Ruurd Jelle van der Laij has been fascinated with nature from a young age and loved nothing more than bird watching. So him becoming a nature photographer and ecologist was almost inevitable. Throughout the many years he spent observing and capturing birds, he noticed something interesting, and actually quite funny. “When you get the time to take a series of pictures of one single bird, you will always have one or two frontals in between. I realized from the start that they made the birds look completely different. From that moment on, I decided to focus on it and make sure I would have at least one frontal in each series. Some birds start to look like angry birds, some funny or even ridiculous,” he said in a statement to Bored Panda.
It’s true, while most birds look majestic from most angles, something about their frontal images is just too funny. The same cannot be said about all birds, of course. For birds of prey, like owls, frontals are their normal way of looking at you, so the photograph will only be fun if they cock their head to the side. No explanation can do the job better than the pictures themselves, so without further ado, take a look at some beautiful birds from a completely new angle.
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
To see more of Van der Laij's work you can visit his website, Facebook, or Instagram page.
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Related: 19 Gorgeous Birds You Might Not Have Seen Before
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Related: Top Winners of the 2020 Bird Photo of The Year Competition
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Image Source: Ruurd Jelle van der Laij
Share these photographs with other nature lovers!
19 Gorgeous Birds You Might Not Have Seen Before
Birds are one of the most varied and beautiful species. These 19 exotic birds are absolutely beautiful!
This Photographer Captured the Majesty of Maine Coon Cats
Photographer Robert Sijka is a cat aficionado, and he also happens to be an excellent photographer. Take a look at his work with Maine Coon cats.
It's Amazing How Similar These Dogs Look to Their Owners!
These wonderful portraits really prove the old saying "like owner, like dog".
These Animals Painted on Wood Are Absolutely Gorgeous!
You've got to see this stunning animal art by Patrycja Prószyńska, all painted on fresh slices of wood.
Australian Wildlife is Extreme. Birds Are No Exception
No other country has astounding wildlife quite like Australia. You can be sure their birds aren't any different!
Have You Ever Seen Anything Cuter Than a Sleeping Owlet?
Baby owls can’t sleep upright as their heads are too heavy. So until they grow large enough they sleep on their tummy and the internet can't get enough of it.
We Bet You Don't Know How Your Favorite Foods Are Grown!
Ever wondered how peanuts grow? Or what cocoa actually looked like before it was harvested? Well, you've come to the right place!
14 Beautiful Examples of the Cycle of Life
Here is a fascinating look at the life cycle of different living things in the form of beautiful photos.
These 20 Cute Bonsai Are a Cut Above the Average Tree
Trust the Japanese to have the most beautiful miniature trees in the world. These 20 bonsai's are so fabulous!
These Flowers are Some of the Most Expensive in the World
Flowers are never cheap, but as you're about to see, some are a lot more expensive than others.
Meet the Most Amazing Architects of the Animal Kingdom
Take a look at some of the weirdest and most wonderful bird nests from the animal kingdom.
Nature Is Amazing: African Wildlife Reveals its Beauty
Join us as we explore the beauty that is African wildlife.
The Japanese Art of Bonsai Makes Miniature Gods of Us!
It has taken a lot of gardening patience for someone to grow these pot sized bonsai beauties, and - boy! - aren't they worth the wait!
A Woman's Backyard Receives Many Beautiful Bird Visitors
Ostdrossel makes different items using candid photographs of beautiful birds captured on her backyards feeder cam
Proof that Aquatic Flowers Have No Match in Beauty
To honor the exotic beauty of aquatic flowers, we created a list of the 7 most breathtaking aquatic flowers in the world
Nature in Fast-Forward: 1000 Days of Mushrooms
Showcasing 13 different types of fungi, the video is a mesmerizing journey through the growth and transformation of these incredible organisms.
A Wonderful Collection of Flowers, Beauty and Color
This is BabaMail's Ultimate Floral Post collection. We've selected 12 of the best articles, photo-series and videos from our website for you to enjoy.
