Dutch photographer Dick van Duijn has a real talent for capturing the beauty of wildlife. His photos are both mesmerizing and incredibly cute. The 34-year-old’s work is very popular, with over 46,200 people all over the world eagerly following him on Instagram. Recently, van Duijn has been causing waves on the internet with his endearing pictures of ground squirrels smelling flowers.

To bring a bit more joy to your autumn day, here is a list of van Duijn’s most beautiful animal photos. So scroll down, enjoy the gorgeous photos, upvote your favorites, and leave us a comment explaining which pictures you liked the most. Read on and enjoy Bored Panda’s in-depth interview with photographer van Duijn about his work. And if you want, share this post to brighten up somebody’s day!

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#1

Van Duijn revealed to Bored Panda what motivated him to photograph the ground squirrels who are so lovingly hugging flowers in his pictures.

“I saw pictures of these cute animals from other photographers and wanted to photograph them myself. Because I like flowers and animals, I tried to combine them. I am always looking for ways to capture nature in its most unaffected form.”

The photographer added more about the ground squirrels: “There were a lot of curious squirrels, so it was not hard to photograph them, but to capture one with a flower like this took a lot of patience and shots. The moment the squirrel smelled the flower and planted his face in the flower, I knew this was the picture of a lifetime!”

Image credits: Dick van Duijn

#2

Image credits: Dick van Duijn

#3

Image credits: Dick van Duijn

Furthermore, van Duijn shared some advice he has for other photographers, whether they’re new to the trade or seasoned veterans in their own right.

“Just start photographing nature and wildlife in your own area and practice and experiment a lot. When you have mastered photography in your own environment, head out to other countries and explore.”

#4

Image credits: Dick van Duijn

#5

Image credits: Dick van Duijn

#6

Image credits: Dick van Duijn

Van Duijn, who grew up on the coast of the Netherlands in Noordwijk, started working at his parents’ fish shop after graduating from school. He bought his first camera 8 years ago, after deciding that he needed a creative outlet. That was the start of his “biggest passion” — photography.

The photographer has a wide range of experience and expertise in wildlife, landscape, cityscape, and sports photography. He has traveled all over the world in search of beautiful shots. Van Duijn is incredibly popular and his love for photography has landed him in media outlets all across the globe.