Twee jaren in NL

My life in the Netherlands started officially two years ago. I just had a travel bag with some clothes, a sleeping bag, a camping mat, one plastic plate, one plastic glass, one fork, one knife, my laptop and my 350d. I did not know anybody, did not speak Dutch and was just for the fourth time in The Hague (3 job interviews and 1 small stay in order to find an apartment).
On a personal level it was also a new beginning : I have been already « 1 month » with Lisa, who was at that time in Argentina, have met her parenst for the almost very first time 10 days before and was about to start a new job at the European Patent Office.
On a photo-level I was about level zero ahahaha (I may be now at level one) : I had never shot in Raw, just heard times to times about Lightroom, I did not know what the difference between a full frame and an APS-C was and I was not the best friend of Av, Tv, or even M modes.

It’s funny how fast everything can change: get engaged, have the most beautiful wedding, get confirmed in your job and become the dad of the prettiest babygirl ever. Dutch is not a « problem » anymore: I can even laugh when I am looking at a film cartoon in Dutch and I have the chance to minister among young people. It’s true that I do not eat « haring » but I don’t mind to take the bike when it raining cats and dogs.

My love for photography also evolved. It started by buying my first good lens (50mm 1.4), discovering the « Raw » world, lightroom, meeting our awesome wedding photographer (Nadia Meli), trying new techniques, then the 60d, new lenses, switching to full frame, starting this blog… I’m not sure I can consider me as a « photographer » but I do like what I am doing and I love sharing it with you.

I am curious to see what the future will bring, and what photography will be then for me. But for know I am just so thankful to God who gaves me so much these two last years: a family I love and who loves me and my photographs (Ketsia told me so this morning..ahahaha), a job which gives me time to shoot and enough money to get equipped (yes photography can be quite expensive) and lot of occasions to make « beautiful » pictures.

If I may just give you an advice: trust the Lord, enjoy experiencing, try and try again.

As it is a « photoblog » I wanted to share with you some pics of these two years. There are not the best, also not my preferred and a lot of events are missing, but still this is how photography speaks to me: each of them tells a story ;o)