Showcase #367: Professional Photographer from the Netherlands

Welcome to the Urban EDC Showcase! Each week, we feature a member of the EDC community and the gear they rely on every day. Want to be featured? Submit your gear photo.

From the Netherlands, we chat with Dwayne (@panda.pirates) who pivoted to EDC photography out of necessity during the pandemic – adeptly turning crisis into opportunity. In addition to being a huge fan of Fox Knives and Jesper Voxnaes, he also has a love affair with the Urban EDC 5.5. Read on for the full rig rundown, and find out about Dwayne's goal to acquire all variations of the Urban EDC 5.5!

Featured Tools:

• Knife: Urban EDC F5.5
  I'm always using my Urban EDC F5.5 Black Micarta with acid washed blade.
  
  
• Pouch: Alpaka
  Similarly, I'm always carrying the Alpaka pouch. It's a great size, compact and holds everything I need.
  
  
• Flashlight: Reylight
  Within the Alpaka pouch, I always include my Reylight flashlight, mini SAK (scales from @raventhepirate) a coin, pry bar and mini pen.

What's your story:

My name is Dwayne Maikel, and I live in the Netherlands. And I have been a full time photographer for almost 10 years now!

During the C*vid period all my weddings and events were cancelled so my camera's needed to do something else :) Something indoor.. Hence EDC photography.

My love and passion for knives (and tools) began at a young age! Both my uncles were carrying some victorinox knives. I was fascinated by it! But coming from a single parent family the possibilities to get my own victorinox wasn't possible.

But then a lot of years later all of a sudden, by a friend of mine, the love for EDC came (back)! And I couldn't be happier! By the end of 2020 my collection began to grow more and more. My interest and knowledge of knives, steels, tools etc grew!

And by the start of 2021 I started the Panda.Pirates page on IG! And to be honest this was the best thing that could happen during the c*vid period. The IG community is a great place full of amazing people from all over the world. We share a passion and a hobby that is not for everybody. But the people that do are so passionate!

Big shoutout to all the amazing people in the community!

At the start of my 'EDC life' I was fascinated by the @foxknives knives.
Especially by the SURU/YARU and the Core's. All created by the master himself; Jesper Voxnaes. To be having one of these someday would be amazing. Well.. I got them. A lot in the meantime. And I love them!

Going fast forward to the end of 2022. I met a lot of great people, worked with a lot of cool and amazing companies. Creating art together through photos.

And then my grail knife arrived; the Urban EDC F5.5 in Natural Micarta! And at the same time I bought the Black Micarta one from a buddy from the IG Community.

Favorite EDC Tool:

Not because you guys asked.. But this is my favorite for sure: the Urban EDC F5.5.

What's On Your Gear Radar:

There is always something.. haha. But to have all the 5.5 variations is a goal for me.