The Orangutans Who Changed the Way I See the World

I still remember the feeling of entering the jungle of Bukit Lawang in Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2019. I had travelled to Indonesia with my camera, excited about the possibility of photographing wildlife, but I had no idea that this particular experience would change the way I looked at photography and its purpose.

I had never been in a real tropical jungle before. The moment we started walking, I realised this was going to be very different from anything I had experienced. Our local guide led the way, and I simply followed his instructions. The terrain was challenging, with steep climbs, thick vegetation and narrow paths. At certain points, we were walking alongside deep ravines where one wrong step could have disastrous consequences.

It was physically demanding. The climbs were steep, the ground wasn't always easy to navigate, and I had to concentrate on every step. Carrying my camera equipment made it even more challenging. But I wasn't thinking about how difficult the journey was. I knew what we had come to see, and that kept me going.

After what felt like a long journey through the jungle, we finally reached an area where our guide knew we might encounter the animals we were looking for.

And then I saw one.

An orangutan moving through the trees.

I immediately reached for my camera. It started coming closer, moving naturally through the branches. Then more appeared. Before long, we were watching several orangutans, including mothers with their babies.

I remember looking at them through my viewfinder and being amazed by what I was witnessing. Their expressions, their movements and the way they interacted with each other were incredible. There was something almost human about the way they observed their surroundings. They seemed so intelligent and curious.

For a moment, I was completely focused on photographing them. I wanted to capture as much as possible because I knew how special this encounter was. Seeing these animals in their natural environment, surrounded by the forest they call home, was something I will never forget.

But while I was enjoying this extraordinary experience, our guide began telling us something that would stay with me long after that day.

He explained the threats orangutans face, how their natural habitats are disappearing and how human activities are putting their future at risk. Their homes are being destroyed, leaving these animals with less and less space to survive.

I remember listening to him and looking back at the orangutans in the trees. Just moments earlier, I had been thinking about how fortunate I was to photograph such beautiful creatures. Now I was thinking about what their future might look like.

It was heartbreaking to realise that animals so intelligent, so beautiful and so important to their ecosystem were being pushed towards extinction because of human actions.

What affected me most was the passion in our guide's voice. You could tell how much he cared about these animals. He wasn't simply explaining facts to a group of tourists. He genuinely wanted people to understand what was happening and why protecting these animals and their environment mattered.

His words made me look at my camera differently.

I had been photographing wildlife for years, and I had always loved capturing animals in their natural environments. But that day I started thinking about what those photographs could actually do.

Could they make someone stop and look at an animal they had never really noticed before? Could a photograph make someone curious enough to learn about an endangered species? Could sharing the story behind an image encourage someone to care about protecting nature?

I realised that photography could be more than a way of preserving memories or creating beautiful images. It could also be a way of giving wildlife a voice.

That experience in Sumatra became an important turning point for me. The orangutans had given me an experience I would treasure forever, but they had also given me a reason to use my photography for something bigger.

Since then, I have wanted my wildlife photography to contribute to conservation and the protection of natural environments. And I don't believe this should be limited to orangutans or endangered species alone.

Every animal has a place in nature. Every ecosystem has value. Whether it is a rainforest in Indonesia, the African savannah, the forests of Europe or the wetlands of the Netherlands, I believe these environments deserve to be protected.

I want people to understand that conservation isn't only about saving the animals we find beautiful or fascinating. It is about protecting the balance of nature and recognising that we share this planet with countless other species.

This is also why I want to connect my photography with meaningful action. Through the sale of my wildlife and nature prints, I want to dedicate a portion of the proceeds to conservation organisations and projects that work to protect animals and their natural habitats.

I know I cannot change everything on my own. I am one photographer, based in the Netherlands, with a camera and a passion for wildlife. But I believe that small contributions can become part of something much bigger.

If one photograph inspires someone to learn about orangutans, if one print helps contribute towards protecting a habitat, or if one story makes someone think differently about the natural world, then I believe my photography has achieved something meaningful.

When I look back at my photographs from Bukit Lawang, I don't just see beautiful orangutans or memories of an incredible adventure. I remember the difficult climb, the narrow jungle paths, the excitement of spotting the first orangutan and, most importantly, the words of our guide.

I went to Sumatra hoping to photograph orangutans.

I left with a different understanding of why they need to be photographed, remembered and protected.

The orangutans stole my heart that day. And although I have travelled to many countries and photographed countless animals since then, that encounter will always have a special place in my life.

I hope that one day I can return to Sumatra and see those forests thriving, with orangutans still moving freely through the trees and mothers raising their babies in the wild.

Because they deserve a future. And so does every other animal sharing this planet with us.

I want my photographs to be remembered not only for what they show, but also for what they stand for.