An Archipelago of Endless Discovery
Indonesia captured my heart from the very first island. This vast archipelago of jungles, volcanic landscapes and ocean worlds offers an almost endless sequence of photographic discoveries.
From the black-crested macaques of Tangkoko in Sulawesi to the orangutans of Sumatra, the rainforests are alive with movement and character. In Java, the surreal blue flames of Mount Ijen and sunrise over Mount Bromo create landscapes shaped by fire, smoke and light.
Further east, West Papua brought one of the most demanding photographic experiences of the journey. During my stay, rain fell almost continuously for six consecutive days. Finding the birds of paradise was already a challenge; photographing them in such conditions became almost impossible. Yet this is also part of wildlife photography, nature does not adjust itself to the photographer, and sometimes patience simply means accepting that the conditions are not going to cooperate.
In Raja Ampat, the experience changed completely as I entered an underwater world of extraordinary clarity, colour and biodiversity. Komodo Island offered encounters with the legendary dragons, bringing a raw and prehistoric feeling to the journey, while Bali provided a quieter contrast through its landscapes and cultural character.
Beyond the wildlife, what stayed with me was the human side of Indonesia. Moving between islands brought encounters with local communities whose lives are closely connected to the forests, rivers and sea. Villages, traditional fishing communities and everyday scenes offered glimpses into cultures shaped by their natural surroundings. I always approached these encounters with the same principle I try to follow everywhere: observe first, photograph respectfully and remember that I am a guest in someone else's world.
For me, these encounters were not separate from nature photography. They formed part of the same story, people living alongside the landscapes and wildlife that define their islands.
My third journey through Indonesia was carefully and beautifully organised by Nathalie Neyrinck, my niece and a true nature lover, whose enthusiasm and knowledge helped make the experience so memorable.
Indonesia remains one of those destinations that I find difficult to reduce to a single story. Every island seems to offer another landscape, another species, another culture, another challenge and another reason to keep exploring.
INDO001 - Impressions of Sulawesi early morning.
INDO002 - The sign on the river after taking direction to Tanjung Puting NP.
INDO003 - Absolutely relaxing when the heaven opens her gates and drops find their way to earth.
INDO004 - With the klotok boat on the way.
INDO005 - Our home for the next 3 day's simply marvelous.
INDO006 - Nature always surprises! This proboscis monkey leaps across the river, using passing boats to outsmart the lurking crocodiles, a daring escape in the wild.
INDO007 Proboscis monkeys can leap over 10 meters from tree to tree, plunging straight into the river with incredible agility.
INDO008 -Once in the water, they swim as fast as possible toward the riverbank to avoid crocodiles.
INDO009 - Back to safety.
INDO010 - Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) One of the largest kingfishers in Southeast Asia, the Stork-billed Kingfisher is easily recognized by its massive red bill, striking blue wings.
INDO011 - While arrived at Tanjung Puting not only Urang utangs are something to look for , here a paradise tree snake eating it's lunch.
INDO012 - From another angle.
INDO013 - Someone is watching us.
INDO014 - Feeding time.
INDO015 - Mother with 4 month old baby coming down to feed on banana.
INDO016 - Gentle moves.
INDO017 - The impressive face of a adult male.
INDO018 - From another angle.
INDO019 - The hand of this orangutan feels like a desperate plea, a final, fragile grip on a world that’s vanishing, as forests fall and their home is ripped away.
INDO020 - On our way back, image taken from the klotok boat.
INDO021 - As if they wait for passing boats offering them some food.
INDO022 - Long tailed macaque.
INDO023 - On the way to Sulawesi, you often see people washing their buffalo in the nearby rivers, a simple, timeless scene of daily life.
INDO024 - The polished brass nose ring draws my eye, a traditional tool used by farmers to guide and control the animal, a symbol of both utility and the deep connection between humans and these incredible creatures.
