Although I appreciate all the reactions I’ve gotten so far my decision is unanimous too bad that people find it sad, trust me if I say I have slept/thought about it, I’m certain I’m making the right decision.

It was fun to “snap” images that are stored as memories now, but I have to be realistic not for now but also on the long term.

During my active period I’ve met great people and also got to know people who I wished I’ve never met too cocky, too arrogant and taking crap images……

For the people who are following me on Twitter/Facebook ( lots of MotoGP/Valentino Rossi I have a small “surprise”, normally I would sell my pictures for €60 each ( 40cm x 30cm ) but since it’s my farewell as a photographer I’m offering a discount  on the following picture.

Since I’m quitting with photography I’m also looking for a new nickname on Twitter, therefore I have a small bonus.

Look below for further information:

Image details: 40cm x 30cm, printed on: Epson premium glossy paper.

Amount of copies: 46 pieces numbered and signed by myself

Price: €35,00  excl. P&P each no extra’s for “special” numbers except for image number 46.

Number 46 is reserved for the person who finds me a new Twitter name. Please note that my new name has nothing to do with Nikon neither with Pro stuff. Be creative and original and send out your name through DM to me at Twitter or through email ( when sending my “new name” through email please add your Twitter name with it )

Payment: Through PayPal, keep notice that sending out the copies could take up to 28 days after clearance of payment ( luckily for all the lucky people I hate it to slow things down so if I can speed up the delivery I will )

But that isn’t all of it…..

For the winner of this prize living outside The Netherlands shipping and handling will be on me so no further costs for you.

For the winner of this prize in The Netherlands I will bring this copy in person to you.

Thank you for joining me on my trip on Twitter/Facebook and on this website, the comments on Twitter/Facebook were marvelous and I’m pretty proud that I had the opportunity to show some of my work. Many, many thanks……

It’s been a while since my last blog, but this will probably be my final one.

In one of my latest blogs I took you with me in my journey of the visits to the hospital before surgery.

Surgery is done and feeling good after a too long period of being anything but, it took a while but I guess it had an purpose.

In my “diary” I also said that I want to do something back to “still” my feeling about being “selfish” as it comes to help others. So I decided to become a blood donor, tests already have started and at the end of march it will be the first time I’ll donate blood.

I’m really looking forward to it and the bruises due to the needle doesn’t bother me. After the test I had an electrifying feeling which made me proud and gave me  the opposite feeling like I had after surgery.

For so far the good news……

Time for the main reason I started this blog.

The title does say enough, but like a good picture does say more than a thousand words I have also something to say.

I don’t say goodbye without a good way of saying goodbye

Since september I thought a long, long time about going further with the photography stuff.

I was informed that my “agenda” for the other half of the year was cancelled so my main objective was motorsports.

Going to Assen for another 7 events was way too much for me. Not because of the bikes, only for being there again and again and again and again…..

For someone who goes to Assen once a season it’s fun to be there, but doing your stuff as the main thing, things are getting boring.

This was also the period I thought what to do for next year?

Then the gallbladder thingy occur, which prevented me to think further about this.

I had a dream of becoming a regular in the bike scene and doing a world championship for a season or more, travel around the world……

But the main “problem” is money…. I invested a lot of my savings to buy the gear that I use and gave myself two years to earn a bit of my investment back.

Partially by selling pictures to customers and otherwise by selling images to  press agencies, stock agencies and directly to editors of newspapers, magazines etc., etc.,

Although spending large amounts of time by contacting editors I didn’t get much replies back. To be honest I didn’t like this how difficult is it to say a yes or a no.

They need pictures with their articles…..

If I got a reply they made me an offer that would give me some pocket money to pay taxes and buy myself a drink on the track, money to get me somewhere had to come out of my own pocket.

The problem isn’t the economic crisis it’s just an excuse to rip off photographers…

The real problem are “photographers” who are selling pictures at any price and don’t look at quality just like most of the editors do.

I’ve seen really shitty pictures with articles in newspapers it’s just ridiculous they sell it.

Concerning my journey around the track(s) I’ve decided to quit.

It was fun with highs and lows and for 99% I enjoyed all of it.

I’ve met brilliant people, I worked together with some excellent people in the motorsports scene, but for me it’s time to do other stuff.

Thank you all for reading, making comments on my pictures and the fun I had sharing pictures with you…..

I hope for all of you that 2012 will be an excellent year,

Goodbye,

Michel Hulshof

It’s december and we are reaching the end of the year.

The sport we love has come to an end and where november marked the final chapter of the 800cc bikes we’re heading for another season in a couple of months time.

We not only saw the end of the 800cc bike period we also lost one of MotoGP’s brightest spirits.

The offer I’m going to make you is this limited Valentino Rossi picture and I’m adding a second picture with it for free.

On Twitter I made some screensavers for iPhone, Blackberry etc., etc., and now I’m bringing this one to you for free when purchasing the Valentino Rossi picture.

Race your life…..

About the pictures:

Both pictures come in a 30x40cm print, printed on Epson Pro premium glossy paper and printed from a professional printer.

Prices:

Both pictures are combined in one set and can’t be bought separately I’m going to print 30 images of each and there won’t be printed any more than 30 prints each.

Value is set to 60€ without post and packaging for Holland, UK and the rest of the world feel free to contact me for shipping costs.

Payment:

Payment can be done through PayPal and PayPal only.

Please allow 7-21 days delivery within The Netherlands on clearance of payment and 7-28 days to the rest of the world.

Track and trace number will be emailed when the package arrives at the postoffice  for shipping.

The otherwise strong person who I am, who did think nothing could happen to him and a true workaholic spent some time to think about stuff.

Things I would like to achieve, things I would like to do, things I love…..

It was august 2009 2 years after I started again with photography after a couple of years doing nothing with photography. Things did go well and I invested some serious money to buy some “decent” gear.

I also set some goals that I wanted to achieve in a couple of years time to earn some money with photography.

I was always clear that I had a normal job with a normal income and although work comes with ups and downs ( periods of loving your job combined with some periods you absolutely hate it, I’m sure I’m not the only one who has this ), but as a side program I had photography just to relax and doing what you like most.

2009 was also  the year I was asked to photograph for a team competing in the Dutch ice hockey league ( non professional that is, except for the foreign players ) besides the motorsport I had covered a whole year of photography with two seasons of different sports turned into one activity.

I didn’t spent much time as a “staff” photographer because my opinion in being a photographer was also making money out of it, after some “fun” of the chairman of the ice hockey club I decided to quit and leave them all behind ( they weren’t serious and certainly didn’t want to invest money in some decent pictures ) it was the start of starting my own website, registration with the chamber of commerce and a registration with a agency who provided a press pass and it was also marked that I had to pay taxes for the money I would make with photography. With the press card I automatically got some legal advice when I needed it after “others” would violate my terms of use ( the reason I quit the ice hockey stuff ).

After having invested some money for professional equipment, legal stuff, commercial stuff it was time to expand my horizon and I joined a local press agency they could give me access to other events I would like to photograph. The owner had some time to focus on his own things and I added some additional stuff to his image bank so besides I had professional back up as I was working for a press agency they would sell the images for me. All I had to do was make and deliver the pictures…..

Although my intentions were pretty clear this year the collaboration ended, for a couple of months the press agency didn’t put up my images online so selling pictures was going down the drain in two years time sold 2 pictures.

I have my website but always had the intention to have it more like a portfolio and besides that to blog about stuff that I do and getting more personal to the viewers of my website, give my thoughts on to things etc., etc.,

Besides having a normal job and the photography stuff a big part of this was filled by writing to editors of newspapers, magazine’s ( sports related ), website’s and such to make them aware what I do and that I was able to deliver pictures for their editorials.

To be precise 99,9% of all the people I’ve written nobody reacted ( it wasn’t my fault for business stuff I write pretty handy letters ) after a phone call it was pretty clear that it was always a money thing or more of the blablabla thing. They already had a photographer who did some stuff for them ( a great learning thing is to be a critic of your own work and see where you can improve and compare your pictures with the “real pro’s” )

The person who responded to one of my emails was David Emmett of www.motomatters.com he already made clear that he hadn’t the funds to pay me, but the statistics of his website were impressive.

Although I’m pretty commercial minded this guy was on the right place on the right time and also from Holland so during the 2010 WSBK we got to talk and he had a photographer for this round. Sometimes exposure is more important than making money with a small player in the game of the media

It was a great pleasure to work with David and this also made me more active on Twitter ( just an easy way to find people who you want to interact with simply by using the correct hashtags )

I got involved with some more “editors” of websites ( StayOnTheBlack Visordown and MotoRaceReports ) and contributed on a non commercial way just to expand my horizon and get in touch with people who could bring me further.

One of these websites said you are exclusively working for us during the Dutch TT you give us the pictures and we get you your credentials ( normally a long procedure has to be run to get credentials showing publications, fill out a form with specific info about yourself, website etc., etc.,  and still you weren’t sure you would get it, normally you fill out stuff about 6 weeks for the event and a day before the event starts you could get an answer of you were allowed to photograph or not ) but this was the easy way I already knew in March everything was ok for the Dutch TT.

I absolutely loved it and enjoyed every bit of it…….

During the TT weekend I started some things to boost the selling of images with some limited edition images.

It was also a test to see if there was some money in it, but the test failed big time in my opinion.

In september the first signs showed up what ended in getting hospitalized and what made me over think stuff on this moment. The things I wanted to achieve is about 60% it’s still costing me money and it would be easier if I had the words to say I play even I don’t earn a bit extra but it covers the costs of the investments.

So on this moment it’s like this:

I don’t get paid to get somewhere, I don’t make ( enough ) money to cover the costs ( don’t want to spent income of my normal salary on a regular base ), I am not certain if I could achieve more on this moment I’m at square one on this moment. All the things I’ve reached to photograph a whole year long with the things I like is nothing more than motorcycle racing where I normally do some “winter stuff” at this period of the year.

Editors in Holland are pretty greedy, my “colleagues” in Holland are sneaky bastards selling images for low prices just to sell images and complain about people who are to smart not to make a living out of photography because they know it’s not more than collecting pocket money.

It’s know all about choose what to do and make a final decision….Spent some more money and leaving question marks about the future or just back off get some serious money back from my equipment and focus on a normal life.

I lived for photography, but it seems that the passion has died the last months…..

It’s sports photography and in general road racing what attracts me to capture, but I’m not keen making choices without knowing if I am gambling or not.

I really don’t know if I would invest more money if it gives me something back, I always believed in that you make the best pictures as you do what you like the most.

Not doing things because it has to be done, just doing what you like to do.

I had some goals, but with every day it becomes clearer to me that that goal is moving away from me despite my actions to reel it in.

Time to think about certain things…..At least I’ve tried it

Finally it has kicked in that Marco Simoncelli will never be there to entertain us ( MotoGP fans, bikeracing fans and motorsports fans in general )

After the motorsports world got the sad news that Dan Wheldon had passed away after a horrifying crash during a car race in Las Vegas the motorsports family got another blow to the head with the sad loss of Marco Simoncelli last sunday during the Malaysian Grand Prix at the track of Sepang.

Although I posted it, some stuff earlier on the moment I wrote it I was devastated couldn’t write a long blog or such.

I wanted to give it a rest and don’t want to be one of the first collecting page views by telling stuff about him.

Since Simoncelli passed away lots of articles were posted online some good and a lot terrible ones.

