The last photo of 2025

So it's 16:28 hours on December 31st, 2025 and I have just finished my last photo of 2025. While the younglings are still pretending to be Merry and Pippin messing about with fireworks on Bilbo's birthday it seems they have lost some of their enthusiasm as it is quieter than the years before. But hey, the day is still young! 😁 I have however retired for the day and am about to enjoy my evening.

So here is that last photo, shot with my EOS 90D fitted with the new to me 35mm lens I'll be using for the FFP in 2026.

Cheers!

I want to thank you all for visiting my blog this year, may 2026 be a good year for all of you! Happy New Year!

Achtung Panzer - Breda's Polish tank

Nowadays it is unusual to see a World War Two German tank as a symbol of sacrifice and friendship, but when Polish soldiers presented the Dutch city of Breda with a captured tank in 1945 it was certainly meant as such.

The 'Polish Tank', in fact a German Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf. D with hull number 534 black.

Breda was liberated by the 1st Polish Armoured Division under General Stanisław Maczek, attached to the First Canadian Army, on the 29th of October, 1944. To commemorate this, on the 29th of October, 1945 the 1st Polish Armoured Division presented the city of Breda with a captured German Panther tank. 

Known as the Poolse tank (Polish tank) in Breda this particular Panther tank was 'liberated' from the Krupp testing facility in Meppen, Germany, where it was used as a test vehicle during the war. It is quite a rare find these days, it is the only Panther Ausf. D tank in existence today. 

534 black partly hidden by the trees.

Another shot of 534 black, the only surviving Ausf. D.

This Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf. D has hull number 534 black. Usually, the first digit (5) would mean the 5th company of the 2nd tank battalion (the 1st battalion of a Panzer division would have numbers 1-4, the 2nd numbers 5-8). The second digit (3) would mean the tank is from the 3rd platoon and the third digit (4) would mean the 4th tank within the platoon. But as said, this tank was captured as a test tank in Meppen. Had it seen frontline service before that? Sources differ on this matter. Its manufacturer serial number is KMY 212-583 according to one source. The D model of the Panther tank was the first production model and 842 were built between January and September 1943. 

Dit geschenk van de Polen wordt in de hoede van het publiek aanbevolen

Miastu Breda 1 Pol.Dyw.Panc 29.X.1945.R

There are two plaques on the tank and one sign in front of it. The first plaque reads Miastu Breda 1 Pol.Dyw.Panc 29.X.1945.R (City of Breda 1st Polish Armoured Division 29/10/1945) and was added by the Polish liberators. The second plaque was added by the city of Breda and reads Dit geschenk van de Polen wordt in de hoede van het publiek aanbevolen (This gift from the Poles is given in the care of the people). The same text is also written on the sign in front of the tank.

A good view of the thick frontal armor of 534 black. 

This Panther was given to Breda in full working order. Over the years several bits and bobs were removed by "private collectors" and the tank was in need of a proper restoration in the early 2000s. In exchange for the engine, gear box and the turret engine of 534 black to use in their restoration of Panther 158-134 the Wheatcroft Collection restored the Polish tank in 2003-2004.

Click on the photographs to enlarge

Frugal Film Project 2026 - I'll be back!

These are the dark days before Christmas, days in which I muse about my (film) photography plans for 2026. One of the things I'm thinking about is participating in the Frugal Film Project (FFP) next year. The Frugal Fulm Project, you know, that project that shows that you don't need fancy gear to get great photographs. Now don't get me wrong, I love fancy gear. But this project invites you to be creative with an affordable kit. The rules are simple: Get yourself a camera/lens combination under $ 75 and use affordable film, shoot one film a month and share your results at the Frugal Film Project '26 page. The group currently has 805 members.

My FFP 2026 kit.

I've been discussing this with my friends Joeri van Veen and the Old Camera Guy and after thinking it over I've decided that this will be the gear for FFP 2026:

The camera

I opted for the Canon EOS 1000N. The EOS 1000N was released in 1992 as an improved version of the EOS 1000. The EOS 1000N, known in the Americas as the EOS Rebel II, is a no-frills SLR equipped with autofocus. It has one focus point and no in-built flash. Prices are about € 10 to € 15 these days although mine was a gift.

