A beautiful winter sunset in nature reserve Overasseltse & Hatertse Vennen, close to my former hometown Nijmegen in The Netherlands.
It is a small but beautiful nature reserve, a landscape of fens, small groups of trees, heather and grassland.
I have been to the sea at many different times. All seasons, all times of the day, under many different weather conditions.
Yet every time I'm surprised by the light, never the same and always providing fascinating and enchanting colors.
At the end of a beautiful sunny day, there are often some clouds over the sea. Does that make the sunset less beautiful? Often it doesn't, or it even makes it more beautiful. The clouds make the colors even more intense.
It is very cold, the sky is clear and the meadows are frozen. The ideal conditions under which a Nordic sunset shows itself in all its splendor.
The light along the long coastlines of Nordic countries is special: clean air, bright sunshine interspersed with wind-driven clouds and rugged coastline. This light has inspired many artists, especially impressionists from more southern European countries loved to come to the Danish and Norwegian coasts.
On the same night as the artwork I posted yesterday... A quiet winter evening in a swampy area. We made a long walk through this beautiful area, and now that we are on our way back to the parking lot, it is almost dark...
The dying sun
colors the sky with a poem
to welcome this night
A quiet winter evening in a swampy area. The sun sets behind the trees and colors the sky as if it was on fire. A poem to welcome this beautiful night.
It is my conviction that after our death our spirit, our soul, travels to its origin somewhere in the universe. Once arrived, our energy is reunited with the energy from which everything around us once originated.
A cold evening at the end of a heavily cloudy, gray day. Just before the sun sets, the clouds open up allowing the light for a brief but intense moment to say hello to the night.
While I was trying to photograph a bright sunset before the sun was completely below the horizon, I realized that the beauty of light is often determined by how it is filtered, veiled or scattered.
Here on earth the light is always filtered by something. The atmosphere, clouds, a canopy, mist…
In fact, all these ‘filters’ make the sunlight much more visible, almost touchable…
On a walk on the shore along the fjord where we used to live, the sun emerges from behind the clouds just before it sets. An enchanting display of winter colors, slowly drowning in the calm waters of the fjord.
When I walk through our garden, I love to touch the trees and plants I walk by. It creates a connection with the nature around you when you not only sniff scents and enjoy the colors, but when in addition you feel the softness of leaves, the hardness of bark, the fragility of flowers….
Tomorrow, Friday, I will post the following text on LinkedIn.
Some of you have no doubt noticed over the past six months that the LinkedIn jacket no longer fits me....
More than 15 years on LinkedIn, the last 5 of which have been exclusively, the only social media I use... Now I have decided to close my account as of next October 1.
I have always found LinkedIn a pleasant environment and a good medium to display my art, to tell something about my philosophy of life and lifestyle, and air my opinion regarding the state of the earth.
When we are at the beach, we spend a very large part of the time with our gaze focused on the ground. A few square meters around our feet are continuously scanned as we slowly walk forward. Periodically we stop, and let our gaze wander to the dunes, the sea, or the sky….
Harvest. Not by far over yet. Pears, apples, pumpkins, zucchini’s...
And every time when I walk into the garden, I notice a 1, 2, 3, ... details that I have never seen before. Full of enthusiasm I then call out to Anuscka: come and see what I found here !
That was my first Star Wars-inspired thought when I saw this….
Our garden is slowly preparing itself for winter. Due to a strong summer storm a few weeks ago, autumn has arrived early. Leaves have blown off, what is still on the trees has mostly turned brown...
We have a wide variety of trees and plants in our garden. Some immediately recognizable, like a birch, an oak….
Others with a lot of effort and searching, like the Swedish whitebeam. And a few only after seeing and photographing them for a full year in all 4 seasons...
We return to the beach, this time in the month of May. We make a walk on a stretch of deserted, beautiful beach on the west coast of North Jutland. This beach is called Bøgsted Rende; in high season it's often crowded here with several dozen bathers. But the rest of the year, beach lovers are rarely to be found.
What I did find was this strikingly blue “fingerprint” ...
The weather has been beautiful for several days with temperatures well above normal for early September, but it cools off considerably at night, resulting in damp mornings. Dewdrops adorn the grass and the leaves of trees and shrubs.
Then I notice a bluish glint, standing out beautifully against a brown mottled background….
Today another beach find. Well, can you call something that has a length and weight like a passenger car a find? But weathered it is, by sunlight, salt water and wind, the original colors and textures no longer reveal the origin.