The good ones were from the persons who like the sport and know what could happen, other stories obviously the bad ones are the articles to sell newspapers written by people who possibly never heard of the name Marco Simoncelli or even hadn’t seen a race and collected their news to write about through Google or search.

Instead of praising a young charismatic and flamboyant person who raced his life, they did the opposite.

They burned him to the ground saying that he caused his own death by riding too aggressive, I’m pretty certain that people still saying this kind of rubbish never ever haven’t seen motorcycle racing for people who wrote these pieces of crap.

I love motorcycle racing it’s my number one passion to photograph and to watch when I’m not photographing and the last years we were treated with a couple of good races and a hell of a lot bad races without any excitement.

I do follow all the classes and already had an eye on Simoncelli in 125′s he was the tall kid who was way to big to fit properly on that tiny bike he was a rider and that was it.

When he switched to 250′s the bike suited him a bit more and already showed his eagerness to race, but had some pretty hard crashes but I already had someone to follow.

He became champion in a season that was full of action, making it to the top step of Grand Prix racing was the next step and although another learning year he got used to the bike and his second season in the MotoGP class was also his last.

In his second season where Simoncelli was heavily criticized  he got more and more fans all over the world, although lots of complaints from other riders about being aggressive the true race fans were delighted with Marco Simoncelli.

Finally a rider who could be the next Rossi although there were some words about Stoner being the next Rossi it needs more than a couple of World Championships to be such as Rossi.

Simoncelli was that kind of person, aggressive on the bike although I’m certain he raced with his heart and mind. Simoncelli brought back excitement that Valentino Rossi can’t give on this moment.

With his big afro haircut, lots of fun was made of him also by myself ( on a good way to be honest ) for me Simoncelli was the next Valentino Rossi he had the charisma that a couple of riders miss and he has a riding style which brought firework.

For me the “aggressiveness” wasn’t the problem, the only problem was he got a lot of heat by the media, colleagues and lots of “fans”….

To me Simoncelli was the person that spiced up the big class and made it more fun to watch, although he didn’t win a race in the MotoGP to me Marco Simoncelli won every weekend.

I’m pretty sure that MotoGP never will be the same and that it will take years before there is such a charismatic character on a bike again who could make me cheer, smile and after sunday who could make my cry.

Thank you Marco, it was a pleasure to watch you go out on the bike and to see you race although you never won in the MotoGP Class you won the biggest trophy you could get….You won the hearts of a lot of fans

What looked to be a fun day with motorcycle racing ended in tears…..

Whilst two classes raced brilliant races, time stood still after the 2nd lap of the MotoGP race.

A horrible crash cost upcoming star Marco Simoncelli his life.

A rider who was too aggressive in racing, but the fans loved him……

Gobsmacked, speechless, I really don’t know what to say…..

Thank you Marco Simoncelli for all the good races I’ve seen, in my opinion you were never too aggressive.

You made MotoGP more fun to watch….

my condolences to Team Gresini and the Simoncelli family and his friends

I’m not a fan of describing private situations in life on the internet but hell just do it. On Twitter people asked me what’s wrong and combined with the reactions from my colleagues at work, who got scared because I’m not sick that much. And if I make the call that I can’t come emergency bells are ringing. But I won’t do this a lot being this personal on my website this has to do with some kind of professionalism and my thoughts about being a cry baby. Life has to be about fun stuff and good stuff I don’t like the bad stuff and I’m not a person who likes to complain a lot.

People on Twitter were interested in what happened, but don’t want to repeat all the things I’ve told lately so let’s talk about it in a blog, here I can talk all about what happened lately and I haven’t to repeat everything to each and anyone of my followers and I can update the story when I like it.

Kickoff:

About seven weeks a go I woke up in the middle of the night with heavy pains in my stomach area.

It was extreme painful and I’m not the person you’ll hear complaining about pain, but this sharp pain made me almost crawl up to the ceiling.

I was pretty delighted the pain got away after a couple of hours and the only thing I missed was some sleep, after spending most time of the day in bed that day. I recovered or let’s say I thought I was getting better. But my stomach was sore for a couple of days I thought that I ate something that wasn’t good.

A couple of weeks went by when I was struck again by the same horrible pain, I saw some resemblance in things that I ate when I had the first pain attack and the second….. peanuts

I almost thought it was “peanuts” to figure that one out so I skipped the peanuts.

Couldn’t think of something else due to my food isn’t full of fat, baked potatoes like fries or my favorite dish of potatoes out of the oven aren’t things that I eat regularly. Most dishes contain carbohydrates consisting out of rice or pasta and once in a while potatoes.

I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables like salads, stir fried veggies or such I don’t eat a lot of pork mainly chicken, fish or ground beef.

So I was pretty clueless what it could be…..

It didn’t took long when I had my third pain attack in the middle of the night and the second thing I changed was no more food after 8 o’clock, maybe it had something to do with my digestion ( after all this was the most common thing I could think about )

The weirdest thing was that I had the pain attacks at night I couldn’t explain that, but still hadn’t visit a doctor.

Why not do you think, when I was four I had my tonsils  removed, a not so difficult procedure you might think but in the early ’80′s it was hell. My hate and fear for hospitals began there.

Even visiting family, friends or such in hospital is still a nightmare…..

I could write a 1000 words about that, but I don’t!

After the third attack I got more scared that something was very, very wrong the pain got away and I shrugged it off a good friend already said go see your doctor after my fourth pain attack and this time I had to vomit too during the pain attack.

All the attacks were gut wrenching I can’t describe the pain so you could compare it, but let’s say that they slice your stomach open and someone is trying to make a smoothie of all your intestants whilst you’re fully aware of this.

Lying on the floor stretching yourself to get rid of the pain, making yourself real tiny with all the pillows held to my stomach you can get to take away the pain just nothing helped, and I still wondered why it went away after a couple of hours. I didn’t ate late so I almost thought it was something else.

Although I was concerned about that it was a not so kind illness which I probably wouldn’t survive I really got stressed out. I was pretty scared what to do if this was true.

And I blamed myself for being scared and being this ignorant to going to the doctor again telling the real story and end up in hospital I guess that is what stopped me that if I had something bad, that I didn’t want to know it.

I know pretty bad to think, but hospitals, needles ( except of the needles a tattoo artist uses )  are scaring the shit out of me.

And sometimes I blame my memory for being that good that I can remember stuff like that, it would make my life a lot easier if I could get rid of that kind of memories.

It’s a couple of weeks later when attack number 5 occur, I was mad as hell because there was an event which had some helicopters, yets, planes, Patrouille de France, Red Arrows etc., etc., in my neighborhood that I wanted to see and photograph.

It was giving me some rest although earlier in the week I had attack number 5 I already knew that in a couple of hours it would disappear and this time I couldn’t go to a doctor, because by now I was certain that I had to make it to hospital got sidelined for a couple of bike racing action as well.

This event was on my to do list, the only thing that pretty sucked was the illness of one of the pilots on friday of the Red Arrows ( karma is a bitch was it telling me something? )

I went there for two days from my own home to the air force base is about a 35 min trip by train and bus. And got a small display of the Red Arrows with 4 of the aircrafts instead of the 8 after the tragic death of Jon Eggins ( number 4 of the Red Arrows ) during an event nearby Pourtsmouth in England.

After this weekend normal life was turning back and two weeks since then much has happened and the main reason I’m writing about this in a blog.

Wednesday:

Last week in the middle of the night I had attack number 6 it was busy at work and didn’t wanted to call in sick, it already costed me a day which I get if I don’t get sick in 3 months time. Calling in sick would cost me a day of my own spare hours.

Thursday:

Went to work nothing serious I said that I had some stomach cramps and that I wasn’t fit at all but wanted to work.

After a couple of hours I had yet again an attack this time the pain was heavier and almost couldn’t do my work…Got an easy job from my chef but was hyperventilating and sweating cold sweat but I felt like I was on fire…. But not in the way like I would like to be on fire ( no, don’t think that kind of way I just meant when I’m on a roll having fun and everything is going pretty well )

Although it was easily to spot that I was in pain, I didn’t want to see my colleagues that I had troubles. Although I was pretty sharp when I commit to the pain some people had seen it and told it to my chef.

She came to me and asked how things were going, I was thinking I could say two things tailing about myself ( she was referring to that ) or talk about work.

The easy job wasn’t so easy so I told that I was struggling a bit to get the final step done so production could start.

“Dumbass” she said I don’t care about the machine how are you doing?”

“I  think you have to see your doctor, this morning you were pretty pale in your face. And now you have sweat on your forehead and you look yellow”.

Now I got scared I was been caught and that yellow color was bothering me…..

During the bicycle trip to get home to make an appointment with the doctor, everything went through my mind….

Now I have to see a doctor, and what if they’ll find something? I was pretty concerned because I knew I had to do a bloodtest with fucking needles into my vein.

After getting home I first wanted to refresh myself because of the sweating ,tried not to call. But I had to make the call! I called and had to get there as soon as possible had to wait for about 45 minutes. And I thought of lots of things during those minutes they called my name and had a chat with the doctor. After that time for examination, didn’t had much pain by then, I don’t know why.

After examination another talk….got a prescription for heavy painkillers and the doctor said go to the hospital to get your blood examined.

I knew it was the thing that had to happen and I didn’t had a choice, so I “volunteered” to get a needle into my vein and let them collect some blood.

The blood thing was euhm easy? I really didn’t know why I was scared but that was quite simple the outcome of the bloodtest that is what scares me.

What did they find, what were they testing for but the outcome of it would be there earlier then expected……

Results of the bloodtest were planned for monday.

Friday:

First of all comments about the day before “you looked pretty yellow and still you look yellow” thanks for that euhm compliment.

Had to do my work, but was tired less pain ( due to the painkillers ), but I was really tired and had problems to concentrate.

09:30 phone rang it was the doctor you have to go to the hospital immediately was what the voice on the other side said.

I talked to my chef who was standing next to me “euhm, I guess I have to go now. Can I….”

The bicycle trip lasted hours or at least so felt it….I was shivering on my bicycle and yet again sweating…..

My blood wasn’t good, how bad it was I would find out later.

Back home again refreshed myself different clothes and almost rushed to hospital.

Didn’t know where I had too go to so went to the department I should have to go too I thought. Had to ID myself and the girl behind the desk said that I had to go too emergency care!

From then everything went fast…..Doctor came in to examine me, lots of questions ( nothing about the blood forgot to ask ), doctor went away, nurse came in another needle for another bloodtest, after that the doctor came in…..Busy talking but didn’t understand the most of it…..It was like I was dreaming.

Had to do an ultrasound was the thing I heard. Nurse came back to stick another needle in my veins for an intravenous drip and the next thing I know was the ultrasound and after that I was escorted to my room for the night I had to stay…..

There I had a chat with one of the nurses and got more info about the bloodtests.

They had tested for enzymes of the liver and infections ( first bloodtest ) second bloodtest was everything they could test of the liver.

Outcome normal value max 31 was 151, other levels max 150 for a healthy person 150 was almost 900…Which means I asked “euhm, you’re lucky was the answer!”

Laid in bed, boredom struck had to do and ECRP/Endoscopic test to remove gallstones who were blocking the exit of the gallbladder. I was in a room with 3 elderly people who almost all would star in the “Frisian championship snoring” which were held indeed later on that night and I had front row  tickets .

