David Van Bouwel © Photographer

The photographic work of David Van Bouwel, who operates under the pseudonym Sound of Kerosene, is deeply rooted in his passion for helicopters, military aviation and maritime search and rescue operations (SAR). With a keen eye for detail, technology and the human stories behind every mission, he captures the activities of the Belgian Air Force in a distinctive and compelling way. His photography combines technical precision, impeccable timing and a genuine appreciation for the people who carry out complex aviation and rescue operations. This dedication has earned him international recognition in the world of aviation photography.

A significant part of his work focuses on the Belgian Air Force’s 40th Search and Rescue Squadron, based at Koksijde Air Base and part of 1 Wing. The squadron’s operations have been a major source of inspiration for his photography for many years. The NH90 Caiman, the Belgian Air Force’s modern maritime helicopter, features prominently in his portfolio. Over the years, Van Bouwel has documented numerous training flights and operational activities, including striking photographic series of NH90 Night Ops. These challenging conditions perfectly reflect his photographic approach: capturing movement, light and action at precisely the right moment while preserving the intensity and atmosphere of each mission.

Alongside the NH90, the Westland Sea King continues to hold a special place in his work. In particular, RS02, one of the iconic helicopters in the history of Belgian Search and Rescue, remains an important part of his photographic archive. Although the Sea King has now been retired from service, Van Bouwel continues to preserve the legacy and memories of this legendary aircraft. His images document not only a chapter of Belgian aviation history that has come to an end, but also evoke an era in which these helicopters played an indispensable role in rescue operations over the North Sea.

The quality and originality of his work have not gone unnoticed. In 2025, Van Bouwel received recognition in the Vertical Magazine photo contest, winning with an action photograph of a helicopter at Belgium’s renowned Sanicole Airshow. Further international recognition followed in 2026, when he won in two categories of the prestigious POWER UP Magazine Photo Contest, organised by Vertical Aviation International: People and Their Vertical Flight Aircraft and How We Serve. His award-winning photographs, featuring the Belgian Air Force and the Federal Police’s Air Support Unit, demonstrate his ability to combine dynamic action with a strong human perspective. They showcase not only the impressive aircraft, but also the people and expertise that make their missions possible.

A recurring theme throughout his photography is the cooperation between different emergency services during search and rescue operations. Events and large-scale exercises such as Rescue Zeeland and Rescue De Panne give him the opportunity to document this collaboration at close quarters. His photographs bring together NH90 helicopters of the Belgian Air Force, vessels operated by the Dutch KNRM, the Belgian Navy, the Maritime Police and the coastal rescue teams of IKWV. These images tell a story that extends far beyond aviation itself. They reveal how different disciplines, people and resources come together when every second counts and coordinated action can make all the difference.

What sets David Van Bouwel’s photography apart is his preference for capturing events from right in the heart of the action. His images are more than straightforward records of aircraft and helicopters; they are visual stories of commitment, teamwork, technology and human responsibility. Pilots, crew members, paramedics and rescuers receive as much attention as the machines they operate. Through his longstanding interest in Belgian aviation and his close involvement in the world of Search and Rescue, he continues to build a photographic body of work that documents both the present and the heritage of the Belgian Air Force.

Under the name Sound of Kerosene, David Van Bouwel has developed a distinctive voice in military aviation photography: dynamic, authentic and deeply focused on the people behind every mission.

About

David Van Bouwel has a proven career record as an Early Music harpsichordist and organist, having performed in numerous concerts and recordings with ensembles such as B’Rock, Il Fondamento, La Fenice, Vox Luminus, …

After graduating cum laude under Luc Ponet at the Lemmensinstituut (Leuven) in 1996, he continued to perfect himself with Liuwe Tamminga, Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, and Martin Haselböck.

As his alter ego Torus Biglane, he explores the boundaries of Early and Contemporary music by fusing sounds from the past and future & creating soundscapes for various contexts.

Besides his activities as a performer and composer, he teaches the organ and chamber music at the

• Kunstacademie Torhout

• StapWest Veurne

where he conveys his enthusiasm for these instruments to a new generation of musicians.

@ Financial Times:

"The Ruhrtriennale’s Earth Diver is a multimedia performance of simple means and breathtaking power. David Van Bouwel’s electronic soundscapes, all grinding metal and howling wind, meet Wim Catrysse’s reductive videos, humans dwarfed by monstrous industry and frigid landscapes"

David Van Bouwel heeft een fantastische staat van dienst als klavecinist en organist in de Oude Muziek, met talrijke concerten en opnames met ensembles als B'Rock, Il Fondamento, La Fenice, Vox Luminus, ...

Zijn muzikale creativiteit en persoonlijkheid in het continuospel bleef door menig vooraanstaand dirigent niet onopgemerkt.

Nadat hij in 1996 cum laude afstudeerde bij Luc Ponet aan het Lemmensinstituut (Leuven), vervolmaakte hij zich verder bij Liuwe Tamminga, Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini en Martin Haselböck.

Naast zijn activiteiten als uitvoerder en componist doceert hij ongelooflijk gedreven de vakken orgel, improvisatie, samenspel en kamermuziek aan de Kunstacademie Torhout en StapWest Veurne, waar hij zijn aanstekelijk enthousiasme voor deze instrumenten op een nieuwe generatie jonge muzikanten overbrengt.

Op zijn website lezen we onder zijn naam: "Music & Photography, Sharing my passion for music, heli's & photography"

Zijn tweede leven speelt zich inderdaad af in de kunstfotografie, met naast zijn specialisatie 'luchtvaartfotografie' eveneens het portretteren van musici.

Tal van zijn foto’s werden gelauwerd en verschijnen met regelmaat in internationale vakbladen.

RECORDINGS

Orlando - B’rock - René Jacobs

David Van Bouwel - organ & harpsichord

Pachelbel: Christ lag in Todesbanden

Chœur de chambre de Namur - Jean Tubery

David Van Bouwel : Organ solo & BC