INDO025 - Image of a traditional Burial Site In Tana Toraja Sulawesi Indonesia.
INDO026 - Amazing landscapes.
INDO027 -Rice terraces never fail to captivate the lens.
INDO028 - Leang Leang Cave Paintings In Maros, Sulawesi.
INDO029 - White-faced Cuckoo-Dove (Turacoena manadensis).
INDO030 - Meet the North Sulawesi babirusa: a mostly hairless pig with dramatic curved tusks! Native to Sulawesi, this vulnerable species faces hunting, habitat loss, and attacks from dogs, protected by law but still at risk.
INDO031 - Sulawesi warty pig (Sus celebensis).
INDO032 - Spectral Tarsier Tarsius tarsier in Tangkoko NP Sulawesi.
INDO033 - At evening when these very shy animals appear.
INDO034 -Sulawesi Bear Cuscus (Ailurops ursinus) rare to find and lives high in the canopy of trees.
INDO035 - Sulawesi Scops Owl in Tangkoko NP.
INDO036 - This is the amazing Sulawesi Gliding Lizard (Draco spilonotus). A special species of lizard that is endemic to Sulawesi.
INDO037 - Green Backed Kingfisher (Tangkoko, Sulawesi.
INDO038 - After some research, I believe this is a giant wood spider. The much smaller male can be seen clinging high on the left side of the web.
INDO039 - Artistik image of a black crested macaque in Tangkoko.
INDO040 - Hanging upside down.
INDO041 - Partial sight.
INDO042 - A female black crested macaque in Tangkoko, Sulawesi. Her bright red hindquarters indicate she is in heat.
INDO043 - More detailed and impressive.
INDO044 - Another artistic image.
INDO045 - On our way to the isle of Flores.
INDO046 - First stop in Flores, and our very first encounter with the Komodo dragons.
INDO047 - A detailed close up of a Komodo dragon, showcasing its textured skin, powerful limbs, and piercing gaze a true apex predator.
INDO048 - The front side of the impressive head.
INDO049 - This photo was taken in Komodo, at the back of the office, where several Komodo dragons apparently wait to be fed.
INDO050 - Besides photographing Komodo dragons, we also came across one of their victims, a very young buffalo, with traces of blood on its shoulders from recent bites.
INDO051 - The young buffalo, too weak to follow its herd, stood trembling as I quietly stayed close. One by one, the rest of the herd passed, brushing it gently with their noses, as if saying a heartbreaking farewell. Every touch was a silent tribute to a life fading, while not far away, a Komodo dragon waited, patient and unyielding, ready to deliver nature’s harshest verdict. Witnessing this raw moment of life and death was both devastating and unforgettable.
INDO052 - Wagler's Temple Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri).
INDO053 - A pair of Maleo birds in Sulawesi an endemic species with critically endangered status. Unfortunately, during my visit, they were not in breeding plumage.
INDO054 - Bar-shouldered Dove.
INDO055 - Beautiful landscape of Labuan Bajo on the way to Komodo.
INDO056 - Relaxing evenings and majestic sunsets on the sea.
INDO057 - While sipping a beer on board the boat, gazing out at the endless sea, sudden bursts of movement caught my eye, schools of small fish leaping from the water, chased by unseen predators beneath the surface.
INDO058 - Sulawesi Hornbill - (Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus).
INDO059 - The Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi), also known as the Bali Starling, is one of the world's rarest birds and is found only on the island of Bali Indonesia.
INDO060 - Javan Kingfisher (𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘺𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴).
INDO061 - Most probably a donkey face grasshopper.
INDO062 - Tacua speciosa (Emperor Cicada or Riang-riang) A very large Southeast Asian species of cicada.
INDO063 - Malaysian Blue Flycatcher - Cyornis turcosus with catch.
INDO064 - Male Of Southern Pig-tailed Macaque In Sumatra - Lake Toba Area.
INDO065 - Gibbon at our second visit in Kalimantan.