In the afternoon I got a heavy cocktail of antibiotics because I had infections in the liver, pancreas and the gallbladder and after the antibiotics I was taken away for the endoscopic test….. The nurse in the “operating” room was nice, the doctor was late so I got all the details about the test and finally started to calm down and accept that I was in safe hands. We started talking about the procedure and some other stuff, Doc came in laid his hand on my back and said you’re lucky now we are going to remove the problems before they will remove your gallbladder which will be the next procedure.

Got a fluid injected through my iv and felt a bit euhm dizzy, lifted my head, turned it, looked around and hear the doctor say Mr Hulshof is still awake give him some more. Saw that they injected it again looked a bit around saw everything moving, must have smiled LOL and thought if everything is moving I just should hold my head still. As I tried it the injection fluid KO’d me got awake on my hospital bed between the elderlies.

Don’t know how long I was knocked out, but I felt a big relief that this step was taken.

Nurses said that some gallstones were removed and the blockage was removed.

Had to stay a night so they could monitor me if everything went well, evening came and I was hungry no solid food but pudding

Later on in the night another blood test, had fun on Twitter with my followers ( very grateful to have you on twitter ) when one of the nurses said to me when I took a piss. “You shouldn’t be there laying between those old-timers you are way to young!”.

Follow me and I will bring you to the daycare room it’s empty so you can sit there on your own watching tv if you want.

I sat there until 11:30 was a bit tired and had to take another piss ( thanks to the iv ) got to bed, awake again and started to sending out some messages.

Fell asleep at goddamn o’clock but wanted to sleep on my belly, turned around almost pulled the iv out and the annual snore contest began by the symphonic snore orchestra.

It was almost time for the free practices of the 125cc in Motegi so I started to follow the news about that on twitter, fell asleep half an hour before MotoGP would start and a nurse was next to me to get some blood ( again? vampires in white clothing they use needles instead of pointy teeth ). The winner of the “snore championship” was also awake and greeted me and said “my sleep is over” fine I almost didn’t get any sleep due to you…ksssst.

Got back to twitter again more messages to read and to answer and I felt hungry, real hungry watched the clock and thought when is breakfast?….. I was starving.

07:30 nurse came to remove iv, yes free again…..

07:45 neighbor gets food, hmm I’m next. Already know what I would have wholewheat bread, chicken filet and a juicy tomato omnomnom….. What do you want to eat Mr Hulshof….

“Euhm what can I have?” Was my answer ( still thinking of some solid food omnomnom )

Euhm you’re still on fluids….So pudding, porridge…..

“WTF…That’s what I was thinking, euhm pudding, a glass of water and an empty glass” ( had some juices in the fridge )

After the 4 scoops of pudding which was in that cup I got out of bed wanted to shower and I could get expelled from hospital pretty soon.

After showering I watched some tv and waited for my release…..

It’s wednesday, feeling better, staying home from work recovering for my operation which they can call for any minute the upcoming period and had my pre-operating question list filled out on monday with again a blood test.

Went to work on tuesday for a visit, lots of colleagues were concerned so I talked with them to say what happened and what is on the program the upcoming period.

Did a tiny bit of cycling yesterday because I don’t want to be at home all the time, want some fresh air from time to time but still the liver, pancreas and gallbladder are infected so that’s why I don’t go to work.

Friday another examination for the operation……

Thanks for all the kind messages through Twitter and such.

I’ve learned my lesson to be honest and will go quicker to see a doctor then I used to….. I would miss life because a couple of people in my life make my life pretty special…..

Sorry for the crap quality of the images you have seen better, but I didn’t had the time to pack my camera bag

Instead of writing more blogs I’ll keep it central, main reason I’m blogging is to let you know what happened and how I feel during the days towards surgery and I’ll update after surgery when I’m recovering.

I’m trying to update on a daily base except for the days I’ll spend in hospital for treatment before and after my surgery so from now on I’ll blog day by day…..

Wednesday, october 5th:

Yesterday was a good day to be honest. No pain at all and planned some stuff although I’m staying sick from work they didn’t say you have to stay at home it’s the infections that has to heal and with a lot of rest, drinking water and proper food everything will be good.

I’m quite a busy person who really can’t sit still doing nothing, so boredom struck again yesterday.

It’s the autumn period in Holland, so very unpredictable weather for the UK based people who are reading this now we have the weather that you always have back there in the UK LOL.

I spent killing the time in the morning, the plans that I had didn’t take place I put it on hold because I would do more and more and more and…..Yes more.

From a good colleague and her mother who works at a farm where they make their own jam, juices and many, many other stuff I got three jars of “home made” jam. Although I ain’t a sweet tooth these jams rock. Absolutely brilliant taste without added preservatives or such a piece of real nature in a jar.

A great way to start breakfast with, after that I didn’t do much to be honest reading some stuff on Twitter, surf the web, read the latest news etc., etc., at the beginning of the afternoon I rolled my bicycle outside to do a couple of K’s cycling, slow speed no fancy stuff just to have a good sniff of cool air and a little bit of sightseeing.

Just enjoy the freedom to spent some time outside there will be plenty of days left that I certainly have to stay inside my house.

The trip ended after about 1,5 hours where 40 mins of the time was spent cycling the rest of the time I was enjoying my time outside, I also wanted to pick up a game for my Xbox360 but I’m not a fan of gaming. Paying 60 euro’s for a game is just too much and for those couple of hours of gameplay and enjoyment I also can buy some proper food to prepare a luxurious meal the joy of cooking is bigger than pressing buttons to kill people

When I got home I started preparations for dinner roasted parts of chicken ( proteïns ) had some plane rice left from the day before ( carbs ) and had a bag of mixed “thai” veggies red bell pepper, bok choi, red onion, cabbage, spring onions ( could make the mix myself but hey I’m recovering from illness ) stir fried the veggies and added a splash of premium Oyster sauce to add some extra taste.

It all ended up as a huge pile on a plate, although it looked pretty much I ate it all since the removal of some gallstones my appetite is a bit bigger.

During the evening again some fun on Twitter and studied the brochure which I got in hospital about the surgery for the people who are interested here’s a picture of the problem area and the main problem is circled and will be removed, pretty soon.

Still haven’t heard from hospital when it’s my turn to get the problem solved…..

Tomorrow I’ll update all the latest things from today and although it’s raining I guess I will go out and have a ride it’s only rain

Thursday, october 6th

My day started pretty early, felt some pain on the right side of my chest. And the pain was pretty recognizable  from earlier attacks.

Although the pain isn’t as heavy as during the attacks that I had, I’m pretty sure that one of those nasty pebbles is causing the trouble I tried to sing out the pain without painkillers. Using the painkillers would also cause that I don’t feel any pain, but to be sure it isn’t my imagination and the pain is real and caused by a gallstone I chose to go through it without any painkillers.

All the attacks except for the last one all occur in the middle of the night when I was trying to sleep, not during daytime just during the middle of the night.

I almost could set the alarm clock for the attacks, nagging feeling about 2 o’clock in the morning rolling from side to side between 2 and 3, and the most heavy pains just after 3 o’clock. Even when I started to stop eating after 8 o’clock the time of the attacks were almost the same.

When I’m typing this it’s friday and doing a recap of thursday, I have some pain on the moment and back on prescription painkillers later today an appointment in hospital ( three appointments to be honest ) and I guess telling the truth about the pain will come up.

Time to get back to thursday isn’t it?

Boredom struck again as I don’t do much lately because I’m still not sure the infections are healed up well, it was a mess inside and I don’t believe that the antibiotics did their job in that small week we are further from my stay in hospital.

Lots of thinking going on, about surgery, getting back to work and lots and lots of other stuff.

Due to some pain although pretty bearable and not heavy enough to swallow painkillers I also got other stuff stuck in my mind.

I was talking to myself “Michel you clearly over won your fear for needles, why not doing something positive for mankind?. Why not donating blood?”

Although I’m pretty sceptic this question doesn’t  get out of my mind, and I’m pretty sure that this question will come back after surgery.

To be honest I already have read some information about being a donor, but it’s possible that due to the operation, anesthesia and recovery I can’t be a donor and that I’ll be on the waiting list.

All of this was thought of in the early morning and I got off bed at 5 o’clock just to find out if the pain would get worser or not.

It didn’t and after some messing around on Twitter and an early breakfast I decided to get back to bed, that I’m not going out for work does make me feel a bit miserable and useless to be honest and still really looking forward to get back to work.

As I haven’t have to plan general stuff, the things I do during the day can be planned whenever I like it to do.

I was pretty tired when I hit my pillow and stayed in bed until 10 o’clock, I missed my snack between the larger meals ( breakfast, lunch, dinner ) and in between I eat some fruit a bit of yoghurt or something like that.

But being a bum staying in bed that late, ah what the hell I don’t have any plans and I need to rest anyway.

At 10:30 I got out of bed got stuck on the couch and read some articles about Steve Jobs who died on wednesday, first thing that was going through my mind was the iPhone 5 postponed due to Steve’s illness? There was an iPhone 5 test model which was found in a bar and Apple wanted this thing back and even had searched a home where the thing had to be, but they didn’t find it.

It was noon by then, and the weather was pretty typical for the autumn period gusting winds, hail and lots of rain.

I still wanted to cycle a bit, just to escape my home but rain could prevent this…..

Went out for a spin did another route compared to the day before and the sky was clearing up, so sat down for a while just listening to he wind and looking to the sky with the clouds moving pretty fast through the air.

When I got home, still no message from hospital that they have some time for me to fix the problem, so my prediction that I get surgery this week is in the bin.

Surgery next week also means I’m staying at home longer, and that’s not the thing I was hoping for

After dinner I got to the shopping mall, although I spent most of the time in home I want to do something but was at a gamestore and again left with nothing.

After I got home I did some “youtubing” and wanted to see my ECRP gallstone removal and I found the keyhole surgery that will be done sooner, rather than later.

The ECRP method to remove gallstones…..And which I already have had.

ECRP procedure

And the keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder…..

Cholecystectomy

I went to bed pretty early, but it’s friday 05:35 and up and awake will try to get some sleep after updating my blog and get ready for another visit to hospital this afternoon.

Friday, october 7th    

Yet again I woke up early in the morning, but reported this in my blog of yesterday.

Pain was coming back and went downstairs to get my painkillers, although I had made plans only to take them when pain was coming back and that I didn’t want to use them if it wasn’t necessary. Now it way necessary!

All the pain attacks I had endured before were enough, and I didn’t want any pain except the normal pain after surgery.

I was wide awake and started my blog, quite a lot of text for being numbed by pain and intoxicated by the relief of some painkillers. Today was an important day because some appointments in hospital were planned.

The painkillers kicked in within the hour I took them and after finishing my blog I went back to bed to get some extra sleep, the pain was gone so I could sleep pretty relaxed.

Until 10 o’clock the time I stood up from bed it was a mix of getting sleep, waking up followed  by sleeping and it was getting me pretty tired.

My appointments were in the early afternoon so I had plenty of time to do some try to eat something etc., etc.,

My first appointment in hospital was at 13:20, followed by another appointment at 13:50 and the final one at 14:20  the first appointment was on schedule with someone from the pharmacy to talk about the medicines I use on this moment just a painkiller ( I got the heavy dosage ) and some medicines who protect the stomach for internal bleeding and such. Pretty normal stuff, but good to have them, right?

Medicines could effect the recovery or the operation, so it was necessary to clear this all.

