Sonian Forest

 

To define oneself, one needs landmarks. From that perspective the Sonian Forest is undoubtedly my second home. This is where it all started, where I patiently  sharpened my gaze along the flow of seasons, where I learned to record my feelings and messages through the lenses of my cameras.

This forest just next door of the European capital Brussels is a place where I spent countless hours in search of all the subjects and events that mark the cycle of life. From waiting for days in a hide for a rare woodpecker or a kingfisher, to endless walks in search of the best fleeting visions, this is where I’ve had the chance to grow, to take all the time I needed to open my eyes and free my mind.

In the introduction of the book ‘Forêt de Soignes’ (La Renaissance du Livre, 2010) I quoted the following words of Marcel Proust « The real voyage of discovery is not to be found in a search for new lands, but in having new eyes », as the writer expresses perfectly my relationship with this place. Each one of us can find, close to where we live, some special piece of nature that may contain secret wonders for anyone who determines to look where the other could only see.

So please find in this portfolio a collection of instants captured over the last fifteen years in this periurban magical place of which the most preserved old beech forest parts have recently been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.