Rob Van der Veer is a perfectionist. As a nature photographer, patience is part of the job. Often, a great deal of patience. And those who are patient leave room for serendipity — for those unexpected moments that suddenly present themselves.

Photographing nature has long been a passion of Rob’s, but since he lost his daughter Charlotte, who needed extensive care, in 2019, this passion has taken on a new dimension. It has become a form of therapy. In the photographic hides where he often spends hours, he is alone, yet somehow not alone at all. He feels Charlotte very close to him. This deeper connection means far more to him than the photographs he eventually takes, even though those photographs are outstanding. He remains a perfectionist…

A Butterfly Like No Other

Charlotte loved nature, and butterflies in particular. Now, she is a butterfly herself. Rob never lets go of that thought. Especially when he heads out to seek the splendour of butterflies around the ponds and wetlands of the French region of La Brenne. He goes for much more than just the photographs.

Rob ventures into nature far more often than he used to. For years, caring for Charlotte left him with little opportunity to do so. Back then, a five-kilometre walk was already an achievement. Today, he finds his own precious me-time in nature reserves stretching from Texel to Extremadura.

“One particularly special moment was when I looked up towards Charlotte and asked her to give me a sign. At that very moment, a sparrowhawk landed near me and stayed there, posing for me for an hour — completely contrary to this bird’s naturally skittish behaviour. It is difficult to put such a magical moment into words, and perhaps it is the very reason I do what I do…”

Not a Fan of Crowds

Crowds are not Rob’s thing. That is why he always opts for paid photographic hides. The peace and quiet that reign there make all the difference. Sitting still is part of the experience, and when temperatures drop, proper clothing is essential. Rob now has no fewer than four Fjällräven jackets in his wardrobe. He bought them on Marc’s advice; Marc had also managed to recommend the perfect jacket for Rob’s wife.

Below, you can enjoy a selection of Rob’s photographs. He shares them with the outside world via his Facebook page. Even here, he prefers to keep his distance from the masses. He would rather have that extra dimension than thousands of superficial followers. When you look at his photographs with this sense of intimacy in mind, it becomes easier to imagine what moments like these behind the camera can mean to a person.

“I got to know Base Camp and Marc in the early 2000s, when we were looking for the right clothing for our hiking trip to Ireland. We soon realised that Marc genuinely cares about his customers. He does so much more than simply sell products. I am always happy to share my real-world experiences with the jackets and shoes he recommends, because I am deeply grateful to Marc. He makes travelling more comfortable, which only deepens my experience. His advice is leagues ahead of what you get from retail chains.”

Follow Rob on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rob.vanderveer.75