After this appointment I was sent back to the hall of the hospital to wait for my next appointment with somebody from nursery, a hospital wouldn’t be an hospital if it says that the patient has to be on time, whilst the ‘specialist’ I am visiting hasn’t.

So 13:50 passed away, even 14:00 was ticking away and 10 past 2 it was my time. During the waiting the painkiller I took in the morning was almost stopped his “healing” job, so I sat there in pain.

This time the pain was more intense and pretty close to the pain I had endured during the attacks.

In the brochure I got, there was a scale in it from 1 up to 10 that marked the pain you were feeling during the earlier attacks it was definitely a 10 and the pain I had now was a 6,5 or 7.

The nurse asked a variety of questions.

“Do you smoke?”

euhm, no…..

“Do you drink?”

euhm, no…..

“Do you use drugs?”

euhm, no…..

The outcome of it was that I was dull by not experiencing the joy of  cigarettes, liquor and drugs instead of getting you better they want you to become a junkie?

The joy of cigarettes in my opinion:

It costs a lot of money to smoke, gives you a bad breath, makes your taste go bad just 3 points I can think off and I can think of plenty more.

The joy of liquor in my opinion:

It tastes like euhm crap and whilst you’re having fun if you use too many you’ll forget the banter you had and will reward you with puking all the stuff you ate and drank  like you’re throwing away money.

So no excuse to drink I can’t see the fun in it….. Ooh one of the reasons to drink was because it’s cozy and isn’t dull.

In my own opinion if you need liquor to have a good time it just says that without the booze you’re dull.

I have enough fun and it only could get worse with a couple of drinks

Now the drugs part, I can’t really understand why people do use it….. Compared to the liquor what does drugs add to life and if it would make life better why aren’t we using it all instead of a couple of people?

I know that there are people with health problems who take some prescription drugs to relief the pain, but other than that I only think that drugs is a momentarily drug to forget problems for  small while.

The only bad trip I experienced was a holiday to France ( sorry for that Frenchies it’s the attitude like they’re on drugs and booze all the time ) and that trip by train to get to Assen for the finals of the World Championship ice speedway where some idiot apparently on drugs took his own life by jumping in front of a train.

So therefore I can’t see the added value of smoking, using alcohol or using drugs in life, but heey that’s just me.

The only “drugs” that gives me a blast and is very addictive is laughing, this works just fine for me.

Next was measuring my blood pressure, it was perfect she said, after this final procedure another period of waiting began.

The man who will be responsible that I go to sleep during surgery doesn’t even needs the stuff to get me a sleep, his way of talking almost brought me to lalala-land.

I woke up as in a bad dream when he was talking real calm and with no emotion that the infection I have on my pancreas could be deadly, I was astonished by this. And it gave me a really bad feeling about how close it all was

The talk ended with the final tests listening to my heart and lungs, after the man got away it took 10 minutes when I got the paper with a date on it and the time I have to be back in hospital for surgery.

Although I was looking forward to it, because it will end the nightmare that I was living in the past 2 months now it becomes so real…..                                              

By the time I got home the pain was bugging me, called the doctor and she told me get your painkiller if the pain doesn’t go away let me know if it goes away there’s no problem.

The rest of the day had some banter on Twitter went to bed early and woke up also pretty early…..Now finishing up this part of my blog. And let’s see what saturday brings for me.

Saturday, october 8th 

And another edition of my blog thanks for all the people still reading the stuff that I’m writing down and by now know what’s going on at least I’m pretty honest

I woke up pretty early, I sat down wrote the blog for friday and I didn’t had any pain so thanks for that.

Went to bed after finishing it, the thing that surprised me most is that I’m pretty tired early evening even if I didn’t do a thing, if it’s worrying me….Euhm no.

After finishing my blog one of the riders involved in “Project X” emailed me, how things were going and if I had one of the files in a larger format.

Gave him the real answer of the things that happened lately and got an reaction back that he crashed during the season finale and broke his collarbone. And that antibiotics made him real tired, being out of breath pretty easily quite remarkable what antibiotics can do with you.

But it was already pretty clear that it had to be the stuff killing the infections inside me, so I it didn’t bother me. Already looking forward on the longer term.

So went to bed for some sleep, but it was more staring to the ceiling move a bit didn’t took long that I thought go out of bed you are over your sleep.

Dragged myself downstairs, yawned a bit and starting listening to music the best cure in my opinion.

Although I planned things the last days nothing was done, because I didn’t care only thing that was great was the bit of cycling during the week.

I did some groceries, but saturday “weekend groceries” not the best moment to be in a grocery store ( it doesn’t matter at which time you go it’s always hectic and so not funny )

Wanted to cook some healthy and favorite simple dishes till I have my surgery and monday has to be fine with a final good meal before i’m hospitalized.

I was going for some fresh veggies ( asparagus, baby corn and some other stuff ) but my mind decided different don’t know why, but I didn’t buy it.

Went to the meat section grabbed a bag of pieces of chicken, already had some seasoning and I ate this before lovely stuff.

My bottle of delicious oyster sauce was pretty empty so, got myself a new one and my eyes went to the department with cookbooks, sell out with big letters all over.

Took a look, got one book went through it….Hmm some nice dishes ( under 4 euro per book I said to myself bargain ) found a second book and a third one.

After surgery let’s hope next weekend I certainly will have a go with a couple of recipes.

Got myself a spanish a maroccan and thai cookbook some recipes are good to try, others not intending to

Got home, time to eat I was hungry ate 6 slices of bread ( sorry ) my appetite  was yet again sky-high……

Decided to go to the market just to have a sniff outside, and before I entered the market I came across to two of my colleagues, had a chat with them and another half an hour was almost gone.

The market was getting more crowded and didn’t want to spend much time there, instead of an easy walk I was in a hurry.

Completed the lap and before I got back to my bicycle  in the distance I saw another colleague and this colleague is also a good friend of mine, can’t tell much about this but it was a fly-past, felt a sting of pain in my stomach time to get home and taking it a bit easier.

I didn’t want to fall back into  taking painkillers, want to do without till I had surgery.

At home twitter banter began again, got some compliments about the blog I’m keeping up to date and the stuff I was writing. Some people were touched and some people got scared after reading it.

For dinner I made some tortilla’s with sour cream a lot of veggies and it tasted very, very well……

After that I installed word feud on my iPhone…. Already preparing for my one night stay in hospital but at least if time is killing me at least I hope I can have some fun with this game. It already gave me some laughs during the evening find it pretty hilarious on occasions.

Didn’t go to bed that late, I still need my rest…..

I wrapped up another day and sunday will be spiced up a little bit with some motorcycle racing action with the British Superbikes having their final two races at Brands Hatch

Sunday, october 9th

One of the questions that I got was “are you nervous” have to say no. Not on this moment guess it will come when they give me  ride to the surgery room.

Was awake again pretty early, no pain so positive to start with.

It was just a lazy sunday, didn’t had to do much weather was pretty depressing almost rain for most part of the day. So stayed inside listening to some music ( the best cure for feeling better in my opinion )

In the afternoon it was time for some proper racing with the British Supersport, Superbike, Superstock and 125cc class at least I saw these classes battling through dingledell, Surtees corner…..boy oh boy that Brands Hatch track is marvelous to watch on my screen.

Have to go there sooner rather than later, I love the track and I certainly love the race classes proper battles between the riders and they don’t complain like they would do in other classes…..

Rest of the day I was having a good laugh playing word feud, it’s hilarious and quite funny.

Dinner was lovely ( I cooked it myself doh…. ) and that was pretty much it this time.

No long stories, because I didn’t do much…..

For so far the updates on a daily basis tomorrow 08:45 will be early I have to go to hospital, D-Day they are going to remove my gall bladder.

Probably will update my blog on wednesday, if I get home ( depends which kind of surgery the keyhole surgery or the bigger hole surgery )

On the moment I’m not nervous, want to thank you all for reading for so far and for the lovely comments on Twitter.

Let’s hope all goes well……Will have a deep, deep sleep tomorrow.

Will send a message out when I hit the hospital bed  after surgery and I’m fully aware of things last time out it was fun I’ve heard when I put some messages up…..

Monday, october 10th

A day before surgery.

A day with time to relax, pack my bag and to have some nice food.

Since I stayed home being sick from work, I really had the time to think about stuff and so I did.

I did some over thinking of some things that happened during the time I started this blog and what caused to write a blog.

And on tuesday the final chapter of this blog would come to an end, but after I have fully recovered that is so don’t worry that these final chapters are the last ones.

Let’s hope I don’t have to start a sequel…. After removing the gall bladder I hope it’s also the end of the problems.

In the afternoon I finally made a decision and bought a computer game after playing it for half an hour I already felt guilty for buying it and when I’m back to normal I will sell the game immediately.

It’s just to get through the days when I’m bored and don’t have to do much. After surgery some things will have to be built up from scratch.

I also treated myself on a homemade Bruchetta with grilled peppers, mozzarella, onions and some fresh herbs and got to bed a bit later than I normally do.

Tuesday, october 11th

D-Day has finally come, everything was ready and I was ready for it myself.

I wasn’t nervous or scared I just was myself calm and relaxed at 08:45 I had my appointment with the nursery where I got my room and “comfy” bed for the night.

My clothing for surgery were already lying on my bed and after some final check ups ( blood pressure and stuff ) it was time to get dressed.

Boy, oh boy the jacket I had to wear wasn’t the problem, but the “undies” were a bit too kinky for me stop laughing it was hell to squeeze everything in to it and no the following picture isn’t a net you put over your head!

I hope you all had your fun, will have a laugh when you have to go for surgery…..

After getting dressed for surgery, it was time to wait. I was scheduled for 10:40 but 10:40 was 11:10, I got some painkillers half an hour before surgery combined with a relaxation pill. I don’t know why because I was relaxed the whole time before, during ( I guess ) and after surgery.

Then my name was called Mr. H is expected for surgery in a couple of minutes….

Thumbs up and go…..

2 nurses brought me to the holding area and that’s where the party started…..

Got attached to a heart monitor another IV into my veins ( this time a bigger needle  :O ) and got some kind of sensor equipped to my finger to measure the oxygen levels in my blood during surgery.

I got some warm blankets wrapped around me and within 5 minutes some sightseeing enroute to the surgery room.

I only knew the rooms from tv series ( if I watch tv that is ) and this room wasn’t what I expected it was strange to be in there, but still very calm.

I shook hands with the surgeon and with the anaesthesist the introduction was short and pretty quick the first shot to dreamland was given, followed by a second one. Tried to stay awake as long as I could bit after a bit of oxygen I was gone…..

Next thing was waking up in the recovery room, being dizzy first after some head nodding I was quite a laugh and already had talks like send me to my room.Got some painkillers and got back to my room where I did some sleeping.

The gall bladder was removed, but first I had to take a view if they did the keyhole surgery or that I got a 15cm long incision….. Thank god it was keyhole surgery which also means I only had to stay one night instead of more nights in hospital.

One of the stones that bothered me….Ironically enough I call this gall stone “Casey”.

Although surgery was done, I was really looking forward to my first meal didn’t ate since the day before so I was starving.

Wholewheat bread, chicken and a fresh tomato….. Boy it tasted awesome…..

After the bread I took a small nap, bit didn’t manage to sleep that well so started to give some shootouts on Twitter….

Still on IV and they made a mess of it to be honest the tape that holds the needle didn’t stick so almost pulled out the needle a nice nurse did her best to fix the problem and made this of it…..

