111 | Last Minute Bikepacking Adventure In Western Australia

I must admit; I do miss our creative community in Europe. It took us 15+ years to build it, now we still have the memories. Moving literally to the other side of the world during a pandemic I guessed would be a challenge; who doesn’t love a challenge right? Had to start over again and build a creative community of legends a talent. Things start happening, and I’m happy that it's all slowly coming together.

A few months ago we went out to shoot, as you do from dusk till dawn to capture a Bikepacking story for Sea to Summit with focus on the Telos Bikepacking TR2 - Two Person Freestanding Tent, a week before I became a dad... to add a little more spice to the situation, so; I added a backup a photographer to the crew (in case I had to race to the hospital). We felt ready and we were; we teamed up, shot this thing. We just finished shooting the S23 campaigns in New Zealand and Australia and I'm excited to finish up the post-production and share it with ya'll.

107 | Selling prints.

#work
Six years ago I was making my own frames for the photos I took and printed. It is a great way of slowing down and I enjoy working with my hands and wood, the lack of the right tools made sure there was always a personal touch. At the moment I’m in-between places and unfortunately not able to make the frames but I still sell my photos in prints and over the last couple of years added so many more digital frozen moments the collection. The prints are printed on fine art paper, gallery quality. Note: Consider where you want to hang the print, I recommend not to hang it in direct sunlight, this will deteriorate the print. Visit my online shop and have a look through a selection of beautiful moments I froze with my camera. For those who have one or more of my images hanging on their walls, thank you so much for the support. 

106 | Free Scrubber

When a pandemic hits you pack your favourite boards, call your best friend and head to warmer waters... right? A dream for most Tom Curren made it a reality in 2020.

105 | Jungle.

An unintentional surf film... sort of. Morgan Maassen created this film to explore long-form editing, give a home to so many projects/trips/travel that needed some context. Bit back and take a moment to be somewhere else for 17+ minutes.

104 | New client, ANWB.

This was a big one, a new client in the middle of the Covid pandemic, a new crew and to make it even more, interesting we received so much rain. ANWB, is a travellers' association in the Netherlands, supporting all ways of travel and everything else that comes with it, from insurance, clothing, and travel hardware. Jump!Ratail Amsterdam asked me to help out with their mission to change and focus on a younger audience for ANWB's clothing line Human Nature. Of course, I would help out. Currently, 4,5 million members ANWB has and they have been around for ages, which put a significant amount of pressure on the job.

On the first shoot day, I got to meet the 5 models, and pretty much during the introduction it started raining, and I’m not talking about a light drizzle of rain no, it started raining like it hadn’t been raining for years. So what does one do when the models are ready all dressed up in their outdoor outfits? Pausing the shoot was simply not an option and we had to keep rolling. Shooting with a weather-sealed camera like my Canon 1D that I'm using helps and the EF lenses can take a beating too so the camera can handle this type of weather for a while. My main challenge was to keep the glass of the lens dry, when there are drops on the lens you simply can't use the images as the client is after crips commercial shots. For me the rain felt like a blessing in the sky, I love that stuff because in moments like this everyone wants to help out and get together to make it work as a team and this is how the models get into the mission when you put them to work. A great way to capture ‘real’ outdoor moments which is what we were after. With this shoot, we are ‘rejuvenate’ the brand and getting wet during your adventures part of it. I think they should change the name of the sun cap to the rain cap, this is what they should call it cause it kept mostly my 50mm dry and saved the day so remember to always bring them. When it all got a little too wet I found myself hiding under the bounce board, little fact is when it gets soaked and heavy you can perfectly balance the bounce board on your head while shooting, even standing on a ladder amazing! After this rainy mission, everyone got to know each other very well and bonded over the adventure. The days after were easy and fun. It didn’t feel like work but more like a trip with a bunch of mates, we even forgot about the would being suppressed by Covid.

103 | Steer with your hearth.

Stories about people living their passions, it gets me every time. See them doing this life thing their own way. By following the hearth to break free from the American lifestyle and live life in harmony with nature. Be inspired. I am.

"My voyage was born out of passion to surf the world and find a way to live lighter on the planet. And this film was created thanks to collaboration and support from loving friends and companies. I hope it inspires you to hear the callings of your heart." Captain Lizzy

102 | The unknown part2.

Thinking back I'm surprised I was still able to do a job at the start of March. I mean, China had been struggling with containing the Covid-19 virus and Italy was the first country to take the beating in Europe. Myself in the meantime, was working on the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia. On the way back the airplanes were already empty and panicked buying had started in Oz. This is when people started buying the essentials things to survive whatever is coming and funny enough in Australia that happened to be toilet paper. The airports felt eerie, empty, and we got the experience the first temperature checks. It felt so bizarre to be at Hong Kong airport and there was only a hand full of people walking around, who would have thought this all would happen! When I was back in The Netherlands where we lived in that moment of time we knew what was coming, the next day after our 24 hour flight we did our groceries and were happy to see that the toilet paper, flour etc was untouched, the day after this is when the panic buying also started on this side of the world.

