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!
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!
These Comedy Wildlife Photos Are Hilarious
Check out 20 of the best entries from 2018's edition of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
Snail Photography That Will Show You a Tiny Magic World
Peak into the world of the snails with these 10 photgrpahs
Birds Come to Life In These Breathtaking Portraits
Each brushstroke in Rachel Altschuler's acrylic paintings accurately captures the personalities of different birds.
I Can't Believe People Go to Such Lengths For a Photo!
Get ready to see some of the most epic and creative photos ever snapped!
18 of the Most Incredibly-Timed Photos You'll Ever See
These photos will leave you in awe of their timing. The visual impact they have is staggering. Take a look at these 18 images.
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!
Woodpeckers Are So Captivating!
Did you know that there are over 200 species of woodpeckers in the world? Let’s check out some of the most fascinating ones.
14 Birds that Are Nature's Gemstones
While you may have seen birds native to your area, we're sure you've never seen these before......
These Gardens Will Inspire You to Pay them a Visit
Take a walk through some of the most beautiful gardens from around the world.
Useless Tusks and Dolphin-Lizards: Oddest Extinct Animals
Strange and unbelievable prehistoric animals. Get familiar with these magnificent ancient dinosaurs that used to roam the planet with their bizarre but fascinating looks.
The Unchallenged Beauty of 14 Waterfalls Worldwide
Admire the beauty and power of 14 picturesque waterfalls from every corner of the planet
10 of the Largest Living Birds in the World
Check out this list of the largest and heaviest birds that inhabit our planet today.
These Are the Most Expensive Gems and Minerals on Earth
There are millions of stunning gems in this world that decorate our jewelry, but you won't find these super rare rocks in any jewelry store!
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.
In Pictures: 2023 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards
Check out the majestic winners of the 2023 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards.
Milky Way Photographer of the Year 2023: 15 Striking Pics
The winners of the 2023 Milky Way Photographer of the Year contest have been revealed!
Must Watch: The Invisible Miracles of Nature
This filmmaker takes you on an in-depth journey of the incredible expansive universes present in our universe.
16 EERIE Close-Ups of Bugs Under a Microscope
Take a look at these terrifying close-ups of insect faces.
You Will Be Amazed at the United Kingdom's Pure Natural Beauty
The British Isles are ancient lands, filled with history, and also places of sublime natural beauty. Come see these beautiful places close at hand, taken by talented photographers.
20 Jaw-Dropping Natural Landscapes That Grip Your Soul
It's impossible to put words to these glorious pictures. We just can't.
Witness The Magical World of Brazil’s Terra Ronca Cave
Treasures buried in the heart of the earth are not only silver and gold but also rare natural wonders. This is the Terra Runica Cave, enjoy your tour!
Learn the True Art Behind the Bonsai Tree
Ryan Neil is an expert in the art of shaping Bonsai Trees, and will take you on a journey into yourself through nature!
8 Members of the Animal World Who Thrive In Their Solitude
Here's a look at some of the most interesting solitary animals in the world who thrive in their solitude.
These Stunning Waterfalls Will Take Your Breath Away!
Waterfalls are a thing of beauty which never fail to impress! Check out 17 of the world's greatest waterfalls here!
Cute Animal of the Week: The Little-Known Cuscus
Today, let us introduce you to a little-known, unusual but adorable animal – the cuscus.
INTERACTIVE: Click on the Colorful Birds to See Them!
Click on a bird and see a video of a real bird.
These Photos Prove How Colorful and Beautiful Our World Is
Our planet is so beautiful and full of color, and these photo go a long way to proving just that.
The Animal Kingdom Now Has the Photographer it Deserves
Sergey Polyushko could be one of the world's finest animal photographers in history. Just look at these 17 fantastic snaps.
11 Adorable Polar Animals that Will Warm Your Heart
Adorable animals of the north and south poles
Amazing Nature: Can a Lion Fend Off 20 Hyenas?
What happens when Red the lion gets attacked by a pack of hyenas?
The Most Amazing Facts About the Powerful Tiger!
If lions are kings, then tigers are emperors. Get to know the largest of all big cats with some very fascinating facts.
Here Are 10 of The Most Spectacular Forests in the World
Forests make up a third of our planet, and some of them are just utterly spectacular. Here are 10 of the most amazing forests in the world.
These Horses All Have the Most Amazing Hair!
These horse breeds all have an amazing hair! Enjoy getting to know some of the world's most beautiful horse breeds, along with some facts.
10 Amazing Facts of Nature that Are Too Weird to Believe
Bizarre natural phenomena, creatures, plants and minerals. Here are some amazing and interesting things courtesy of nature to astound you
WOW! How Can These Places Be Real? (18 Pics)
Enjoy this breathtaking collection of pictures of the most beautiful places on our planet.
You Won't Believe the Equine Wonder in These Horse Photos
Wiebke Haas captures some of the world's most beautiful horses strutting their proud stuff in this superb collection of equine majesty.
This Animal Is the Best Mimic in the World...
How intelligent and clever IS this animal??
These Ocean Species Look Like They're From Another Planet
These ocean species are unlike anything I've ever seen before.
A HUGE Bird Photography Article Collection!
Aren't birds gorgeous? Well, if you like photos of birds, you should try this enormous collection of 14 bird photography articles from BabaMail!
15 of Bhutan's Most Riveting Animals Revealed!
From the clouded leopard to the Himalayan monal, discover the wonders of Bhutan's wildlife kingdom with us.
Nature: How Animals Evolved Head Weapons
The history of animal head weapons is diverse and fascinating.
These Flowers Capture a Starry Night On Their Petals
These wonderful flowers appear to have the night sky captured in their very petals. View some stunning photos of them and learn more about them.
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!
Meet the Most Powerful Bird in the World, the Harpy Eagle
Soaring high above is a bird like no other, whose powerful claws and enormous wingspan are as awe-inspiring as they are intimidating...
Adorable Miniature Donkeys Are Here to Make Your Day!
These diminutive donkeys aren't babies or dwarves, but an adorable breed of smaller donkeys. They’re so cute you’ll want to adopt a few.
The Colorful and Beautiful Birds of Paradise!
This amazing video brings to life the most beautiful and stunning of birds!