This time no hurry for the solution in the IV bag which was half potassium chloride and glucose…..

62,5ml every hour…..

I was already hungry again, but in a bit of pain my shoulder was hurting and my abdomen were also quite sensitive and painful. I was really looking forward to dinner, but didn’t choose the food I got to eat.

Although I like to have a surprise, this surprise was more a deception…..

I’m not a fan of typical dutch food because it misses the taste that foreign food do have, it’s quite dull to be honest.

I got some potatoes, beans a small piece of chicken or what was left of it and some gravy…..

After finishing this 1 star and 3 bites meal, I still was hungry LOL but it was time to rest again.

Later on in the evening I got some visitors which I gave a tour until we headed to my room for the night.

After the visiting hour was over, again time to spent on Twitter and at 21:30 I spent some time at the daycare room I was on my own and could watch some tv that I wanted.

Went to sleep at 23:30 I was getting tired and everybody at my room ( shared it with 3 others ) were already a sleep, the bodies were sleeping their asses were wide awake.

They used their bagpipes pretty heavy and the smell was horrible to be honest…..

Brushed my teeth and one of the nurses came to me and gave me compliments about how well I was doing, she also said that my visit around the hospital wasn’t planned and was forbidden because I had surgery this day I had to stay at my room

After brushing my teeth I took again some painkillers and that was that……

Wednesday, october 13th 

So surgery was done and had some sleep for a couple of hours.

Although I like to sleep on my stomach with most of the time a leg dangling out of bed, I had a rough night getting asleep.

I had a sore throat my belly was swollen and sore, my shoulder was aching I felt a bit of discomfort and hospital beds aren’t that soft like my own comfy bed.

Although I had to spent the night there, at 04:30 my alarm clock went off and had to go to the toilet after that I couldn’t get to sleep so started to read stuff on Twitter one of the messages were saying that Valentino Rossi was now officially on Twitter all the dialogues that started after the message of Valentino being on Twitter were funny to read.

People who were glad he finally made it to social media and some other pretty sceptic because there are a lot of impostors or people who are trying to be somebody else.

Although funny laughing was a bit painful to be honest and I couldn’t laugh to hard because I would wake up my “room-mates”, I guess I was a bit too rude and my neighbor  who was laying on the left of me squeezed some “toxic” gas out.

The room was filling up with a horrible stench, I grabbed my blankets and covered my nose.

On Twitter I left the message “My neighbor just farted, the only thing she had to do next is dying she is already in a decomposing mode”

When she got out of bed she pushed out another burst of toxic fumes and when she walked by to go to the toilet the “tasty” fumes followed her. Although my nose was filled with snot the fumes managed to reach my nose nearly knocking me out….. I was happy I was still in bed and not up on my feet.

The time was crawling further I remember that I fell asleep for about half an hour and the lights on the hallway slowly woke me up…..

Decided to head to the showers trying to get rid of the pink color on my belly that they used for surgery, they told not to shower because of the wounds and the stitches so tried to wash it away.

The towel and the cloth I used were turning pink, but enough of the pink stuff was left on my body. So that would be a problem to solve later on.

Not much later the nurses came, checking my temperature blood pressure and checking the wounds and refresh the bandages.

After that finally breakfast, last couple of hours in hospital so time for a party with a good meal to start with.

3 slices of wholewheat bread, chicken filet,  cheese, butter and a fresh tomato…..

My appetite was good and finished breakfast in a blistering pace, although the coughing was painful and breathing was painful after a visit of one of the nurses I got rid of the IV, finally….

Wasn’t attached to the machine that control the dripping of fluids into my vein so I was glad I got rid of the needle that I almost pulled out by accident twice.

A little bit graphic? I just don’t care…..

It’s still in…..

And it’s almost out….

I’m a person who give blood pretty easy…..

During my first stay they put in the needle a bit wrong when they removed the needle blood was squirting out and it did so after they removed the needle when I was dismissed after the ECRP procedure….

This picture was taken a couple of seconds after they removed the needle.

They changed the bandage again pretty quickly because it was a mess not much later I was getting home.

First thing I did was change my clothes instead of my jeans I slipped into a more comfy set of pants and got down on the couch for a sleep, telephone rang it was my work…..

“We where wondering how things were going”

I asked didn’t they tell you that I called yesterday after I woke up after surgery?

“No, I heard nothing about that, so you already had surgery and you’re at home now?”

Yes, was my answer.

“Great, so I can arrange an appointment with our doctor for next week?

Who can determine when you can go to work”

I said schedule it and I’ll be there but I can’t promise that I’m able to work when you want it, you know what the problems are and although I’m stubborn I’m listening very careful to my own doctor and surgeon instead of a guy who wants you back to work as soon as possible.

I’ve learned my lesson and almost paid the highest price for it, and for me it’s important to recover to 100 % instead of walking around at work because they want me too.

After the phone call I did some video games and had dinner the evening passed by pretty quick had some games done with word feud took some pain killers and went to bed.

Although I said hospital beds aren’t fun to sleep in, the changes you can make to them altering height and such was what I wished for when I got in my bed.

Thursday, october 13th

Time to add another chapter to this story.

My first night back at home and I was awake pretty early, besides the surgery I was having troubles due to a massive cold I ran up to.

Coughing out my lungs when I had to cough and trying not to inhale large amounts of air, because expanding the lungs is painful and taking in lots of air is painful because my stomach stretches out which is euhm sensitive due to the keyhole surgery and when my stomach expands the stitches are pulling into my flesh.

It’s a bit awkward and kind of depressing too, although I would like to do things as soon as possible I have to accept that on this moment I can’t do things.

To be honest, I go to bed tired and get out of bed also pretty tired.

The part of relaxation is a bit lost and it confuses me, I’m not really a guy who complains a lot I’m pretty quiet and want to forget the surgery and heal up pretty quick.

But this pisses me out, although I’m on my way to recovery I don’t feel like I’m recovering I’m pretty aware that it can take a bit longer, but to reach that period when I have to feel different, things takes too long.

It’s the autumn period up here and the weather is pretty good, not to cold and not too warm but having a walk outside takes too much energy at this moment ( I’ve tried it and I was back on the couch within ten minutes )

Normally it wouldn’t be a problem, but it was that I had to get my gall bladder removed but on this moment I’m not sure it was the right decision for this moment.

I guess that the ECRP procedure and my stay at the hospital a couple of weeks ago gave me a serious beating when I had some serious antibiotics to heal up infections of the liver and the pancreas and now I’m further down the road I feel myself pretty useless.

After a good breakfast which took pretty long and a lot of energy having small bites I’m not being able to breathe normally without pain. I had to take a rest to feel myself a bit better again.

Woke up again after a couple of minutes tried to listen some music, update my computers ( iOS5 was out ) and Tweetdeck isn’t running properly anymore after the update ( pretty annoying to be honest )

The rest of the day was filled with sleeping, playing video games ( ZzZzZzZz ), eating ( have to restore my energy levels ) and coughing out my lungs and swallowing painkillers.

That’s pretty much it…..

Friday, october 14th

Forgot to write and update my blog, so sorry for that.

I guess it’s a good time to say goodbye for now at this moment, although I’d thought recovery would go very quickly after I was back up on my feet pretty quick after surgery.

On this moment when I’m writing this ( sunday ) it looks more like I’m hanging around at the same point.

Can’t feel any progress a bit less pain, that’s the only positive thing.

On friday I went out to do some groceries, and although I’m not really a person who like to complain things didn’t go well during my visit to the supermarket.

I struggled pretty much the store was crowded and couldn’t focus, too much noise and was glad I was back home.

I also decided to leave my daily stories for what it is. It’s almost depressing to read and all I want is see happy faces and have some smiles and giggles whilst reading it back.

Let’s hope that I’ll be back in a couple of days with more positive news

Much more fun to read instead of complaining without seeing progress.

Thank so far for all the reading.

Daar de auto te koop is gezet vanwege de aanschaf van een nieuwe auto was het gelijk een leuke kans om foto’s te maken voor een advertentie.

In mijn ogen is een fotoshoot dan iets functioneler dan vrij statisch foto’s maken van een bepaald onderwerp.

Aangezien normaal gesproken deze foto’s op mijn website nooit getoond zouden worden, is het natuurlijk een keer leuk om eens wat anders te laten zien.

Geef mij een circuit en ik redt mij prima uit de voeten, een auto neer zetten op een leuke locatie welke vanwege tijdsdruk en variërende weersomstandigheden “snel” gedaan moet worden vergt toch een iets andere aanpak dan ik gewend ben. Maar zodra er regen bij komt kijken dan voel ik mij als een vis in het water.

Ok, genoeg gelult de opzet van deze blog was enkel om een advertentie weer te geven.

De auto afgebeeld in de volgende galerij is te koop.

Een nette Opel Tigra 1.6 16v voor de iets sportievere auto liefhebber.

De auto is van bouwjaar 1995, bij aanschaf gespoten in een aparte blauw/groene parelmoer kleur ( zie foto’s ) en voorzien van een in kleur mee gespoten bodykit, motorisch nog helemaal in orde en APK tot 04-07-2012.

Op de teller slechts 152.000 km en bij de laatste grote beurt enkel wat kleine dingetjes die gedaan moesten worden ( lampje ABS vervangen ) bij de keuring zijn de distributieriem en de remblokken vervangen.

Ondanks dat op de foto’s de lichtmetalen velgen te zien zijn, wordt de auto verkocht met de originele velgen voor 1000€

De sportieve licht metalen velgen voorzien van nieuwe banden welke op de foto te zien zijn, zijn niet inbegrepen deze zijn samen met een set nieuwe zwarte achterlichten verkrijgbaar voor een meerprijs van 300€.

Geïnteresseerden kunnen via het contactformulier contact met mij opnemen en ik zal zorgen dat de vragen bij de verkoper terecht komen.

Voor de koper van de auto middels deze advertentie wacht nog een kleine zeer gelimiteerde verassing.

*Foto’s zijn aanklikbaar voor een groter formaat foto welke in een nieuw scherm opent.

New month and some small planning for the upcoming month.

It was a bit quiet with the photography stuff, but pretty busy with my regular job. I also took the time to make up my mind with certain things that I would like to achieve with photography.

And being realistic, things are not going like I would have hoped.

The press agency I didn’t do much for them and it looks like I’m on my own again, deciding what to photograph and creating my own images.

So for a certain it’s pretty good, still don’t need the income out of photography but for next year things will change.

Or at least I’ve decided to give some things a chance and make a path to follow my dreams, photographing a whole season at only one track euhm boredom is kicking in.

There’s a lack of developing yourself, images will look the same I have to create some eagerness like I had in the early beginning, although projectX had a nice introduction, things have to be smoothened for next year.

Assen will be on the calendar for a couple of events, but I have to skip Assen a couple of times just to get rid of a certain amount of routine. When the routine kicks in the joy is leaving or at least when you have been 7 race weekends at one track things are getting familiar. Although getting familiar could mean a higher form of developing yourself you also get spoiled to get more stuff without doing anything for it.

I’m not a person who will like it to deserve things without working hard for it. At least when you pay a high price for something it has more value for it.

Sometimes when I have a look at my own pictures I know which settings I’ve used, but the picture itself doesn’t have that “woooow” factor like others would have when they see the picture for the first time.

It’s more like a cake who’s missing the icing, it isn’t complete.

