Dhondt Digital Photography

05/17/2026

They say an owl doesn’t just appear out of the dark; it arrives with a message. 🦉

When you’re visited by one of these silent hunters in the dead of night, it’s hard not to feel a sudden sense of awe. Throughout history, cultures around the world have interpreted these rare encounters in deeply profound ways:

Ancient Greeks revered them as the winged companion of Athena, viewing a sighting as a powerful symbol of divine wisdom, clarity, and strategic foresight.

Many Native American traditions regard them as sacred messengers, offering guidance, intuition, and protection during times of profound life transition.

Celtic lore viewed the owl as a fierce guardian of truth—a creature uniquely equipped to see clearly through deception and into the shadows.

And speaking of shadows... capturing this beautiful Great Horned Owl in the pitch-black night was its own kind of trial. When the lights go out, the real work begins. It took a steady flashlight, pushing the gear all the way to 16,000 ISO, and relying on some heavy-lifting denoise magic in post-processing to finally reveal those piercing eyes in the dark. Worth every second of the effort!

05/16/2026

Blink and you’ll miss it. This panorama was captured at 6:12 AM—just 5 minutes after the previous post. It’s wild how fast light moves in the high country. In landscape photography, five minutes can feel like an eternity and a heartbeat all at once.

I was waiting for this exact moment: the transition where the moody purples of early dawn vanish and direct sun finally strikes the summits. Looking across Peaks 7 through 10 of the Tenmile Range, the transformation is striking. Golden light hits the very tops, while the rugged, dirt-patched slopes of early May still hold the deep shadows of the morning.

The 3:30 AM drive, cold hands, and those clicking, Predator-like bird calls all led to this. This scouting mission reminded me that even without the clouds I hoped for, it's always a great feeling to get out. I fired off this final series, stretching farther North, to document the light for future reference.

I am looking forward to giving this location another try. The next challenge is catching it during the first snow while the Fall leaves are still in play. That window is only about two weeks, and you have to time it perfectly.

Now that you've seen the full progression from the blue hour moonset to the sun striking the peaks—which moment speaks to you the most?

05/13/2026

The transition from moonset to sunrise is where a photographer’s patience is truly tested. If you shoot landscapes, you know the temperature always seems to drop just a few more degrees right before dawn.

That’s when I heard it—a clicking bird call echoing from the thick pines. That eerie, Predator-like sound moved through the timber, getting closer with every minute. I won't lie; it made me look back toward the truck. It was that heightened state of being present in the woods before the world wakes up, and it certainly kept my senses dialed in while I waited for the light to break.

Then, the payoff began. The sun crested the ridge behind me, and the alpenglow hit the summits of Peaks 7 through 10. The peaks transformed into shades of soft pink and purple, contrasting against the rugged dirt patches of the closed ski slopes. This was why I made the drive—to see how this light would interact with the Tenmile Range. Capturing this required stitching a high-resolution panorama to preserve every crisp detail. Facebook doesn't do it justice, but the raw file is incredible.

Now that you've seen the progression—which do you prefer: the moody blues of twilight or the warm glow of the first sunrise?

05/10/2026

The perfect landscape shot is rarely captured on your first visit.

It has been a while since I've gotten out, so I pushed myself to make the 3:30 AM drive to Breckenridge. Scouting along Baldy Mountain Road, I stepped into the early May air—cold enough that my gloves went straight on. I arrived by 5:00 AM, but the first location I had spotted on Google Maps didn't quite work out. Finding that perfect composition across the Tenmile Range requires a lot of on-the-ground scouting to get a clear view of the peaks and build a composition that works. You have to experience a location to truly learn its moods and how the light changes as the sun rises.

The ski slopes are closed now, revealing rugged dirt patches down the mountain with the ski lifts at a standstill. I was hoping for thick clouds to catch the sunrise rays, but the sky was bare. Instead, the twilight delivered this quiet blue hour moment. The moon sank perfectly over Peak 8 in a patch of clouds. I fired off a series of frames, later stitching them into a massive, high-resolution panorama to capture every crisp detail of Peaks 7 through 10. Conditions weren't perfect, but the dedication to getting back out there always pays off. We adapt, and we find the beauty in the twilight.

05/03/2026

The Turkeys are Back! 🦃

Spotted this guy in my front yard this morning. It looks like the recent rain and warmer temps finally brought the neighborhood turkeys out of hiding. I couldn't pass up the chance to grab the camera when he decided to put on a full display right at my doorstep.

Nature photography is usually a trek, but sometimes the best subjects come to you! 📸✨

04/30/2026

A Massive Thank You + 35% OFF Friends & Family! 🎉

Before I get into a bit of a life update, I want to start by saying a huge, heartfelt thank you. I know I haven't posted a lot lately, nor have I been able to get out and shoot as much as I'd like. Keeping this page active is a lot of work, and I sincerely apologize for the radio silence.

To show my appreciation for those of you that follow me here on Facebook, I am offering my highest discount, exclusively to you, my Facebook followers. You can get 35% OFF your entire order using my all-time Friends and Family code. I consider my Facebook followers my friends as well.

Follow this link (also in my BIO): https://dhondtdigitalphotos.etsy.com?coupon=FRIENDSANDFAMILY35

The Journey Lately... 📸

If I’m being completely honest, the last few months have felt a bit like a steep uphill climb. It’s been a hero’s journey just trying to find my creative spark again.