A couple of days later I was meant to fly to Spain for Brooks Running US, I was part of a big important shoot and President Trump had already closed the borders which ment that the Client, who already in Europe had to fly back. We told the client that we could still get the job done for them as we have been working with them for years. The client agreed and as we were packing our bags Spain announced that they were potentially going into a lockdown. Looking back at it is easy to understand what is going on but at the time no one knew what was happening. Do we fly tomorrow or don’t we? We decided not to go and the production team had to cancel the accommodation, flights for the models, client, production, photographers, styling, etc, etc. It was a big call to make, a lot of money was lost. I remember thinking “that’s great, a lockdown, streets will be empty and we can shoot at all of the dream locations without people in the background”. It was obviously that I was new to the pandemic game, and I think everyone was unless you lived through the Spanish Flew in 1918-1920.

So, there I was, ‘social distancing’ at home working in the home office and no idea what was coming as a self-employed creative man trying to keep his business afloat. Luckily I don’t get bored easily. Their is always lots to do, to create, new techniques to explore. I must admit that I enjoyed the silence and not having to travel constantly felt great. Having a rhythm at home, go for a couple of runs every week, and see spring change the landscape.

Work was dead for months. No new jobs, and the jobs I had scheduled were cancelled. Roughly two months later work started coming back to me, step by step with only small budgets and we had to find a way to work with that awkward 1,5m distance. At the start of July, the bigger jobs started to come in with a full crew. Some of the borders in Europe opened, stoked we could do photoshoots again the way we used to and it was the start of summer. Absolutely loved working again, to be able to be outside and work outside with the crew and models and embrace that freedom. After the ‘Intelligent lockdown we ‘had in The Netherlands, literally all my clients had figured out what this pandemic meant for their company and luckily they all found ways to work with and around it. July and August were fully booked and even got to roam and shoot around and empty streets of Paris for a couple of days which, who would have thought, empty streets in Paris! Pre Corona I used to have 2 months that were very busy with all of the brands wanting to shoot at the same time and then 2 months where things were slow and I could be in one place for a while. Now a slower period has stared we all know that the 2nd peak has arrived. What will this fall and winter be like? I hope everyone finds a way whether you're working in a big company or you are self-employed. Find a way, and keep in mind that the world is sick, we have to look after her.

Check out blog post 086 | The unknown. part1.

101 | Ode to Desolation.

From Director Lindsey Hegan and cinematographer Chris Naum, Ode to Desolation introduces Jim Henterly, a naturalist, illustrator, and fire lookout. In an effort to preserve the human narrative, Henterly is dedicated to holding his post as the eyes and ears of Washington’s historic Desolation Peak Fire Lookout, while contemplating the dwindling days of fire lookouts in North America, with the influence of technology and artificial intelligence threatening to make the role obsolete.

100 | A unique experience ft. Mike Horn)

This video is a highlight of what happened during this incredible week in Svalbard. With the youtubers Le Grand JD, Amixem and CYRILmp4 we joined Mike Horn and his team aboard the Pangaea for a unique adventure close to the North Pole.

099 | It’s all home water, a northern light.

Encompassing over 1,000,000 acres, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is in peril from a proposed toxic copper mine on the park’s boundary. Patagonia ambassador Nathaniel Riverhorse Nakadate paddles through the northern Minnesota wilderness to give voice to a silent, pristine place. A film by Riverhorse Nakadate and Tony Czech.

098 | Vela.

After an injury took two-time World Champion John John Florence out of competition for much of the 2019 season, he set out on a month long voyage with his brother, Nathan Florence, and a small group of friends. Together they ventured 2500 nautical miles to explore the Northern Line Islands -- the longest open-ocean voyage of their lives. Lucky for us, Parallel Sea was there to document the journey. Join the crew as they search for surf, environmental restoration, and solitude in the first two episodes of the new series "Vela".

Episode 1 | Hawaiian Islands - Between surf events, John Florance and a group of friends have spent the last few years testing the limits of smaller sailing craft around their home in the Hawaiian Islands. Looking to go further, John and crew begin to prepare VELA for an open ocean voyage to the Northern Line Islands. Watch the other episodes simply on Youtube. Also check out the VELA Soundtrack on Spotify

097 | The Malloy brothers.

The Malloy brothers' love of adventure has brought them to remote beaches all over the globe, earned them spots at the top of the competitive surfing world, and fueled their endless exploration. Click here to read the full Story.

096 | Shooting without a plan.

.With a bunch of trendy kids, we stayed in the woods for the weekend. Even though we all looked like we were on a holiday we were actually working, believe it or not. Our mission was to shoot the Twisted Yarn collection for Alfredo Gonzales. The plan was not to have a plan and roam the woods, go for walks and staying warm in our Alfredo’s. I enjoy working on those photo shoots where there isn’t really a plan, its not something that stresses me out. Simply get to know each other and create content together. 

Below are some snaps of the weekend, the ones I can share. Alfredo Gonzales “The first lifestyle sock brand in the world”, they still are and will always be.

095 | Sea us now.

This short brought to view by the African American female surf collective Textured Waves made in collaboration with swimwear brand The Seea. Seen through the lens of African American filmmaker Bethany Mollenkof. This film serves as an inspirational piece to future generations, that despite history we can create pathways for what we want to see for our selves, now and in the future.