeftinghe and is a specialist in the land and it's natural beauty. Pepijn uses his ears as much as his eyes as he counts the bird life. "Over there! A nest of Oyster catchers." "Can you hear them?" he whispers to me.

I tried to listen and see at the same time. But there was so much to see and I couldn't tell what I was hearing.

"And there! A bearded reedling."

The sun was rising over the Antwerp harbour on the horizon. The sky caught fire. I took the shot.

(Nikon D810 ƒ/2.8, 48.0 mm, 1/80 seconds, iso 31)