16 Photos That Showcase Our Planet’s Breathtaking Beauty
Check out these unbelievably picturesque photos from around the world.
Marvel at 14 of the Tallest Mountains in the World
There are fourteen mountains in the world that stand over 8000 meters (26,250 feet) tall. Known collectively as the 8000ers, these skyscraping peaks are very literally the top of the world.
Nature: How Animals Evolved Head Weapons
The history of animal head weapons is diverse and fascinating.
15 Bizarre Animals You Just Don't See Every Day...
There are so many odd species of animals roaming the corners of the Earth. 15 bizarre looking animals I never knew existed on the planet!
This Bird is a Legendary Master of Disguise
This bird might be right in front of you, and you'll never know it!
The Amazing Big Blue Captured by Photo Contest Winners
These stunning photos will leave you in awe of the stunning beauty of the deep big blue.
Gaze in Wonder at These 35 Amazing Photos of North America
North America has so much wonderful natural variety that it's easy to see why many believe it was blessed by God himself. Here are 35 amazing photos.
17 Utterly Beautiful Photos of Japan's Cherry Blossoms
The sight of blooming cherry blossoms is synonymous with springtime Japan. Take a look at these beautiful photos to remind you what a wonderful season this is.
A Photo Guide to Beautiful Birds of Prey
A comprehensive photo-guide of common and rare birds of prey.
A Deep Dive into the Biology of Great White Sharks
Great white sharks are marvels of nature.
The Most Astonishing Wildlife Photos of the Decade
These are some of our favorite shots of animals in the wild, ever. Enjoy this stunning collection of professional wildlife photography
These 40 Beautiful Birds Were Perfectly Photographed
40 great bird photographs taken in Taiwan by the well-known Taiwanese photographers John and Fish
You Have to See These 18 Hybrid Animals to Believe Them
I'd never even heard of a liger, a zonkey or a beefalo. But these pictures go to show that they actually exist - in real life!
15 Magical Animal Moments That’ll Make You Smile All Day!
Animals sometimes take on the role of "models" and provide photographers with the opportunity to capture wonderful moments of magic that simply warm our hearts.
Sloths: Masters of Slow-Motion Evolution
The sloth is much more interesting than you ever realized.
These Creatures Are So Scary You'll Be Happy They're Extinct
Once you read more about these extinct animals - you'll be happy you won't have to see them in real life.
Birds of Paradise: The Pinnacle of Avian Beauty
Birds of paradise are really a sight to behold if you've never seen them before. In this next post, we present you 14 of the most stunning species of all.
These 10 Animals Have The Strangest Qualities
Animals do the weirdest things sometimes. These animals will have you scratching your head for days.
This Awesome Plant Can Live For More Than 300 Years!
The compass plant can live for over 300 years!
The First 3 Months of a Panda's Life is Amazing to Watch!
The first 100 days in a panda's life. They don't start out looking like pandas!
Time Lapse Video: From Cute Caterpillar to Gorgeous Moth
Timelapse video shows a caterpillar's transformation into adult moth
These Are the Best Animal Moments Ever Captured on Video
Get right into the mouth of the lion with this absolutely incredible compilation of animal videos.
Beautiful! The Color of a Rose Conveys a Special Message
Roses are the most well known and celebrated flower in the world. You may be surprised to discover the meaning of roses and their various colors.
Gallery: 2024 Natural Landscape Photography Winners!
Check out the amazing winners of the 2024 Natural Landscape Photography Awards.
These Siberian Cats Are Truly Stunning!
Alla Lebedeva has turned her homestead into a "Catland" and she has now gone viral thanks to some incredible photographs of her glorious Siberian cats.
This Fish’s Bite is Faster Than Your Blink
This is probably the weirdest fish you will ever see.
There are So Many Reasons for Us to Love Penguins
Penguins are as beautiful as they are fascinating. Here is all you need to know about these wonderful birds...
Witness the Magical Views of Norway's Northern Islands
The amazing place you are about to see in this video is Svalbard - an archipelago that is in the northernmost part of the entire kingdom of Norway.