INDO066 - Pair of Silvery Lutung (Trachypithecus cristatus) a shy, tree-dwelling leaf monkey native to the mangrove and coastal forests.
INDO067 - Silvery Lutung hidden and watching from a distance.
INDO068 - My first images of Urang utangs in Sumatra.
INDO069 - Always interesting watching their behavior.
INDO070 - Female with her youngster , this in Sumatra.
INDO071 - Detail of the hand shape , great resemblance with the hand of human.
INDO072 - Facial view.
INDO073 - If they could speak.
INDO074 - Close up from the mouth.
INDO075 - Our trip organizer, Nathalie, stood beside a male Urang utang at a crossing point, the water level was quite high, creating a striking and memorable scene.
INDO076 - The boss.
INDO077 - Different poses.
INDO078 - Somewhat closer, using a zoom lens.
INDO079 - Completely relaxed.
INDO080 - Long tailed monkey
INDO081 - My seven day stay on Waigeo, West Papua the starting point for photographing Birds of Paradise, was unfortunately overshadowed by rain and stormy weather. I lost six out of seven days to the relentless conditions. Nevertheless, even during the downpours, we continued our search for the birds, though without success. When planning such a journey, you can only hope that the weather will be on your side.
INDO082 - Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Arfak Mountains, West Papua,Indonesia.
INDO083 - Western Parotias or Arfak Parotia (Parotia sefilata) photographed in the arfak mountains.
INDO084 - Female of the western Parotia.
INDO085 - Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise image taken in very low light conditions.
INDO086 - Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise.
INDO087 - King Bird of paradise in a frontal view.
INDO088 - King bird of paradise.
INDO089 - Lesser bird of paradise.
INDO090 - Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot (Micropsitta keiensis).
INDO091 -A large white cockatoo with a spectacular, plumed yellow crest and a dark bill. These birds are so accustomed to being around people that, on several occasions, they came remarkably close.
INDO092 - At sunrise on Mount Bromo, finding a good spot to capture strong photographs can be quite challenging, as the best viewpoints quickly fill with eager visitors and photographers.
INDO093 - When the sun rises over Mount Bromo, a wide spectrum of colors unfolds across the sky, revealing the landscape’s breathtaking beauty.
INDO094 - After sunrise, cloud formations still drift and linger over the mountains. Stay at your spot a little longer, as nature often reveals some of its most beautiful moments during this time.
INDO095 - The next day we visited Mount Ijen. Before 2 a.m., you should begin the descent to witness the blue flames glowing through the vapors. A protective mask is absolutely essential.
INDO096 - Taken from above, the image captures the spectacle of steam rising from the grotto where sulfur is collected
INDO097 -After my stay in West Papua, I joined my family to explore Raja Ampat, this image shows the area at sunset of our stay there.
INDO098 - In Raja Ampat, I rediscovered a passion I had pursued over 30 years, diving into the region’s fabulous underwater world.
INDO099 - Colossal fields of Acropora stretched out beneath me, making it feel as though I had stepped into another world.
INDO100 - An entirely new world, where words fail to capture the awe and wonder of the experience.
INDO101 - A vibrant garden of hard corals, among which a colorful Amphiprion can be seen.
INDO102 - Another hard coral atoll, with vibrant green chromes prominently featured in the foreground of this image.
INDO103 - The corals of Raja Ampat in Indonesia are the healthiest and most stunning I have ever seen.
INDO104 - Bracket plate corals, Podabacia crustacea, Raja Ampat.
INDO105 - Just beneath the sarcophyton, I discovered the Golden Sea Squirt (Polycarpa aurata), a brilliant jewel of the reef.
INDO106 - Knotted fan coral (Melithaea ochracea).
INDO107 - Radianthus ritterie anemone with a pair of perculas or better know as clownfish (Amphiprion percula).
INDO108 -while swimming to the surface a group of platax came as if they wanted to great us.