Behind the lens
About Kim's mission to travel, explore and capture the world with love and respect for our planet!
Take nothing but photos.
Leave nothing but footprints.
Kill nothing but time!
My mission and aim
I am on a mission to travel, explore, and capture the world with love and respect for our planet. I believe that travel makes you a better person and truly enriches your life if you treat 'Mother Earth' and all its inhabitants the way you want to be treated, with love and respect! I advocate for sustainable travel and the protection of our wildlife. Nature can heal us and everyone deserves to see these beautiful places and moments that have impacted my life - through my images or travels.
With this travel and photography platform 'Our planet in my lens', I aim to...
- inspire my readers to travel the world through my storytelling and to start planning their trip of a lifetime with my helpful destination guides and related travel articles;
- make travel lovers aware of responsible travel choices to travel better, with care for the environment, and leave nothing but footprints;
- help photography lovers become better travel and wildlife photographers on their journey around the world by sharing photography tips, ideas, and cool photo locations to take nothing but pictures and come back with the most beautiful photos to remember your travel experiences as lasting memories or to make money with your images;
- share (and sell) my wildlife images to spread awareness about the critical facts some animals are facing so that it hopefully inspires others to contribute to nature and wildlife conservation, be more aware of (un)ethical wildlife experiences, and kill nothing but time. We don't own our planet Earth, we belong to it and we have to share it with our wildlife!
- inspire my followers to (re)connect to nature and spend time in the outdoors as much as possible because nature has the possibility to heal us: go out of our heads and be in the moment.
My mission and aim
I am on a mission to travel, explore, and capture the world with love and respect for our planet. I believe that travel makes you a better person and truly enriches your life if you treat 'Mother Earth' and all its inhabitants the way you want to be treated, with love and respect! I advocate for sustainable travel and the protection of our wildlife. Nature can heal us and everyone deserves to see these beautiful places and moments that have impacted my life - through my images or travels.
With this travel and photography platform 'Our planet in my lens', I aim to...
- inspire my readers to travel the world through my storytelling and to start planning their trip of a lifetime with my helpful destination guides and related travel articles;
- make travel lovers aware of responsible travel choices to travel better, with care for the environment, and leave nothing but footprints;
- help photography lovers become better travel and wildlife photographers on their journey around the world by sharing photography tips, ideas, and cool photo locations to take nothing but pictures and come back with the most beautiful photos to remember your travel experiences as lasting memories or to make money with your images;
- share (and sell) my wildlife images to spread awareness about the critical facts some animals are facing so that it hopefully inspires others to contribute to nature and wildlife conservation, be more aware of (un)ethical wildlife experiences, and kill nothing but time. We don't own our planet Earth, we belong to it and we have to share it with our wildlife!
- inspire my followers to (re)connect to nature and spend time in the outdoors as much as possible because nature has the possibility to heal us: go out of our heads and be in the moment.
Behind the lens, the short version
I’m Kim! A 1982-millennial travel writer, nature enthusiast and award-winning travel and wildlife photographer from The Netherlands with a crush on Africa and its amazing wildlife.
Coffee addict, a lover of Asian food, comfortable on flip-flops, and fond of hats while traveling so that I don’t have to do my hair. Always taking the scenic route. Interested in self-development, happy when I hear the birds sing in the morning, and excited every time the sky turns in pretty colors. Committed to being a more responsible traveler, wildlife enthusiast, and feeling at home on the plains of Southern and Eastern Africa.
I studied Geography teaching but ended up with bachelor's degrees in Consumer Services Management and Public Administration with a 9-5 job as a Policy Advisor at the Dutch local government. Because it’s never too late to pursue your dreams and to live your best life, I decided to quit my job and build my own business to start doing what I love doing most and experience more freedom. On this travel and photography platform, I share my travel experiences, travel images, and amazing captures of our free-roaming wildlife, taken on our planet. Meet OUR planet in MY lens!
The longer version of my story...
Traveling is among the top priorities in my life!
I travel to understand the world a bit better and it has taught me the value of memories and connections over things.
When we travel, we take in the energy of each new place in a way that can transform us. Travel infuses us with new energy and increases our sense of being connected to a larger world. This energy of connection stays with us and uplifts us even after we leave. Travel enriches you more than I can explain.
People and cultures from all over the world inspire me and I love to explore the beauty our life has to offer; from amazing landscapes and breathtaking sunsets to (endangered) wildlife and inspiring people with their own unique traditions, sounds, and food.
At a younger age, I already went on vacation to European countries like Spain, Italy, and France. The first country I’ve visited outside of Europe was Thailand, followed by South Africa, where I also worked as a photography and conservation volunteer. I loved spending most of the day in the outdoors, connected to nature.
Once I got bitten by the travel bug in early 2000, I was hooked. Traveling our planet - 5 continents explored & 37 countries visited - introduces me to a wealth of different landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and amazing experiences. Memories that will last a lifetime.
Photography & travel proved to be a perfect match: I found my true passion!
My love for photography developed during my volunteer work in a Private Game Reserve in South Africa, where I contributed to vital conservation within the reserve, learned the basics of photography, and went on game drives to shoot wildlife images for educational initiatives.
Photography is a love affair with life and my camera is the perfect instrument of expression for me on my journey around the world.I love to look at the surroundings in a mindful way and the experience of being behind the lens combined with the challenge of deciding how I want to capture a moment I witnessed with my own eyes.
Nowadays photography has become one of the most important reasons I travel and gives my travels an extra purpose. Therefore, you will hardly see me without a camera.
- I won the National Geographic photo competition of 2019;
- Qualified as a finalist in the Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year competition in 2020;
- Several photos have been published in magazines, for example in National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Calendars 2020, The Telegraph (UK), ZOOM.nl (a Dutch Photography Magazine), and other travel and photography-related magazines.
On Television
NatGeo Photo Exhibition
AfricaGeo Finalist
NatGeo Award
Why I love Africa
Being on the plains of Southern and Eastern Africa gives me that special feeling. In Africa, I feel somehow more grounded and I'm able to connect to nature, the people, and myself.
It forces you to be in the moment because - in the bush - you don't know what the next minute will bring. Being so close to nature makes me feel alive and free!
I've visited over 10 African countries, some of them more than once and there really is something about Africa that feels like home to me. As a wildlife enthusiast and wildlife photographer I keep going back to Africa; for its nature, the people, and my love for our beautiful - and sadly endangered - wildlife!
With my wildlife images, I hope to spread awareness about the critical facts some animals are facing and that it will inspire you to contribute to wildlife conservation. The fight for our wildlife has never been more important, therefore I hope my images can be a small reminder of lives worth saving.
We don't own our planet Earth, we belong to it and we have to share it with our wildlife!
Meet the dream team
Kim
Content Creator | Travel & Wildlife Photographer | Nature Guide
Tessa
Travel Writer | Musician | Aspiring Photographer | Nature enthusiast
In the Media
Free photo download!