What can I say? I just love to travel and to take pictures. Photography is a great hobby and my way of relaxing. It has nothing to do with achieving, demands or assignments (other than my own). I'm not out for the perfect shot; I'm out for a picture that I like. What I like might not necessarily be what you like, mind you. But it's like 'trophy hunting'. Sometimes you just know, when you push that shutter, "yes!".
You may notice that I don't upload every day; that's because I only upload what I really like and, out of principle, only one per subject unless the shots of that subject are very different. Don't know about you but I don't like to look at 15 more or less the same pictures with only a split second difference.
I often get the question how I get the animals to pose for me. I even got a question once (the 'Twin' Eagles) how I got those animals to 'my studio'. Ha, yeah, can you imagine dragging 4 full grown Polar Bears to a studio and then line them up the way I want to?
I'm afraid the reality is less adventurous: wait, wait, wait and ...... wait some more. Your feet get sore, your back aches, your arm muscles start to tremble from holding up the camera and lens. But in the end, when I get home with a picture that I like and that does the animal the right it deserves, to me it's worth it every time!
I like to spend time with an animal. For me the 'see and shoot' thing doesn't work. You almost always miss that one moment. If I see an animal I like I get an image in my head of how I would like to capture it. After that it's only a matter of waiting. Maybe I get it within a minute, maybe an hour. Or maybe I have to return later, maybe even a month or a year later. But invariably, when you take your time and give the animal the opportunity to get used to your presence, they will do something that I would like to capture! Respect is a keyword here!
When I finally capture that one picture, it is often the only pick from a series of hundreds, but often enough a couple of thousand pictures.
I use Canon cameras (7D, 40D, 30D and 400D) and Canon lenses (ranging from 10 to 500mm).
Other things: Canon extenders 1.4 and 2.0.
Canon Canon Speedlite 580EX II
Manfrotto tripod
Wimberley tripod head
Photo was taken by Marco de Jong at the Hoge Veluwe
visited 49 states (21.7%)
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Photos of hvhe1 (4)
hvhe1's favorite photos from other Flickr members (6,836)
Contacts (302)
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Wight Life...
Paul Blackley
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Thierry Dacko
Thierry Dacko
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Jayanand
Jayanand Govindaraj
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Zino2009
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waslin
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bzd1
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moniquesplinter
Bart + Monique
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Dennis Rademaker
Dennis Rademaker
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☆Mi☺Λmor☆
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Sigurjón Einarsson
Sigurjón Einarsson
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Hellsgeriatric
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Groups (50)
- Excellence In Animal Photography (High Quality Images Only) 3688 photos, 553 members
- high quality nature 22550 photos, 2015 members
- Straight to the Heart / ADMIN INVITE ONLY 126 photos, 111 members
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- Love of the Great Outdoors 32518 photos, 1421 members
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- Wild Life Shots(POST 1 Comment 2) 8934 photos, 1164 members
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- Capture Nature / No human elements / 8696 photos, 1398 members
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- PLATINUM WILDLIFE / Admin Invite / Award 2 3012 photos, 638 members
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- Field Guide: Birds of the World 81142 photos, 9876 members
- *Free Nature* 597372 photos, 23077 members
- Fantastic Wildlife "Invite only" - NEW WEEKLY CONTEST 2350 photos, 967 members
- Best of Animals (Please re-READ the rules. No pets please) 7860 photos, 860 members
- *****FIVE STARS GALLERY***** (invitation ONLY by Admins) 3211 photos, 1032 members
- "Winged Wonders - Elite" (Admin Invite Only) Post 1, Award 2 2435 photos, 373 members
- EarthShots.org Entries 2760 photos, 369 members
- Flickr Diamond - Invited Photos ONLY 105366 photos, 21024 members
- "Winged Wonders"--Birds Only-- Invite Only (Post 1, Award 2)" 23899 photos, 3211 members
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- Birds Photos 282901 photos, 17546 members
- First Quality (invite only) ~Contests: CONCEPTUAL~TEXTURES~FP 15488 photos, 2774 members
- Born Free, Living Free: Greatest Hits 1683 photos, 541 members
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- Het Doka Archief 1222 photos, 146 members
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- De Doka (1 Foto/1 Comment) 45842 photos, 1115 members
- National Geographic - by Italian People 45636 photos, 5370 members
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- BORN TO BE WILD 18996 photos, 1519 members
- TIO's "Seal of Approval" (Invited Images Only) 7486 photos, 873 members
- The Unforgettable Pictures ~ INVITES ONLY ~ Comment on 3 !! ~ 189958 photos, 27984 members
- The Wildlife Photography 24795 photos, 3723 members
- Natures Finest (Invited Images Only ) CONTESTS OPEN ! 297159 photos, 38296 members
- Golden Photographer (Invite Only Images and +10Faves) 30583 photos, 6456 members
- Super Shots - Only Invited Photos - Vote Now 241023 photos, 39792 members
- Excellence In Avian Photography (EIAP) -- INVITED IMAGES (2/day) 48049 photos, 6697 members
- VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS: A Prayer for Wild Things 48797 photos, 3007 members
- Blue Ribbon PHOTOGRAPHY (INVITE ONLY) 334699 photos, 47084 members
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Testimonials (14)
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☆Mi☺Λmor☆ says:
"Hennie is a genuine genius :) and thats not a tall claim at all :)
I love how she lays it out clearly to us that getting a shoot is not just luck but lot of painful waiting and its about presenting a shot which brings the best out of that particular being :) you have been a inspiration to many wild life photographers and you continue to do so.
