I have always had an interest in nature and photography. As a teenager I played around with my first serious camera, an Olympus OM 2, and went on bike trips to capture the beautiful natural environment, the historic mansions and treelined roads in the neighborhood I grew up in south of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. When I got back home, I developed the films myself and spent hours in a darkened room to create some decent black and white prints. Where did that time go?

In 2010 I got back into the game which now turned completely digital. My challenge is to combine my creative eye and the digital technique of photography to create a pleasing image capture. A technically correct exposure is by no means equal to an image capture that is worthwhile to hang on a wall, or leave a constant urge to look at it again. Once you have created an image that draws your attention, you know you met the challenge, and hit the jackpot.

I deeply care about our natural environment and resources, which are at an increasing risk of decline due to human intervention, over-population and climate change. I believe that by sharing the beauty of nature and wildlife through my images I can create awareness for the changes that happen in our natural environment. Climate change, rising sea levels and loss of habitat for many species are issues we all need to face now, and act upon. Preserving the natural habitat areas that we still have is crucial to involve the next generation. I believe that awareness inspires!

2023 Highly Honored winner - Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards - Polar Passion category

2022 Highly Commended - Siena Creative Photo Awards - Animals/Pets category

2019 Highly Honored winner - Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards - Ocean Views category

2017 Highly Honored winner - Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards - Polar Passion category

2016 Finalist - 2nd Annual Yellowstone Forever Photo Contest

2015 Highly Honored winner - Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards - Polar Passion category

2014 Highly Honored winner - Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards - Animal Antics category (two images)

2013 Highly Honored winner - Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards - Birds category

2013 3rd place - 2nd International Birds-As-Art Photography Competition - Small in the frame category

2013 Grand Prize - 2nd International Birds-As-Art Photography Competition

2012 Winner Blur category - 1st International Birds-As-Art Photography Competition

2012 Highly Honored winner - Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards - Animal Antics category

2012 - Out Of The Box Image of the Year - Birdphotograhers.net

The equipment I use is all Canon. Canon EOS R3, R5 and 5D Mk IV bodies with L-series lenses ranging from 11 to 600mm. The image processing is done in Photoshop on a MacBookPro.

E-Mail: info@clemensvanderwerf.com

Phone: +1 954 608 8704

Home base: Dover, FL, USA

I am an experienced field guide, zodiac driver and workshop leader with extensive knowledge of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island and Alaska.