Water Rail | 00037241 © Gerard Schouten / Nature in Stock
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Gerard Schouten (1964) is a passionate nature & wildlife photographer from the Netherlands. In our conversation, Gerard talks about his evolving interests and how these influenced his work over the years. His images have been published in various books and magazines in his home country The Netherlands.
Could you tell us how you became interested in photography?
In a way, I’ve been creating images throughout my entire life. As a child, I had a deep fondness for drawing which still resonates with me, though regrettably, I don’t always find the time for it these days. It was at the age of 17 when I started with photography, acquiring my first SLR camera, a Pentax, with the earnings from my weekend job. Not long after that, I added a Tokina 400mm lens since at that time I was mainly interested in birds. This fascination was kindled by my high school biology teacher, who took me on several field excursions when I was just 14. It was astonishing to discover that these captivating and sometimes colorful birds such as the Crested Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Treecreeper, Linnet, and Yellowhammer, were thriving in the woods right around the corner of Nuenen where I lived. Since then, I’ve become an ardent bird photographer.
What camera do you use now?
I use Canon equipment, but not for any special reason. I switched to digital photography ten years ago with the Canon EOS 20D and stayed loyal to the brand since then. At the moment, I work with a full frame Canon 5D Mark II with a variety of lenses, ranging from 16 to 500mm.
Is photography your main source of income, or do you have another profession?
Photography is my passion, but thankfully not my main source of income! For me it is a creative outlet and a good excuse to be outside a lot. It is a nice way to relax and clear my head; to live in the moment. I also get a lot of satisfaction out of the planning and searching for new spots. My main source of income is my work as a teacher and lector Big Data at a high school in Eindhoven.
Where lies the focus in your work?
My main interest lies with bird photography. Quite often you can find me along the waterside, because I love to photograph waterbirds. But I also find inspiration in the enormous diversity in shape and color of animal and plant life.