When I find something on the beach, other than the things that 'belong' on a Danish beach like stones, shells and seaweed, I often visualise in my mind the journey that object could have made....
Today a beach find. Weathered by sunlight, salt water and wind, the original shapes, colors and textures are hardly recognizable anymore.
When I find an object on the beach, other than the things that 'belong' on a Danish beach like sand, stones, shells and seaweed, I often visualise in my mind the journey that object has made.
Nature is brimming with a huge, fascinating collection of shapes, colors and textures. And at every moment of the day, wherever you go and no matter where you look, you will find a new treasure chest of abstract natural artworks.
Exploring this infinite pallet by crawling through forests, fields and over beaches, provides a vast amount of material and inspiration for a new collection of abstract, slightly reworked artworks.
Nature is brimming with a vast, infinite collection of colors and textures. And every moment of the day, every place you go, everywhere you look, every change in weather and light, opens up a new treasure chest of experiences.
Exploring this pallet, by crawling through forests, fields and over beaches...
Earlier this week, I opened an account on Fine Art America. The main focus will be on offering unsigned (open edition) prints for wall art and decoration.
The first 40 works have been uploaded, with many more to follow. Please take a look and follow me there to see the regular additions.
‘Origin’ is an experimental photograph, made with a digital camera without using a lens.
It is the first result of a search for light in its purest form. And at the same time, the project is a representation of the beginning and end of life, followed by the last breath.
Day’s end,
painted in the sky
on the canvas of the night
As the sun approaches the horizon, the overcast sky turns darker and darker. A beautiful canvas for the last rays of the sun to paint an exuberant farewell to the day...
A special calm comes over the evening when the sun disappears behind the horizon and the light of the day slowly dies. Nature awaits the night, the trees lean against the darkening colors.
I love that intens, quiet moment of the day...
Late in the evening after a sunny day. The sun is about to set, the world is waiting for the night to come. Dark rain clouds cover the sky over the lake, a rain shower passes by.
Niloofar Mahafel, an Iranian artist born in 1998, has been passionate about painting from a young age, holding her own exhibition at nine. She has refined her skills in various mediums and showcased her work at Tehran's Milad Tower. With a B.Sc. from Isfahan University and a focus on strong womanhood themes, Niloofar seeks international representation, and her art is available for purchase.
The sun passes through a crystal sphere
A rainbow escapes into darkness
In front of a small window in the west facade of our house, hangs a beautifully cut crystal ball of about 5 centimeters (2 inches) in diameter.
And every sunny evening when the sun is low above the horizon and its rays pierce the sphere, a fascinating spectacle unfolds in our room.
Floating on water The last light of the sunset Colors Drowning
On a walk on the shore along the fjord where we live, the sun emerges from behind the clouds just before it sets. An enchanting display of winter colors, slowly drowning in the calm waters of the fjord.
'Colors Drowning' is a new artwork in my collection Evening Falls.
I made this photo during a walk on the borders of the Limfjord, North Jutland, Denmark.
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke, on your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it, on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming, on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
Not quite a sunset yet, but close. When the sun pierces through the cloud cover in winter, I have to take my chance. Too often the sun disappears behind a thick gray blanket immediately after briefly showing itself, only to show its face again the next day (or even a few days later). And if it also feels like the sun kisses the world before going to sleep, I have another good reason to quickly make a series of photos....
Text continuos below the image
Winter Sunset (9)
'Winter Sunset (9)' is a newly added photo to my collection 'Evening Falls'. I made it standing on the dunes, north of the town of Agger.
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke, on your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it, on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming, on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
In a burning sunset, the last breath of the day welcomes the night
A cold evening at the end of a heavily cloudy, gray winter day. Just before the sun sets, the clouds open up allowing the light for a brief but intense moment to say hello to the night.
Sunset over the North Sea, seen from the hamlet in North Jutland, Denmark, where I used to live.
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
A duende is a fairy- or goblin-like mythological creature from Spanish, Portuguese and South American folklore. Duendes also have some traits similar to goblins and kobolds.
The Duendes are forest spirits. They help people who get lost in the forest, so that they will find their way home. In time, the Duende is also the spirit of evocation. The physical and emotional response, elicited by art. So having the Duende is equivalent to that thrill that makes you smile or cry in front of a particularly expressive artistic performance.
I made 'Duende' with an old analog camera. It was the first impressionistic forestscape photo with that camera. A sunny morning on a path in a forest, near the city of Nijmegen in The Netherlands. The sunlight seems to dance across the path. It moves quickly from tree to tree. As a spirit that keeps an eye on me to see if I'm doing okay.