So for the reminder of the “season” or what’s left of it routine is making place to get the fun at it again.

Starting with some choppers, planes, jets during the “Open Days” at Airforce base Leeuwarden lots of stuff is going on, and the top class act nearly had to miss their appearance due to a tragic loss of flight lieutenant Jon Egging of the Red Arrows. When he gave his life to save the local people of a small village.

Last year I saw the Red Arrows for the first time and although the weather wasn’t anything good I really enjoy the courage of these daredevils.

Red Arrows will come to Leeuwarden and with Patrouille de France also headlining during the first day at the air force base, I guess it will be a lot of fun.

If you come to Leeuwarden don’t forget to wear something red to honor Jon Egging of the Red Arrows.

( sorry for the sadness in the pictures, but the weather prevented the Red Arrows to do a high altitude aerial display didn’t prevent them for a high attitude aerial display, I love this sh!t )

Fun to get the mojo back

What I’ve been up to lately?

Euhm basically work, work, work, work although last weekend I dusted of the camera’s, lenses and the optional “ProjectX” rig.

A friend and colleague of mine has a car for sale and I was asked to shoot some pictures of it to put in an advert to make the selling a bit more complete shooting pictures for an advert with only a mobile phone doesn’t do the car any justice.

“ProjectX” came in mind only thing we would to have take care of was picking a date and control the weather, as a rain addicted enthusiast that I am there were some dry periods and some “wet” periods. And with wet I mean really wet, almost standing in a puddle of water and mud to take the pictures is always fun. I don’t like it when things come easy, if I have to get soaking wet to make a certain picture I’m certainly on it and willing to get soaking wet, although during the shoot I had an umbrella girl.

How it turned out….euhm pretty good.

Can’t leave you all without a picture of it…..

MotoGP is more and more about safety this season, brutal overtaking is banned or the chance for penalties are the problem which the riders could risk when they do it. The biggest example was Marco Simoncelli and Johann Zarco this season so far because of “hazardous” behavior on the track.

For me the real championships are the championships where the riders have to battle hard for the victory or championship, I guess this is what’s made British Superbikes and World Superbikes big by the audience who love bike racing.

It’s not about pull of into the distance and win by a big margin, I’m sure I’m not speaking for myself if I say that MotoGP is a bit boring lately this due to riders being less aggressive, tires that are too cold in the opening stage of the race so any risks won’t be taken by the riders.

Although the message is clear about “riders safety”, there’s one thing I really don’t understand.

Why gave Dorna their approval or let’s say “The race in Motegi is on!” and why are teams doing the same thing stating that when our riders don’t show up they’ll be replaced by a substitute and getting fined by us for a breach of contract.

It’s a couple of months a go that an earthquake near the Fukushima nuclear power plant struck normal life in the region surrounding the Motegi Twinring track, but after a “research” team gave the outcome of their research Dorna insisted that the situation is safe concerning the radiation levels and that the race is on.

Although there is little news brought to us in the media since the earthquake has happened, I’m pretty sure that the residents of the area that were struck by the earthquake aren’t interested to see bright colored race bikes doing their laps during three days.

Last year there were problems with an ash cloud from one of the ice landic vulcano’s, and although it was safe enough to fly through the clouds ( a photographer shot pictures of the volcano whilst flying through the ash cloud ) there wasn’t a race being held in Japan, because planes didn’t departure.

Now after a very unstable nuclear reactor the outcome of research was that it was safe to race. I’m not for sure but can someone explain me why it’s safe whilst there is still a negative advice to travel to the region where the problems are?

Almost everything is pointing out that canceling the race would cost the organizer a lot of money, even the teams are telling their riders that they have to show up.

Casey Stoner already said he wasn’t planning to go, even Jorge Lorenzo said that his health was more important than race in Motegi.

After threats of their own team ( I guess it’s the japanese factory who wants them to race ) saying they will be substituted and fined if they don’t attend, I’m pretty sure world title leader Casey Stoner will show up, without his pregnant wife. Lorenzo on the moment runner up in world championship standings will also show up.

But after the Czech round last weekend Valentino Rossi said that he wasn’t planning to go to Motegi, he would come to Japan if they dropped Motegi ( it’s within 200 miles from the Fukushima nuclear plant ) and switched to the more saver place of Suzuka.

In my opinion they shouldn’t agree to race in Motegi, instead it should be dropped or host the event on another track. On Twitter I made myself clear that it isn’t all about the fear of radiation. There’s another factor which can make things worse and that’s the danger of a new earthquake in that area, a fact nobody is considering but is a real reason to consider.

I’ve started a poll to get your opinion on this case!

Sorry in advance for my non Dutch readers, but someone has to do it!

Het is al weer een tijdje geleden dat ik een blog heb geschreven, laat staan in het Nederlands.

Maar mijn mening is dat dit het uitgelezen moment is om eens een blog te schrijven in het Nederlands en daarin eens uit de doeken te doen over mijn denkwijze en het reilen en zeilen in het ( sport )fotografie wereldje.

Sinds iedereen fotograferen kan leren ontdekken door middel van de huidige technieken en met een relatief goedkope aanschaf over een camera kan beschikken, merk ik in mijn omgeving dat er veel fotografen stil zijn blijven staan in de tijd dat men nog met film schoot.

Ook ik heb een serieus lange periode met film geschoten en de dagen dat ik met 20 fotorolletjes richting het circuit vertrok liggen dan al lang achter mij, maar sinds die tijd zijn er veel dingen veranderd.

Ondanks alle veranderingen zijn de meeste veranderingen mij een doorn in het oog, ook al heb ik respect voor een ieder ik begin beetje bij beetje het respect te verliezen voor een select groepje fotografen welke denken alles maar kapot te kunnen maken en overal maar denken tegen aan te kunnen schoppen en bovenal geloven in het uithalen naar “collega” fotografen.

Afgelopen wintersport seizoen had ik de vrijheid om enkele evenementen in Thialf te mogen fotograferen en ondanks dat ik tijdens het motorsport seizoen nergens geen problemen ondervind met collega fotografen welke dezelfde passie delen en naast fotograferen een voorliefde delen voor de motorsport, begin ik zo langzamerhand te snappen waar de term “winterdepressie” vandaan komt.

Was een weekend mee op pad geweest met mij en je zou gelijk snappen waarom!

Normaal gesproken ben ik niet de persoon die zich laat verleiden om zich inhoudelijk ergens over uit te laten, maar dit schot voor open doel kan ik gewoon niet laten liggen.

Dat ik mij niet laat verleiden tot reacties wil niet zeggen dat ik mijn oor niet te luister leg, want dat doe ik juist wel en al helemaal als er met een beschuldigende vinger richting een bepaalde groep wordt gewezen als zijnde het uitschot van de samenleving.

Binnen in het fotografenwereldje lijkt alles voor een buitenstaander zeer goed te lopen, maar in het wereldje zelf heb ik een monotone echo van depressiviteit gemerkt. “Vooraanstaande” fotografen welke hun boterham verdienen met het fotograferen van diverse onderwerpen klagen.

Ze klagen over teruglopende inkomsten, een terugloop van inkomsten veroorzaakt door “amateur”fotografen welke willens en wetens onder de kostprijs foto’s verkopen. En hierdoor een groot gat laten bij de prijs van de vooraanstaande broodfotografen die hierdoor hun rijkelijk belegde boterham zien slinken tot een laffe boterham met pindakaas.

Ook ik heb deze klaagliederen mogen horen en bij voetbal wedstrijden zullen deze klaagliederen de spreekkoren van rivaliserende  fangroeperingen massaal overstemmen. Veelal komen deze klaagliederen bij enkele fotografen vandaan, fotografen welke ik bij meerdere evenementen tegen kom en helaas moet concluderen dat de o, zo makkelijk in de richting van de “amateur” fotograferende fotograaf wijzende en beschuldigende vinger er toch zoals een oud leraar van mij eens stelde. Als je met een vinger wijst in de richting van een ander, wijzen er 3 vingers naar jezelf gekeken zou moeten worden.

De schuld van teruglopende inkomsten ligt niet bij de “amateur” fotograaf, de schuld ligt bij de fotografen welke hun kost verdienen met fotograferen.

Voordat ik een beschuldigende vinger toebedeel aan een bepaalde groep heb ik het enkel over de groep die ik ken, namelijk de sportfotografen.

Onlangs is er een branche onderzoek geweest welke met verhullende feiten kwam, deze is terug te lezen middels de volgende  link ook al dateert deze van 2010 de beredeneringen van de groep fotografen welke ik ken staven niet met de uitkomst hiervan.

Sinds de klaagzangen van de “collega’s” startten, waarvan ik mij direct heb gedistantieerd ben ik zelf aan het vissen geweest naar het hoe en waarom er zo geklaagd werd. En ik moet zeggen, zelfs een blind persoon zou vrij makkelijk kunnen zien wie de problemen veroorzaken. Dat het de “brood” fotografen zelf zijn zou bijna niemand durven te vertellen, maar naar mijn bescheiden mening mag ik ook een woord van verweer geven als er zonder redelijke onderbouwing gewezen wordt al dan niet direct ik ben toch onderdeel van die groepen welke problemen zou veroorzaken, toch?

De problemen zijn jaren terug al begonnen bij de Nederlandse Sport Pers, waar elke fotograaf met een camera al dan niet met enige professionele uitstraling een perskaart kon krijgen.

Nu jaren later blijken er te veel kaarten in omloop te zijn geweest en zijn de prijzen voor de professionele “platers” drastisch gedaald, dit door de “amateurs” welke doordeweeks werken en hun boterham verdienen en in het weekend ( vrije tijd ) fotograferen en dus niet afhankelijk zijn van de inkomsten van de foto’s.

Hierdoor zouden deze in theorie de foto’s goedkoper van de hand kunnen doen.

Dit stukje tekst deed bij mij het bloed “figuurlijk’ koken, want onderbouwd kon deze stelling namelijk niet worden immers waaruit blijkt dat dit zo is? Ik zou dit namelijk graag willen zien!

Wat ik nu al wel meerdere malen bevestigd heb zien worden zijn de grote zogenaamde persbureau’s, welke bij elk groot evenement welke ik bezocht heb aanwezig waren en hun foto’s slijten.

Er zullen vast een paar goede tussen zitten, maar praat je met iemand van persbureau A dan praat hij slecht over de fotograaf van persbureau B en zo gaat het, het hele alfabet af.

Onlangs verscheen er een berichtje op een Nederlands fotografen forum, waarin iemand iets vertelde over een specifiek agentschap welke al jaren opereert in het sportwereldje en of er meer mensen ervaring hadden met dit agentschap.

Uiteraard was ik geïnteresseerd en contact werd er gelegd, de “amateur”fotograaf die een van de vele wantoestanden ten toon spreidde was onverbiddelijk, hij als “amateur” die in het weekend fotografeerde werd uitgebuit door het persbureau.

Naast dat er foto’s van zijn hand verschenen in regionale kranten, kwam de vergoeding welke er tegenover stond niet zijn kant op daarnaast was de commissie achterlijk hoog en hield hij netto na aftrek van de commissie een schamele 30 euro over en over dat bedrag moest ook nog eens 40% belasting over betaald worden. Aantrekkelijk dat fotograferen naast een fulltime baan.

Blijkbaar wordt dit niet opgenomen in de uitspraken van de “brood”fotografen met andere woorden, waarom zou een “amateur” welke in het weekend fotografeert voor Jan met de korte achternaam gaan fotograferen?

