Some scenes are quieter than they seem at first. This one, for example, is all about stillness—but there’s energy hiding in it. The photograph looks up into a tall tree, its thick trunk anchoring the center while branches stretch outward like a slow-motion burst. The leaves form a dense canopy, catching bits of light, and just near the lower right side, a single sunburst breaks through. It’s small, but sharp, and brings everything else into balance.
What struck me in the moment was how the light didn’t overwhelm the shadows—it worked with them. That little star of light felt like a gentle reminder that even the darkest parts of the forest have their moments of glow. I was crouching awkwardly under the tree, hoping the sun wouldn’t slip behind a cloud before I got the angle right. Luckily, it didn’t.
The black and white palette turns this into more than just a nature photo. It becomes a study of shapes and rhythm, of silence broken only by a single, steady flicker.
Welcome to my world of photography. I am Martijn Jebbink, born in the Netherlands and living in Rome.
I grew up in a small town, surrounded by an impressive forest. In that environment I developed my own way of looking at the world. At first, I didn’t see..
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