Specifications:

Camera:                        Canon EOS 1000N/Rebel II

Built:                            1990s

Mount:                          EF

Shutter speeds:             30-1/2000 seconds, B

Self timer:                    yes

Auto DX:                       yes

Exposure modes:           Av, Tv, P, M

Film speeds                   ISO 6 - ISO 6400

Battery:                        one 2CR5

The lenses

The lenses I am planning to use are the Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM and the Canon EF 35mm f/2.0. I bought the 24-85mm for € 60 and this lens gives me a little more flexibility than the 28-80mm kit lens. The 35mm was introduced in 1990, is a newcomer to the project and was a gift. Its minimal focus distance is 0,25 meter which is a plus over the 24-85mm.

Specifications Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM:

Focal length:                        24-85mm

Minimal focus distance:        0.5 meters

Aperture:                             f/3.5-4.5 - f/22

Aperture blades:                  6

Diameter:                            67mm

Mount:                                EF

Manufacturer:                     Canon

Built:                                  1996-2009

Specifications Canon EF 35mm f/2.0:

Focal length:                        35mm

Minimal focus distance:        0.25 meters

Aperture:                             f/2.0 - f/22

Aperture blades:                  5

Diameter:                            52mm

Mount:                                EF

Manufacturer:                     Canon

Built:                                  1990s

The film

My first thought was Fomapan 100 but as I have used black and white film for the project before I might actually use color film this year. That would either be Kodak Gold 200 or Ultra 400. I need to take stock of what I actually have in the fridge and then I'll decide.

Search and rescue helicopters - an introduction

In this series I'll be exploring the world of search and rescue helicopters. As you know, I've got a passion for aviation and love to photograph aircraft wherever they are. I'll be highlighting the helicopters you might see overhead when for instance a medical doctor needs to be flown in fast in an emergency situation or someone is lost out at sea. These are dedicated rescue helicopters but I will also include military search and rescue (SAR), fire brigade and law enforcement helicopters. 

Croatian EC-135 EC-KPA, a rescue helicopter leased from Spain.

Most nations have rescue stations around the country in order to cover their entire country. Take the Netherlands for example, they have seven stations distributed in the northern, western and southern parts of the country. The eastern part is covered by German stations near the border as part of an international agreement. Five of the stations are manned by ANWB Medical Air Assistance crews operating a fleet of EC-135 and EC-145 helicopters. The EC-135's use the call sign Lifeliner and the EC-145's Medic. The other two stations are manned by the Dutch Coast Guard flying AW.189's, they use the call signs Coast Guard and Rescue.

EC-135 D-HZSH from the German Interior Ministry.

Germany is another country with a vast network of rescue stations. There are seven organisations providing rescue service: ADAC Luftrettung (35 stations), DRF Luftrettung (28 stations), the Interior Ministry (12 stations), the Bundeswehr (5 stations), Johanniter Luftrettung (4 stations), Northern Helicopter (3 stations) and Heli-Flight (1 station). Most use the call sign Christoph while the Bundeswehr uses SAR. And like Germany and the Netherlands many states and countries have their own recue network.

I'll be sharing shots in this series whenever I encounter a SAR helicopter on my travels so stay tuned!

Sometimes a SAR aircraft isn't even a helicopter! DHC-8 C-FCGE of the Dutch Coast Guard.

AW.189 9M-BOE of the Malaysian fire department.

Although not part of the organic Dutch SAR coverage the Dutch NH-90NFH's are available as additional SAR aircraft.

Click on the photographs to enlarge

Achtung Panzer - a side project

 Photo projects

A few weeks ago I paid a visit to Vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen in the south of the Netherlands. On my way back I stopped at nearby Breda to see and photograph the 'Polish tank', a local land mark. Monuments like this are not that common in the Netherlands.

The 'Polish tank', actually a German World War Two Panther tank gifted to the city of Breda by its Polish liberators.

Tanks however have always fascinated me. Not as much as aviation but generally whenever I came across a tank I would take a photo of it. I never intended to make a project out of it, but when I started my Atlantikwall project I figured this might well be a companion to that project.

An M4A1E9 Sherman tank displayed at my local military museum.

So when you hear me yell "Achtung Panzer!" you'll know that I have found another tank somewhere.

Click on the photographs to enlage.

Atlantikwall - chapter one

After a slow start this project is gaining traction. Last month Joeri and I visited the Bunker museum in IJmuiden to gain some background knowledge on the Atlantikwall, information that we could incorporate into our project. Last week we returned to that area as there is a collection of Atlantikwall bunkers half buried in the dunes there. Once part of the Vestung IJmuiden (IJmuiden citadel), these once mighty fortifications now seem to function mostly as canvas for intrepid spray can artists. 