This year, sales have dropped significantly. Please know I am not complaining—I am profoundly grateful for every single order and every person who brings my art into their home. But the sudden quiet curved my focus and put me in a state of "photographer's block." Adding to the challenge are the recent changes to the Etsy algorithm. Anyone else selling on Etsy right now knows exactly what I am talking about; the organic traffic has practically vanished, and it’s been tough to navigate.

I’ve also been battling the elements. I had some beautiful locations mapped out here in Colorado that I desperately wanted to capture for you. But with the ongoing drought, we haven't gotten nearly as much snowfall, and what does fall melts right away before I can get the shot. On top of all of this, my day job has been extremely demanding given current world events, which has naturally shifted my time and energy.

Looking Ahead 🐻🏔️

Through all of these hurdles, sharing my photography with you is the light at the end of the tunnel. That is exactly why I wanted to offer this 35% discount—to recognize you and give back to the people who support my work.

I have some incredibly exciting plans this summer. Been two years in planning, I am heading to Alaska for a dedicated photography trip to capture the bears! If you love wildlife, you have a lot to look forward to.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me, through the peaks and the valleys. Please keep following along, and if you enjoy my work, sharing this page with your friends and family means the absolute world to me.

Stay tuned for Alaska! 🌲🐾

03/27/2026

🗽 Fresh Edit + Spring Sale! 25% Off Everything in the Shop!

Before I share the story behind this new piece, I wanted to let you know that I’ve just added this panoramic sunset view of the Brooklyn Bridge to my Etsy shop, just in time for my Spring Sale! You can get 25% off everything in the shop right now – no code needed, the discount is automatically applied!

There’s a constant, palpable energy, a sense of limitless possibility, and an endless array of stunning urban landscapes to capture. Have you ever visited a place that just feels electric? New York City is that place.

This is a new edit of one of my shots from my previous trip. This photo, though, was a challenge.

It was a crisp and frigid night in the heart of the city, the kind that makes you grateful for gloves and scarf but still cuts right through. I had a vision – a panoramic sunset shot looking out from the Manhattan Bridge towards the Brooklyn Bridge, with the entire Manhattan skyline as the backdrop. The plan was a long-exposure shot to smooth out the choppy waters of the East River into a silky, glass-like surface, creating a beautiful contrast with the sharp lines of the city.

The setting was perfect: the sky was ablaze with deep orange and purple hues, and the city lights were just beginning to twinkle, like a scattering of diamonds. The Brooklyn Bridge, a true marvel of engineering, stretched elegantly across the water, its intricate cable system creating a sense of dynamic movement.

But there was a catch. I was on the Manhattan Bridge, and the subway train runs right behind you, its tracks just feet away. And let me tell you, when that train rumbles by, it vibrates the entire bridge. For a long-exposure shot, any vibration is a guaranteed disaster.

I found myself in a constant battle against time and technology. I had only a short window to capture the sunset before the light was gone, and I had other specific shots in mind for the night. Every time the train passed, I had to stop and wait for the vibrations to subside, the adrenaline pumping in my veins as I watched the precious minutes tick away.

Everything felt rushed, just like the hustle and bustle fast pace of New York City itself. The air was thick with the scent of street food and the distant honking of taxi horns. The wind was biting, stinging my cheeks, but I was too focused on the shot to care.

In that frantic, high-pressure environment, I finally managed to time the shot perfectly between trains. The resulting photograph, a testament to the persistent spirit of creativity, and a tribute to the undeniable magic of New York City.

This fine art photograph is now available as a high-quality print in my Etsy shop. Whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker, a passionate traveler, or someone who simply appreciates the beauty of urban landscapes, I hope this piece speaks to you. It's a window into the heart of the city, a tangible reminder of the power of perseverance, and a celebration of the unique energy that is New York.

Thank you so much for your support! I hope you find something special in the sale.

02/19/2026

01/19/2026

Here I am behind the camera in this special preserved place for birds in the middle of the city.

01/06/2026

GEAR UP!

I’m honestly impressed that the Shimoda Action X25 v2 paired with the L25 RST Core Unit comfortably fits my Canon R5 Mark II, RF 200–800, RF 100–500, RF 15–35, the trusty nifty fifty, and my 1.4x extender — all in one clean, well-balanced backpack. Everything has a purpose, everything has protection, and everything is ready to go at a moment’s notice. This setup gives me the confidence to focus on the shot, not the gear, and that matters when opportunity shows up fast. Let’s GO!!

Huge thanks to Brent Hall for the recommendation — his real-world insight made this decision easy and spot-on. 🙌
👉 https://www.youtube.com/ Hall of the Wild

12/31/2025

🎉✨Happy New Years!!! ✨🎉
If you missed my Black Friday Sale, it’s not too late. I’m welcoming the New Year with 30% OFF all prints for a limited time!

I’ve also added framing options across my entire collection. Two of my favorites are the premium paper prints with a 2-inch white mat and the floating canvas in a sleek modern black frame. Here are a few examples of some of my top sellers in frames.

Thank you for supporting my photography this year — here’s to filling those blank walls with new great pieces, and a great year ahead! 🥂

https://DhondtDigitalPhotos.Etsy.com