Elke ondernemer met een commerciële instelling wil juist winst maken, en zal dus moeten zorgen dat hij minimaal quitte speelt na aftrek van alle onkosten, afschrijvingen, reiskosten en extra ziekenfondskosten á 8%.

Het volgende wat mij opviel was dat ik in mijn regio enkele goede fotografen ken, zo goed dat zelfs foto’s van deze fotografen niet in de regionale kranten verschijnen, maar namen opduiken van “persbureautjes” welke enkele honderden kilometers hier vandaan zitten, en juist ja aangesloten zijn bij dat sportpers achtige bedrijf.

Een simpel belletje/emailtje, alhoewel emailtje de meeste redacties laten totaal niks van zich horen als je ze benadert via de mail. Een belletje naar de sportredactie geeft meestal meer prijs dan ze eigenlijk zouden moeten, maar uitspraken als “contract met persbureau…….” , “jouw prijzen zijn veel hoger dan die van het persbureau waar we zaken mee doen” ,  ”ja, je maakt mooie foto’s maar we hebben een contract en zij zijn veel goedkoper”

Wacht zij zijn goedkoper?

“Ja, meneer een foto hoeft helemaal niet zo duur te zijn als dat u ze verkoopt. Maar ik moet verder….deadline prettige dag nog en succes”

Een mix van ongeloof, alhoewel ongeloof vermoedens klopten maar de bevestiging is altijd leuk. Met tig persbureautjes of beter gezegd allerlei zichzelf claimende persbureau’s in Nederland is het verhaal eigenlijk als volgt.

Uiteraard heeft iedere ondernemer een commerciële instelling, en waar zorgt concurrentie voor?

Juist ja onderhandelen over prijzen, immers jij wil je product verkopen en daardoor ben je bereid wat in prijs te zakken want de boterham moet natuurlijk wel belegd worden. Niks verkopen is geen inkomsten, geen inkomsten is geen geld voor levensonderhoud.

Dit laat opeens een compleet ander licht schijnen op het gebeuren dat “amateur”fotografen werk voor de pro’s bemoeilijken, of laten we het beter zeggen door de inhalige houding van de professionele fotografen en hun bereidwillendheid om voor elke prijs foto’s te moeten leveren, zijn de fotografen welke met meer plezier jouw evenement verslaan. Wie staat er te wachten op chagrijnige journalisten die bij aanvang al lopen te klagen over collega’s dat ze de boel verpesten.

Mijn inziens is de tijd van dikke inkomsten uit fotografie verleden tijd, mits je je aanpast en toespitst op diverse andere vormen van fotografie. Wat ik wel weet is dat er een hoop zeer goede amateurs rondlopen en hun plaatjes schieten, maar deze niet kwijt kunnen vanwege redacties die contracten met persbureautjes hebben en zo nergens tussen komen.

Dat er amateurs zijn die foto’s weggeven of voor een schijntje verkopen, ow dat zal vast maar heren en dames “professionals” hoe zijn jullie ooit begonnen? Iedereen verdient in mijn ogen een kans en als ik zie dat de grootste schreeuwers over teruglopende inkomsten vervolgens 3 dagen lang tijdens een groot evenement op exact dezelfde plaats hun foto’s maken, omdat ze hun foto’s toch wel ( voor een schijntje ) verkopen en zichzelf niet willen vernieuwen door er als een troosteloze depressieve zoutzak bij te staan en zich niet willen verbeteren, zowel qua houding als compositie.

Het grootste minpunt is dat de Pro’s hun beklag kunnen doen bij bijvoorbeeld een organisatie waar zij bij aangesloten zijn en accreditaties verstrekken aan dezelfde fotografen, maar een andere groep buitensluiten doordat deze op een vrij oneerlijke manier bejegend worden maar waar kunnen de “amateurs” naar toe om te klagen over de houding en het stigmatiseren van het amateur zijn?

Het lijkt er meer op dat de amateurs die ik ken een professionelere houding hebben dan de echte pro’s en juist ja de pro’s een groep depressieve amateurs zijn.

Limited edition Jorge Lorenzo only 50 pieces available worldwide.
Jorge Lorenzo photographed during free practice during the 81st Dutch TT in the Yamaha 50th anniversary livery.
Available in print, canvas or *perspex

Print: 40x50cm ( 15.7″ x 19,6″ ) printed on Epson Premium Glossy Paper €75 including post & packaging within the Netherlands

United Kingdom £85 including post and packaging
USA $150 including post & packaging.

Canvas: Print format A3 ( 11″ x 16″ ) €120 within the Netherlands

United Kingdom £125 including post & packaging
USA $200 including post & packaging

Perspex: A3 ( 11″ x 16″ ) €150 within the Netherlands

United Kingdom £155 including post & packaging
USA $225 including post & packaging

*Perspex is a procedure where a photo print is glued behind perspex ( sheet of acryllic glass ).
Because of glueing the photo behind a sheet of acryllic glass the colors are more intens, sharper and deeper.
The picture glued on the acryllic glass is then attached to a sheet of Dibond ( polyethylene core with on each side a sheet of aluminium ) and fixed to a suspension frame.
The standard thickness of the acrylic glass plate is 3mm but available in thicknesses up to 20mm, polished edges, anti reflection glass and the picture suffused with an epoxy coating.
All of these are optional and therefore not included in the prices!

Numbers 1 and 50 in print €150 incl. post & packaging within The Netherlands ( United Kingdom £160 incl. post & packaging, USA $250 incl. post & packaging )

Numbers 1 and 50 on canvas €240 incl. post & packaging within The Netherlands ( United Kingdom £250 incl. post & packaging, USA $380 incl. post & packaging )

Numbers 1 and 50 on perspex €300 incl post & packaging within The Netherlands ( United Kingdom £260 incl. post & packaging, USA $465 inc post & packaging )

To ensure the authenticity of each limited edition every copy is numbered and signed by me!

Payments within The Netherlands through banktransfer.
Payments outside The Netherlands through Paypal for payment details or enquiries please contact me by email: info@sports-photography.org

Please allow 7-21 days delivery within The Netherlands on clearance of payment and 7-28 days worldwide

This picture was made after 3,5 hours active duty on track got sunburnt euhm bad won’t be the right term of it……1,25 hours of waiting ( classes I didn’t photographed )
and 2,5 hours of “Project X” before this beautiful bike was scheduled to make her entrance in “Project X”.
Which part makes it fun to photograph?
The reactions of the people who get to see the pictures we take and riders who like our hard work and give us a smile whilst saying how good the pictures are……

Op 21 en 22 mei staat op het TT Circuit de volgende race op de agenda meetellend voor het Nederlands Kampioenschap.
Een enkeling zal mij vast wel kennen of herkennen, maar voor dit seizoen heb ik een extra project gestart om eens een ander beeld te leveren dan de standaard actiefoto’s welke door mij en mijn collega’s langs de baan gemaakt worden.

Ditmaal zijn de sessies toegankelijk voor deelnemers aan de Superbike, Supersport en zijspan klasse.
Echter de plaatsen zijn beperkt en vol is vol, uiteraard zijn de foto’s tijdens de ondergaande zon het mooiste, echter is de tijd beperkt om dit ten volste te benutten met diverse teams/rijders.
Naast foto’s van de motorfiets/zijspan zoals in de voorbeelden te zien zijn, is er ook de mogelijkheid om een teamfoto te maken en van de rijder plus motorfiets.

Voor de geïnteresseerden wees snel want vol is vol, verdere informatie wordt besproken via email.
Aangezien het een klein project van mijn kant is en de foto’s ter aanvulling van mijn eigen portfolio worden gebruikt, zal er een klein aantal foto’s gratis beschikbaar gesteld worden, echter is dit wel de laatste mogelijkheid dat dit kosteloos gebeurt.
Daarna is er de mogelijkheid om op aanvraag een fotosessie te doen!

Special thanks to InFront, David Emmett, AnnickaM, Peter Schorer and the rest of the staff on the TT Circuit it was a great weekend.

Chaz Davies his bike cartwheeling into the gravel trap, seconds later the fuel tank was launched and plunged into the earth a couple of meters from me. Too bad I had the 400mm and the 1.7x converter on my camera, otherwise I would have had some good shots.

It was a great weekend, sunburnt, sunny, I feel pretty tired due to missing sleep, long days but won’t sleep during work ( nope this is not me I’m a Nikon boy )

To end my blog a special thanks to Robin Haesen and Team Art of Racing to make everything possible and let me lend some time and the bikes.

* setting up an internet connection with my laptop and watch some news and get online to Twitter
* fetch a cup of tea
* sending some messages to my followers and using the hashtags
* getting my credentials swapped for a jacket
* get the actual startlists and set up all the names in Notepad to use captioning with a special program
* set up the camera’s
* clean lenses

And after that it’s time to do some surfing on the internet having some fun with the photographers, listening some music etc., etc., and the followers on Twitter must be thinking I’m missing something.
At the ice rink it’s almost a tradition to get some soup before the start of the first race. So yes a bowl of soup is also added to my list and actually I had some great soup up there LOL.
10 minutes before the start the same ritual is repeating itself almost the entire season, people running in late, don’t know what to do it’s quite amusing to hear and see it from the front row.
I’m already thinking of where to stand, which images I want and in my mind I already shot the pictures I want.
For special stuff such as the head to head picture between Finland’s Mika Poutala and Norwegian Håvard Bøkko this shot occurred as a lucky shot.
I know Mika is the clown of the Speedskating scene so I already took my camera when he got on the ice.
I knew it was fun when they called up the name of Bøkko you could feel something would happen, but with Mika you’ll never know what he’ll do.
Although it’s a pretty basic shot, it’s quite unusual to go head to head literally instead of going head to head during the race.
With one speedskating event remaining for me for this season, I almost can taste the smell of rubber, oil, grease and champagne…..
But first a couple of weeks without any photography before I’ll return with some more updates.
The race bikes or almost in reach I already have my sight on them…..

And for all of you I have a recommendation:

One of the websites I like to visit when I’ve nothing to do, or when the weather is crap or when some major events took place here’s a website I would like to advice it’s called the Big Picture.
This website displays pictures of photographers who work for Associated Press ( AP ), Reuters and several other major and agencies known worldwide.

Happy new year

P.s I want to wish all of you who are visiting this website often or on a more frequent base a merry merry christmas and I want to wish you and of course you and euhm you a happy new year.

Last week I received a Japanese magazine with a picture that I made in it

*Professional materials

- With the digital camera’s and fast way to work the only thing you need is a camera, lens, memory card, laptop and a internet connection nowadays everybody can make “HQ” pictures, the professional has the very fast camera’s, the high aperture quality lenses and a sense to make a better picture than most of the other guys. Some people call it luck for myself I have to say it’s technique.

*Quality of the pictures

-With everyone possible to make pictures due to the very easy way to photograph that digital photography comes with and not the consuming costs for buying film everybody can buy a 800 euro costing camera and shoot the “greatest” at least in their opinion.
But the professional photographer has an superb eye to make the picture more outstanding due to some small adjustments or do I have to enhancements.

*Publications

-With some colleague photographers selling pictures for bottom prices for a certain they have the most publications, but due to their own greed they have to sell pretty much pictures to earn some decent income. And I honestly believe that by banning or exclude other photographers it doesn’t mean that the prices will go up. The only thing that will happen is that there isn’t any form of competition, except between the other photographers who will attend during big events. Like I said the prices won’t go up but there will be another price war lowering the prices again downwards.

