Captivating Close-Up Shots Of Frozen Flowers In The Netherlands

A Springtime Delight

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• May 26, 2023

Albert Dros, a 37-year-old photographer from The Netherlands, is renowned for his unwavering devotion to landscape photography and his tireless quest for capturing extraordinary moments. His diverse portfolio showcases a stunning array of natural wonders, ranging from majestic volcanos to mesmerizing solar eclipses.

Albert's exceptional work has earned him widespread recognition, with his photographs prominently featured in prestigious global media outlets such as Time, Huffington Post, Daily Mail, and National Geographic. His insatiable passion for landscape photography stems from a deep-seated longing to encapsulate the inherent beauty of the world.

Furthermore, his creative expertise extends beyond photography, encompassing design, motion graphics, video production, audio editing, and a comprehensive understanding of multimedia, all fostered by his Master's Degree in Multimedia & Entertainment Technology. In the Netherlands, the arrival of spring heralds a captivating spectacle of blossoming flowers each year.

While Albert is widely acclaimed for his expertise in capturing tulips through his lens, it's important to note that the country boasts a plethora of other stunning floral varieties that often go unnoticed. In a remarkable series of photographs, Albert focuses on frozen flowers that take center stage in the renowned Betuwe region on the morning of Sunday, April 3, 2022.

This area, famous for its abundant fruit trees, offers a breathtaking display of nature's frozen beauty. Albert extends heartfelt appreciation to the local Betuwe photographers, particularly Ronald Verwijs, whose encouragement inspired him to witness and capture this exquisite phenomenon.

1. Plum blossoms awaken two hours after sunrise by the first sunlight under a blue sky

"During spring, we occasionally get some very cold nights here with temperatures dropping way below zero. When that happens, fruit growers spray all of their fruit trees with water during the night and early morning. This actually protects flowers, the opposite of what you would expect.

Sleepless nights for the fruit growers, but beautiful frozen flowers in the morning. The water freezes around the flowers and buds and gives a protective layer for the ‘real’ destructive frost. In the morning, the water unfreezes from the first sunlight, and most flowers awaken untouched! The frozen water around the flowers gives a magical effect!"

2. Water Spray

"Water spray constantly spraying the little flower buds of pear blossoms, making the water freeze around them and also causing beautiful ice pinnacles below them."

3. The little red flower buds are apple blossoms

"I always had a passion for design. Before becoming a full-time landscape photographer, I was working for television as a freelancer, making graphics and animation for game shows.

I only really started to discover photography about 12 years ago, when I moved to Hong Kong to study and explore a different culture. The city really grabbed me. I quickly got hooked on photographing the atmosphere in the city—street markets, architecture, but also the landscapes outside of the city.

They’re extremely beautiful! After Hong Kong, photography never left me. I developed myself quickly with my design background and continued to pursue my photography journey in different countries, and at home.

"

4. Asleep

Here you can see how the water bulbs are still thick as this was photographed before the sun rose with temperatures still way below zero. The ice is crystal clear as you can see the little flower bud right through it.

5. Apple Buds

"I really liked the contrast between the red buds and the crystal clear ice created by the water. The red really makes it pop through the ice."

"Capturing the beauty of frozen flowers is not easy. As I mentioned before, fruit growers spray their trees with water to freeze them in order to get this effect. Meaning: I was standing with an umbrella not to get soaking wet from the water spray while photographing.

A bit clumsy, but it works. Also, the flowers are very small. All the shots were made with a macro lens. So getting the critical focus on the part of the flower that I wanted was also challenging. But all in all, I'm super happy with the results."

6. A wider view of the trees getting sprayed by the water with the first light of the day

7. A slightly wider view of the apple blossoms

8. Super close up of an apple blossom bud in its very early stage

9. In Peace

Getting very close to the little apple blossom buds where you can see how they are ‘in peace’ in their little shell of frozen water.

10. Frozen blossoms, that actually look like just one flower on itself with the frozen structure

12. Frozen Half

Taken more than 2 hours after sunset when this water bulb melted halfway, exposing the flower the sun unharmed.

13. Sometimes the ice creates spectacular structures around the flowers. In this case, it looks like a tie!

14. Two flowers that awaken from their melted ice

The enchanting phenomenon of frozen flowers in the Netherlands during spring showcases the remarkable resilience of nature and the ingenuity of fruit growers. The unexpected act of spraying water on fruit trees during cold nights creates a protective layer of frozen water, preserving the delicate blooms and buds from the damaging effects of frost.

The resulting morning spectacle, as the sun's warmth unfreezes the crystalline encasement, reveals untouched and vibrant flowers surrounded by a magical aura. These captivating moments serve as a testament to the harmonious dance between humans and nature, where careful intervention can yield breathtaking beauty.

Damjan