Thank you for going thru all the hardship to bring and share with us such exceptional work :) your photostream is a joy and its funny but a pride when ppl fight to be the first one to comment :D
Dinesh :)"2nd November, 2009
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bzd1 says:
"Wij hebben Hennie leren kennen op de Hoge Veluwe als een hele sympatieke meid. Tijdens de hertenbronst 2009 in nationale park "De Hoge Veluwe" Vaak stonden wij naast elkaar te fotograferen. Vaak Dat was gezellig en daar ontvingen wij ook Haar vistekaartje. Bij Thuiskomst hebben wij Haar fotomatriaal Ademloos bekeken. In een woord meer dan geweldig hoe Zij ontmoette licht weet te spelen Daarbij Het juiste moment afwachtend en soms lekker babbelend Samen met Denis Rademaker. Een foto van Hennie uit die tijd herrinerd ons aan die mooie momenten."
6th October, 2009
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"berend" says:
"Een 'stream' met prachtige foto's Hennie
Elke keer opnieuw ben ik weer onder de indruk van je simpele foto's die precies de kern raken. Er staat precies op wat erop moet staan, in perfecte composities en kleurstellingen.
Ik vraag me bij jou nooit af waarom ik naar een foto zit te kijken. Het is altijd gelijk duidelijk.
Groet, Berend."18th May, 2009
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Imapix says:
"The exquisite beauty of Hennie's images leaves me in awe every time I visit...!
So beware...if you visit once......... you will become addict!
Bravo Hennie...and ..................Encore!
Gaëtan"27th February, 2009
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JKmedia says:
"I never cease to be amazed at the quality of shots here. The South African wildlife shots are simply outstanding. Inspired"
8th February, 2009
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copeg says:
"Hennie has a talent, and is an artist in the truest sense of the word. Every photo captures something beyond just the simple image, she captures action, drama, words, emotion, and countless other features: things I and many other photographers aspire to capture. You may or may not be familiar with her work, but either way I recommend visiting and re-visiting each and every image in her photostream, and simply enjoy the artistry."
23rd April, 2008
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Laurie York says:
"How can I begin to describe Hennie's exquisite photographs? It's as if she focuses the camera with her heart! I've have never seen wildlife photographed with such passion, reverence, and skill. Hennie's presence on Flickr is a rare gift to us all..."
21st January, 2008
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bsdb_chakraborty says:
"Hi Hennie,
I am again grateful to U for introducing me to the wider world of Photography specially to the Animal Kingdom.
Basudeb"6th July, 2007
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Leviathor says:
"Hennie doesn't post pictures of animals, she posts portraits of nature. Each and every one of them are sharp, remarkable works of art. Her images are the payoff of an endless reserve of patience. A reserve which allows her images to convey atmosphere, feeling, or emotion, all through her understanding and mastery of her subject, her surroundings, and her equipment.
Keep up the good work, Hennie, we all look forward to your next posting."19th April, 2007
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danihernanz says:
"Hennie you are an artist. Your captures are very very specials and elegance! Always amaze me.
The Queen of Animals"11th April, 2007
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Mendis says:
"Simply put, Hennie is one of my favourite nature photographers. Many of her pictures are awesome in every aspect of picture taking. Fantastic photography!"
12th February, 2007
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SugarbearSteve says:
"Hennie hasn't been on Flickr long but her photo's show she has had a love for photography and animals for a long time. I think what I like best is that Hennie's comments are as thoughtfull as her photos. At first she tricked me into going Ape over her HotLips Orangutang. Only till later sending me back to my Baboon Therapist halfway coconuts over the misguided Treetop fantasies I had developed. But I forgive her."
3rd November, 2006
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wans2pics says:
"Hennie van Heerden has absolutely gorgeous photos! I only dream of visitng the places that she portrays so beautifully. I hope your adventures never end. Keep posting for all of us to enjoy!
Wanda
wans2pics"12th October, 2006
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msummerchick(Deja-Vu photography) says:
"I just recently came to know hvhe1 work and wow!! what a find..I am so honored to have her as a contract..Her work is continuously amazing..You can tell she puts her heart and soul into her work just by the Exquisite photo's she takes..I look forward to viewing her photostream everyday..Thank you so much for sharing
fondly
Mary"12th October, 2006
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