For myself photography began as a hobby…I began with the crap quality camera’s, cost consuming purchases of film, ditched it for a couple of years…Came back with one digital camera…Tried some things and got back that special feeling when hitting the release button of stopping time and collecting moments of history…bought quality glass, although it was not the greatest stuff…Bought my first well high ISO performing camera…Bought my first of thousand euro’s costing Nikon lens….Bought a second well high ISO performing camera…a second big costing Nikon lens…and another costing Nikon lens….

And why I bought it and I am not a “professional photographer” it’s all because I’ve a normal job, can pick the things I really like to photograph, I enjoy the things that I photograph and I have a great collaboration with a press office and actually I’m a pro.
I have the gear, I have a company which is registered with the dutch chamber of commerce and I have to pay taxes for every picture that I sell.
But because I’ve a normal job and like to pick the things that I like most I loose about 42% of each single sold picture.
If I would sell pictures for real cheap rates I would earn a dime with it.

(1) professional photographers

Photographer(s) who don’t earn their living with it, and probably sell pictures for bottom prices and rather don’t use non professional materials. The “professional” also has a normal job where he/she earn their money with and only spent time on their “second” job during their weekend. They also know a little bit about photography and general and for most of it they are ruining the income of the real professional photographer.

For all the above stated under (1) professional photographer sure there will be some rotten apples, but don’t deny it that there aren’t any rotten apples who are ruining it for us! The guys and girls who would love it to become a professional photographer make 40 hours a week or more with the normal job and spent some extra hours in the weekend who aren’t paid for it because of the ongoing war between some photographers who like it to earn a couple of euro’s with shit quality pictures because there isn’t any time to attend a full match of whatever kind of sport.
So many thanks to the “professional photographer” who are trying to ruining it for us and started a competition between photo agencies and lowered the price to earn some income.
It’s pretty easy to point your finger to us, but there are three fingers pointing towards yourself.

For what the pricing of pictures is concerning don’t blame the guys/girls who are busting their asses in the weekend, make good quality or even better pictures then the real professional.
Once you become a full professional because you have your steady income, it’s not an excuse to lay back and stop developing yourself and blame others because they kick your ass with excellent quality pics.

On a sidenote: All the images displayed on this website are copyright protected. Copying the images and display them otherwise than on this website is prohibited.
For the use of the images or other images in my archives please contact me by filling in THIS form.

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On a sidenote: All the images displayed on this website are copyright protected. Copying the images and display them otherwise then on this website is prohibited.
For the use of the images or other images in my archives please contact me by filling in THIS form.

[Show as slideshow]

On a sidenote: All the images displayed on this website are copyright protected. Copying the images and display them otherwise then on this website is prohibited.
For the use of the images or other images in my archives please contact my by filling in THIS form.

[Show as slideshow]

From Heerenveen, The Netherlands I’m wishing Dani Pedrosa a speedy recovery…….

Dani Pedrosa in better circumstances:

Former world championship 125cc and 250cc rider Alessandro Brannetti on the Italian Ebike of team ECRP. During the 2 races of 7 laps he was 2nd and 1st it just looks like an normal motorcycle.

I would like to thank all the riders in the 125cc, Supersport600, Superbikes, Sidecar, Classics class and especially Fabian Heusinkveld, Bob Withag, Paul Haullussy congratulations to Danny de Boer ( Dutch SBK champion 2010 ), Raymond Schouten ( Dutch Supersport champion 2010 ), Bennie Streuer and Kees Endeveld ( Dutch Sidecar champions 2010 ), Roy Pouw ( Dutch 125cc champion 2010 ), and Mark Appleton owner of stayontheblack.com

Remember believe in your dreams and they will believe in you………

Special thanks to:

Peter Schorer ( press chef of the Dutch TT Circuit ), Fred Lubbers ( press chef of the motorcycle roadracing foundation of Assen, Gilles Bigot ( Team coordinator of Technomag-CIP Moto2 Team ), Toshinobu Taketazu Japanese editor of Riders Club Magazine, David Emmett of MotoMatters, Team MotoRaceReports, Mike Appleton of stayontheblack.com and all the guys and girls who are following me on Twitter……

THANK YOU ALL!

Shoya you’ll truly be missed….

My condolences to fellow lovers of the sport, fellow riders, friends, Dorna Sports, Team members of Team Technomag-CIP, co-photographers and last but not least to the relatives, family and parents of Shoya Tomizawa.

All the images are copyright protected and can’t be used without a written consent. For information regarding the use of pictures please use the contact form.

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Preview:

Jed Metcher from RT Motorsports shadowed by former World Supersport champion Jörg Teuchert.

Sunday, 15 August 2010

The 31 year-old will complete an Italian link-up with the Bologna factory next season having agreed a two-year deal.

Ducati and Valentino Rossi have signed a two-year agreement for the nine-time World Champion to race with the “Rossa” of Borgo Panigale in the Ducati Team from 2011.
The arrival of Valentino in Ducati opens a new and exciting chapter in the Italian factory’s sporting history and, indeed, of the whole MotoGP Championship. The opportunity of lining up such an extraordinary rider and character is considered by Ducati to be a huge value to the whole Ducati MotoGP project.
“We are delighted to announce that Valentino Rossi will be with us from 2011,” commented Gabriele Del Torchio, president of Ducati Motor Holding. “He is a paragon of excellence in the world of motorcycling, coherent with our Italian company which is a standard bearer for ‘made in Italy’ excellence. These are key values for success in technology, design and sportsmanship. In addition to the strong and passionate intent of both parties, this agreement has been made possible by the committed support of our shareholder Investindustrial and all the sponsors associated with the Ducati Team, sponsors which have believed in this opportunity and share and support our choices.”
Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse General Director, said: “Firstly, Valentino is a great fan of motorcycles and so it has always been a pleasure for me to listen to his opinions. Until the Valencia GP he will remain a competitor, one so great that he has always given a special value to our victories, but as soon as he rides the Ducati for the first time we will work together on every single detail that will develop as bike capable of showing his huge talent. Working with Valentino is one of the most exciting things for every engineer, and it’s good to know we will have this great opportunity next season.”

Sunday 15th August 2010

QUOTE FROM VALENTINO ROSSI

“It is very difficult to explain in just a few words what my relationship with Yamaha has been in these past seven years.
“Many things have changed since that far-off time in 2004, but especially ‘she’, my M1, has changed. At that time she was a poor middle-grid position MotoGP bike, derided by most of the riders and the MotoGP workers. Now, after having helped her to grow and improve, you can see her smiling in her garage, courted and admired, treated as the ‘top of the class’.

“The list of the people that made this transformation possible is very long, but I would like to thank anyway Masao Furusawa, Masahiko Nakajima and ‘my’ Hiroya Atsumi, as representatives of all the engineers that worked hard to change the face of our M1. Then Jeremy Burgess and all my guys in the garage, who took care of her with love on all the tracks of the world and also all the men and women that have worked in the Yamaha team during these years.

“Now the moment has come to look for new challenges; my work here at Yamaha is finished. Unfortunately even the most beautiful love stories finish, but they leave a lot of wonderful memories, like when my M1 and I kissed for the first time on the grass at Welkom, when she looked straight in my eyes and told me ‘I love you!’”

To view a JPEG file of Rossi’s handwritten manuscript (in Italian) please click

Yamaha Factory Racing Team Press Release

Brno, Czech Republic

15th August 2010

YAMAHA AND VALENTINO TO PART COMPANY AT END OF 2010

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. would like to announce that the partnership between Valentino Rossi and Yamaha will come to an end at the close of the season, when Valentino will move on to new challenges.
Yamaha and Valentino have enjoyed seven fantastic seasons of racing, during which time they have won four MotoGP World Championships together.
Valentino has played a huge part in the history of Yamaha and he will always remain an important part of Yamaha’s heritage. Yamaha is extremely grateful for Valentino’s contributions to its racing successes over the past seven years and it would like to wish him the very best in his future racing endeavours.
Yamaha will be putting all its efforts into ensuring a successful and happy end to the partnership over the remaining races.
Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said “On behalf of the Yamaha Motor Group, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the amazing seven years that we have spent together. Valentino joined Yamaha in 2004 at a moment when Yamaha was struggling in road racing after eleven seasons without a championship victory. Valentino’s victory at his first GP race for Yamaha in South Africa in 2004 was an incredible moment and was just the first of many more race wins that have thrilled MotoGP fans and Yamaha fans around the world. His unsurpassed skills as a racer and a development rider enabled him to win four MotoGP world titles to date with us and helped Yamaha develop the YZR-M1 into the ‘the bike of reference’ for the MotoGP class.
“There have been so many wonderful experiences and victories and we are very proud to have been able to make history together. Whilst we regret Vale’s decision to move on, at the same time we fully respect his decision to search for a new challenge and we wish him the very best for 2011 and beyond.
“For the remaining eight races of 2010 Valentino will remain a Yamaha Factory rider. As such he will continue to benefit from our full support and we hope and expect to see some more race wins with him ‘in blue’ before the season is over!”

A preview image of the beautiful KTM RC8R which was ridden last year by Jeremy McWilliams and the factory rider Stefan Nebel and Kai-borre Andersen

I hope you’ll be back next week when I’ll blog again

Keep in mind that all the pictures are copyright protected and can’t be used without a written consent!
Copying, hotlinking etc,etc is prohibited and the pictures shown on this website are only for display.
For more info read the terms of use

[Show as slideshow]

Keep in mind that all the pictures are copyright protected and can’t be used without a written consent!
Copying, hotlinking etc,etc is prohibited and the pictures shown on this website are only for display.
For more info read the terms of use

[Show as slideshow]

Keep in mind that all the pictures are copyright protected and can’t be used without a written consent!
Copying, hotlinking etc,etc is prohibited and the pictures are for display only on this website.
For more info read the terms of use

[Show as slideshow]

Tristan Lentink get well soon…..

Because I’ve little amounts of spare time this week a very quick update on my website isn’t possible, so it will take longer before I have something up on my website.
Even though I want to be the quickest for the Dutch TT I changed plans slightly.
I have many good pictures and I want to have a big diversity of pictures displayed on my website.
So there will be a 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP gallery
For everybody who want a small preview bookmark for all your MotoGP/WSBK news MotoMatters
The previews can be found also on the same website for an preview of thursday click here
For the friday click here and for the final day click here

Thank you for all the warm comments about the pictures through MotoMatters and send by email.
It’s very nice to get that kind of comments about the photography that I do.
Sports-Photography is also on social media as Twitter @ProNikon and MotoMatters is also on Twitter @MotoMatters.

Remember that all the pictures are copyright protected.

Hotlinking, copying etc,etc is not allowed

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Click “read more” to see the images, but remember all the images are copyright protected. Hotlinking, copying etc,etc is not allowed.

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Just like motorcycle racing when riding a new bike you’ve to get used to the handling of the machine. Bit by bit you’ll go faster or possibly to fast which could result in  a crash.

The new plug ins are being tested on the moment so don’t worry I’m not planning to crash.

It took more time to build the site and to get it online, because there were some problems with some plug ins that weren’t compatible with MYSQL.

But things were looking good last week and after some testing I managed to get it online.

The website will be updated every time when I have some spare time for it, so their will be many updates to come in the

upcoming weeks/months.

Please check back later for more images…..