Availability
Limited Edition prints in 6 sizes are available in my collection in the online art gallery MJRGallery.com
Duende
Duende - impressionistic forestscape photography - Visit MJR Gallery or contact me for a quote.
ALL WE NEED IS LESS CONSUMING
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
It is my conviction that after our death our spirit, our soul, travels to its origin somewhere in the universe. Once arrived, our energy is reunited with the energy from which everything around us once originated.
In a burning sunset, the last breath of the day welcomes the night
A cold evening at the end of a heavily cloudy, gray day. Just before the sun sets, the clouds open up allowing the light for a brief but intense moment to say hello to the night.
Sunset over the North Sea, seen from the hamlet in North Jutland, Denmark, where we live.
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
A very cold winter afternoon, the sun almost sets. It is a bit cloudy, but clear. And clouds that veil the setting sun, provide the most beautiful colors when the sun goes down. A typical color palette for a Nordic sunset.
Sunset over the slightly frozen Limfjord, 7 years ago. We haven't had heavy frost and snow since that winter, here in North Jutland, Denmark…
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
A cold winter afternoon, the sun almost sets. It is foggy. And fog, like clouds, provide the most beautiful colors when the sun goes down. A typical color palette for a Nordic sunset.
Sunset over the slightly frozen Limfjord, 7 years ago. We haven't had heavy frost and snow since that winter, here in North Jutland…
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
The last autumn sunset artwork in this series. The wind is strong, clouds drift quickly along the sky, rushing to catch the last rays of light.
Sunset over the dunes along the North Sea and the bay Krik Vig, part of the Limfjord. I made this photo standing in the fields near the hamlet where I live.
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
Darkness falls, the grass caresses the last light and bends into the night.
Shrouded (5): Bend Into The Night is the fifth and last photo in an abstract series of a sunset, using high grass as a filter for the bright light of the setting sun.
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
Darkness falls,
grassy forms
shatter into solar tears at
the color-shrouded
end of the dayA new photo in an abstract series of a sunset, using high grass as a filter for the bright light of the setting sun.Text continues below the photoShrouded (4)'Shrouded (4)' is a photo in the collection 'Evening Falls', prints are available in my portfolio at the artwork page.
ALL WE NEED IS LESS CONSUMING
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…So do you want to know your ecological footprint?Then visit this website: https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/enAnd do you want to reduce your ecological footprint?Then ask me, I will help you. For free. Or simply visit my website and choose in the menu for Your Footprint.And if you appreciate my writings and art and want to support me, you can buy me a piece of fruit here: https://ko-fi.com/jacobberghoef, thank you 🍏 !
While I was trying to photograph a sunset before the sun was completely below the horizon, I realized that the beauty of light is often determined by how it is filtered, veiled or scattered. Here on earth the light is always filtered by something. The atmosphere, clouds, a canopy, mist… In fact, all these 'filters' make the sunlight much more visible, even almost touchable…
Shrouded (3) is a new photo in a small series of a sunset, photographed in my abstract realistic style through high grass.
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
I photographed a far too bright sunset two days ago. Then I suddenly realized that the beauty of light is often determined by how it is filtered, veiled or scattered. And here on earth the light is always filtered by something. The atmosphere, clouds, a canopy, mist… In fact, all these 'filters' make the sunlight much more visible, even almost touchable…
So here is Shrouded (2), the second photo in a small series of a sunset, photographed in my abstract realistic style through high grass.
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
As of November 1st you can see my artworks on this new website!
The current website is a bit dated after 5 years, so it’s time for a new look. In a design made by my youngest son, I’ve been working hard the past few weeks to fill it with a selection of my work. Not everything is ready yet, but I’d appreciate it if you take a look. The current domain name jacobberghoef dot art remains in use and will also bring you on the new website from November 1st.
The photo: Autumn Sunset (6) - Golden Silence. Sunset above the North Sea, seen from where I live in Denmark.
Text continues below the photo
Autumn Sunset (6) is an impressionistic fine art seascape photo in the collection 'Evening Falls'. Prints are available in my portfolio at Saatchi Art.
ALL WE NEED IS LESS CONSUMING
Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…
When making this artwork, I questioned my love for light, contemplating whether it's the direct brightness or its filtered beauty that captivates. I experimented by using grass to soften the glare, produce the piece 'Shrouded (1),' and invite contemplation on nature's beauty.
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