On this part of the journey, I opted for the Fujifilm GFX 100S II fitted with the Fujinon GF 45-100mm f/4 LM OIS WR lens. Given that the day was mostly cloudy I wanted black and white images and selected the Fujifilm Acros with red filter film simulation to get that effect.

This is a Krupp built 120mm naval gun dating from 1896. Guns like these would have armed the now empty bunkers. This particular gun was placed aboard the cruiser Hr. Ms. Friesland. When Friesland was taken out of service in 1913 her 120mm cannons were removed and used for coastal defense.

Joeri in action. Check out his thoughts here.

Range finding bunker in front, gun bunker behind.

Buried in the dunes.

What's up doc?

Machine gun position.

Nature always wins.

Click on the photographs to enlarge.

Going forward I intend to add medium format film to this project. I've acquired a couple of Harman Technology rolls especially for this project and will probably use a Pentax 645 or Pentax 67 to shoot them with. 

Atlantikwall - prologue

The coastal landscape from the top of Norway to the southern tip of France is dotted with relics from another time. These are largely the result of a building frenzy from 1942 to 1944, bunkers and casemates built in defence of the German Reich to repel an enemy invasion. This was known as the Neue Westwall (New West Wall) at first but is better known as the Atlantikwall (Atlantic Wall) today.

A photography project

Atlantikwall is a photography project that I will be pursuing together with fellow photographer Joeri van Veen. As of yet I haven't decided what formats and media I will use for this project so film and digital, 120 and 135, medium format and full frame, colour and black and white are all options. It is tempting to make this a medium format project but there are several advantages to using the smaller 135/full frame format as well so I guess we'll see! ;-)

The focus of this project will be the Atlantikwall fortifications in the Netherlands. Perhaps not surprisingly because of the D-Day landings in Normandy it is the Atlantikwall in France that is getting the most attention. However France is by no means the only country affected by Führer Direktive (directive) No. 40 'Sicherung gegen feindliche Landungen an der europäischen Küsten' (defence against enemy landings on the European coast) dated the 23rd of March, 1942. The Netherlands was similarly affected. This project will tell part of that story. 

Photo safari: Chasing the bird (Air Force One, NATO summit 2025)

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes, it is Air Force One! 

The following days saw extra flights to Schiphol for the NATO summit. First a US Marine Corps KC-130J dropping off some more vehicles followed by the US president and his entourage the following day. 

The US president flies aboard a modified Boeing 747-200 designated VC-25A by the US Air Force. When the US president is on board, it uses the call sign Air Force One. 

The US Air Force has a fleet of two VC-25As and they usually operate together with the second VC-25A hosting past of the presidents entourage. This time however, it was a US Air Force Boeing 757, known as a C-32A by the service, that was used for this task. 

Somehow it just feels wrong without a tail number

Click on any photo to enlarge

Photo safari: Chasing the beast (NATO summit 2025)

 And not just any beast. The beast I am talking about is the U.S. presidential state car built by Cadillac. 

The beast

With the NATO summit in The Hague only a few days away the U.S. presidential motorcade is being airlifted in. Three C-17A Globemaster IIIs brought in 'the beast' and several other cars to Schiphol for use by the president of the United States. 

The US presidential state car, also known as 'the beast' or 'Cadillac One', is never alone. They always drive in pairs, with the car carrying the US president called 'stagecoach' and the other 'spare'. They carry identical license plates.

A modified Chevrolet Suburban

A modified Ford F-350 Super Duty

Stagecoach and spare, but which is which?

They are accompanied by several other vehicles, mostly Chevrolet Suburbans or similar SUVs, each with their own task. These appear to be owned by the Department of Defense.

Operation Orange Shield

As part of the overall security during the summit the Dutch armed forces are executing operation Orange Shield. As part of the operation two NH-90NFH helicopters visited Schiphol.

Click on any photo to enlarge

Mission in Malaysia - Part 3: LIMA day 2

When we arrived at the fence this morning everything was wet, we apparently just missed a huge downpour. With the runway still wet the take-off of the F/A-18D was spectacular, as was the high-speed pass. 

The day would largely go the same as yesterday. The Hornet opening the show, the opening gambit formations, the Flanker and Hornet solo demonstrations and the Jupiter team perfecting their demo. We had better luck with the weather today, I am quite happy with the shots taken today.

After the displays it was bank to the runway to catch air show arrivals. Not everything turned up today but that was okay as we had a few more days to go. And the Russians? Word on the street was that they were still in Novosibirsk.

After a good day's work we decided to visit the hotel pool for a quick swim, followed by a walk to the beach where we were entertained by the local fire breathers.