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!
It's Amazing How Similar These Dogs Look to Their Owners!
These wonderful portraits really prove the old saying "like owner, like dog".
Snail Photography That Will Show You a Tiny Magic World
Peak into the world of the snails with these 10 photgrpahs
16 Of Nature's Best Unintentional Works of Art
Sometimes the most moving and beautifully effortless works of art are the ones created by nature, without man's interference.
10 Brilliantly Detailed Animal Portraits by Sophie Green
Animals are more than creative muse for artist Sophie Green. She uses her brilliant, realistic animal portraits to raise awareness for wildlife conservation.
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.
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.
5 Serious Medical Causes of Tunnel Vision
Tunnel vision can be a warning sign of several underlying severe health conditions ranging from eye diseases to stroke.
22 Award-Winning Photos That Capture the Power of Nature
The International Photography Awards has many categories, but today, we will focus on nature, with 22 stunning highlights from the 2020 competition.
I Bet You've Never Seen Animals Like These Before!
From a pink dolphin to a brown panda, you have probably never seen these weird and rare variations of animals.
Gallery: 2024 Natural Landscape Photography Winners!
Check out the amazing winners of the 2024 Natural Landscape Photography Awards.
These Rare Animals Are Both Weird and Wonderful
Have you ever seen a creature that looked so weird and unique that you weren't sure if you were actually looking at an alien or something that belongs on our planet?Discover here these 15 weird and wonderful creatures that are too wonderful for words
15 Wildlife Photos SO Bad They Are Actually Funny
Here is a look at a collection of hilarious pictures of wild animals that are so bad they will actually make you laugh.
Brighten Up Your Garden with These 7 Beautiful Flowers
Brighten up your garden by adding some of the best and brightest flowers around!
Award-Winning Nature Photos That Left Us Amazed (15 Pics)
Check out the awe-inspiring winners of the 2024 Nature’s Best International Photography Awards.
A Heart-In-Mouth Video About a Chick's Fight To Survive
The adaptations of nature are truly incredible. Barnacle goose chicks have to leap off cliffs within hours of their birth to reunite with their parents.
10 Cat Breeds That Act More Like Dogs
In this video we are going to introduce you to 10 species of cats that act almost like dogs!
15 Photos That Show Why There’s Nothing Purer Than Nature
Take a look at some of the best winning images of nature from the 2020 Tokyo International Foto Awards.
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!
12 Facts That Prove Your Dog Knows You Best
Dogs can recognize our feelings, our plans, and even our health. Discover 12 things your best friend knows about you, maybe even better than you do...
15 Animals that Have Drastically Changed Over Time
Humans are not the only ones who are constantly developing. Most of these amazing animals transformed past the point of recognition over time.
Stop Killing Centipedes in Your Home! Here's Why...
When it comes to common house centipedes, it many be far more beneficial for you to simply leave them alone instead of killing them. Here's why.
16 Award-Winning Shots That’ll Take Your Breath Away
The 2020 winners of the nature photography competition BigPicture have been announced, and they are astounding!
There Are Awesome New Dog Breeds in the World...
21 of the most adorable new canine cross breeds.
This Is How Mother Birds Care for Their Sweet Chicks
Motherhood is a wonderful thing. It binds not only humans together, but birds too. These photos are simply amazing.
Click to Transform Caterpillars Into Moths and Butterflies!
Both butterflies and moths have four stages of life, they go from the initial egg to a caterpillar, then to a cocoon and finally to a butterfly or moth. Watch these 18 interactive photos Before and After caterpillars transform.
Nature’s Trickster: The Mysterious Mimic Octopus
Scientists consider this sea creature the most intelligent invertebrate in our oceans!
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.
This Stunning Bird of Prey Video Will Leave You in Awe!
Be humbled by the extreme beauty of these birds of prey in their natural environment.
These 20 Animal Facts will Blow Your Mind
Did you know that squirrels plant trees or that oysters can change their gender? These little-known animal facts will blow your mind! I was especially impressed with no.6!
Gallery: 2024 Garden Photographer of the Year Winners
Check out the amazing winners of the 2024 Garden Photographer Of The Year Awards.
These Dogs Have the Best Hair Day, Every Day.
I have never seen dogs that look so amazing before. They all have such beautiful coats of hair!
These Photos Prove Mother Nature Can Be So Creative!
These photos prove that Mother Nature has a creative side.
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...
17 Animals That Prove That Nature Can Be Especially Creative
It's not only their coloring which makes these 17 animals unique. Their low chances of survival make them especially rare.
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.
Animal Kingdom: Meet the World’s Grumpiest Cat
Pallas’s cats are perhaps the most unusual wild cats of our planet.
These Have Got to Be Some of the World Strangest Plants
In this world there are pretty plants and then there are talented and bizarre plants. These 12 plants definitely fall into the latter category.
I Never Knew Mushrooms Could Be So Beautiful
Photographer Steve Axford captures some of the world's most fascinating mushrooms. Take a look.
16 Breathtaking Images of Our Planet's Natural Wonders
Take a look at these 16 incredibly well-timed photos of some of our planet's most spectacular natural wonders.
Ocean Showdown: Orcas Take on Humpback Whales
There's a reason why orcas can never get along with humback whales...
Beautiful: How Your Dog Sees You Vs. How You See Yourself
Although we can feel down in the dumps about ourselves sometimes, our dogs will always keep their faith in us and see us as their heroes.
Inspired Gardening: The Most Beautiful Garden Quotes
Gardening is more than just a hobby - it's a quality that teaches us and inspires. Here are 12 heartwarming quotes that will inspire your gardening.
Equestrian Grace: 15 Majestic Horses in Icelandic Scenery
These photographs of beautiful horses in Iceland by Petra Marita look like beautiful paintings.
13 of the Most Unusual Plants & Veggies Found in Gardens
Here's a collection of some of the most unusual plants and vegetables that people found in their gardens.
5 Of the Most Remarkable Adaptations in the Natural World
This video looks at five animals who have some remarkable adaptation abilities for survival in the natural world.
Keep Your Bouquet Fresh for 3 Weeks with These Handy Tips
Bouquets may not last long, but you can increase their lifespan by 3 weeks with these handy tips.
14 Incredible Sights from the Mighty Andes
We have curated a stunning collection of photos that showcase one of the most remote and awe-inspiring places on Earth.