Sticking around for the fish to come
       
     
The fishermen of Weligama
       
     
Magic hour
       
     
Big dune | distance
       
     
Long way
       
     
Flat
       
     
In search of the sunken forest
       
     
On top of the world
       
     
Airspace
       
     
Ella Rock
       
     
Sticking around for the fish to come
       
     
Sticking around for the fish to come

A stilt fisherman early in the morning at the beach of Weligama, Sri Lanka. Stilt fishing, or stick fishing as the locals also call it, is a traditional way of fishing that was introduced rather recently, during the Second World War. Thus, although it may look like an ancient tradition, it is actually a practise invented in order to adapt to changing circumstances of food shortage and overcrowded fishing spots in that time.
At this particular morning, the ocean was rather rough. The other fishermen at the shoreline told me that the waves were high and the fishing conditions far from perfect. Because of this, not every man directly climbed its pole. Many were investigating whether it was worth to start fishing. Buy this!

The fishermen of Weligama
       
     
The fishermen of Weligama

A group of stilt fisherman early in the morning at the beach of Weligama, Sri Lanka. It was a difficult day for fishing due to the high waves, fishermen standing at the shoreline told me. Although many hesitated at first, more and more men went into the water and climbed their fishing spots.
Stilt fishing, or stick fishing as the locals also call it, is a traditional way of fishing that was introduced rather recently, during the Second World War. Thus, although it may look like an ancient tradition, it is actually a practise invented in order to adapt to changing circumstances of food shortage and overcrowded fishing spots in that time.

Magic hour
       
     
Magic hour

Some photos are the result of a combination of technical preparation, patience and luck. This is one such picture. And in this case, it is double luck. Not only the weather was great, with a stunning sunset on the beach of Montañita, Ecuador. Also, this surfer made his move exactly as the earth’s rotation showed the sun where I wished to frame it. I just needed the perfect click. And there it was. I was low on battery and the second after the picture was shot, my battery went dead. It didn’t matter: the moment was captured.

Big dune | distance
       
     
Big dune | distance

The man in the corner just came down from the top of the dune on a sandboard in the Sechura desert (or Nazca desert) of Peru. On the top of the dune, other people are preparing to go down on a sand board. The sand dunes in this desert stretch up to hundreds of meters high.

Long way
       
     
Long way

On the way to the Valle del Colca in the Southern Highlands of Peru you pass a vast steppe and climb a mountain pass. On the way, I saw this woman in traditional clothes walking across the steppe. Perhaps she is a shepherd of a herd of Alpacas, who can be found in large numbers along the road. Or she simply needs to get from one village to another. Either way, it seems she has a long distance to travel.

Flat
       
     
Flat

A car driving on the on the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the world’s largest salt flat. As it is the rainy season, the salt flat is flooded, although not completely at this spot.

In search of the sunken forest
       
     
In search of the sunken forest

In 1960, an earthquake caused the forest around the village Chepu in Chile to sink about two meters. Consequently, the salt water of the Pacific Ocean entered the forest area and killed much of the forest. On this image both the partly dead forest and coastal area with its dunes are visible.

On top of the world
       
     
On top of the world

A traveller is enjoying the view on top of the Sri Lankan mountain Sri Pada and just had to get a picture, like I did of him taking a picture.

Airspace
       
     
Airspace

The sky above Amsterdam is filled with airplanes and contrails, the artificial clouds left in the sky by airplanes. Depending on temperature and humidity, the contrails are visible for seconds, minutes or hours. Scientific studies suggest that contrails contribute to human induced climate change, although the current scientific understanding of the effect is limited.

Ella Rock
       
     
Ella Rock

Ella Rock is the top of a mountain near the town Ella in the Sri Lankan Hill Country, giving a stunning view into the canyon. You reach the top by walking along the railroad track, through marshes and the farming fields. Once in a while, you need to jump of the railroad track as a train approaches.

At the end of the hike, the man on the image awaits to sell you a cup of tea. Even when you don’t feel like drinking tea, you can hardly refuse due to the man’s kind spirit.