By Aleksandria Rudenko | Published 28 October 2026

Man in a black T-shirt with hands on his hips on the Maas, the Erasmusbrug and De Rotterdam behind him, a summer evening portrait

These summer evening portraits in Rotterdam began on a bench under the trees and ended by the old ships of the Veerhaven. Andriy moved here from Ukraine a few years ago and wanted portraits in the city he now calls home.

He had never stood in front of a camera on his own, so we kept it easy and unhurried. As a photographer in Rotterdam, I mapped out a short walk from the trees to the river.

Where
Tree-lined avenues, the Maas and the Veerhaven
When
August, early evening
Session
Portrait Photoshoot
Light
Warm evening sun, low through the trees

Long Shadows Under Old Trees

We started on a wooden bench under tall trees. Andriy wore a black polo, light shorts and white sneakers, simple and sharp. At first he looked a little serious, but soon a smile broke through.

Smiling man in a black polo shirt sitting on a bench under tall trees, warm evening light on his face and old houses behind
Black and white portrait of him with arms crossed in front of a tree-lined avenue, soft light falling through the leaves

Further along, the avenue ran on in a long line of trees. Meanwhile, the evening sun came in low between the trunks and wrapped him in a warm haze.

Full-length view of him standing in a long avenue of trees as low evening sun flares through the leaves, a summer portrait
Low evening sun between the trees, just after five

In the shade of a thick trunk, I moved in close. Against the dark bark, his eyes said enough.

Tight black and white portrait against rough tree bark, his eyes straight into the lens and a short dark beard
Close color portrait looking to the side by a tree trunk, green leaves blurred into soft circles behind him on a summer evening

A Tall Wooden Door

Halfway through, Andriy changed into a plain black T-shirt. Then we walked to a tall wooden door with stained glass above it, its red-brown wood warm in color. He leaned on the door frame or simply stood there, hands in his pockets.

Full-length portrait in front of a tall red-brown wooden door with stained glass above it, hands in the pockets of his light shorts
Leaning one arm on the stone door frame in a black T-shirt and white sneakers, the wooden door and stained glass behind him

After that, I moved closer until the panels of the door became a frame of their own.

Wide frame of him in a black T-shirt against the panels of a tall wooden door in Rotterdam, one hand in his pocket

Evening Portraits by the Maas

From the door, it was a short walk to the Maas. Ahead of us lay the Erasmusbrug, the bridge locals call the Swan, with the towers of De Rotterdam beyond it. Andriy stood on the stone quay with his hands on his hips, as if he did this every week.

Standing on a stone quay of the Maas with hands on his hips, the Erasmusbrug rising behind him on a clear summer evening in Rotterdam

Next, an old lamppost became his prop. He leaned on it, looked out over the water and finally turned back to the lens. For summer evening portraits in Rotterdam, this view is hard to beat.

One hand on an old black lamppost on the quay, he looks out over the river, with the Erasmusbrug and a row of towers behind

A Summer Evening at the Veerhaven

We ended at the Veerhaven, where old sailing ships lie moored below tall towers. Andriy strolled along the quay under the trees, then sat down on the railing by the water.

Walking toward the lens down a sunny street lined with trees and old facades, summer evening light on the pavement
Black and white frame of him strolling along the Veerhaven quay past old lanterns and railings, hands in his pockets
Seated on the railing at the Veerhaven, a tall sailing ship mast and modern towers behind him, a relaxed evening portrait in Rotterdam
The Veerhaven, with its old sailing ships

For the last frame, I asked for one more close portrait in front of a dark green hedge. So these summer evening portraits in Rotterdam ended quietly, with Andriy completely at ease.

Head and shoulders portrait with a slight smile in front of a dark green hedge, the last frame of his summer evening in Rotterdam

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