From Snapshots to Stories
I grew up surrounded by photography. I was mostly on the other side of the lens, in front of my father’s camera. He was an artist, and street photography was his hobby, with me as his favourite subject. Every now and then, he would let me take a photo with his camera, even though I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
In 1999, I got my first film SLR camera. It was a Minolta, although I can’t remember exactly which model. I think it was a 7000i, but I could be mistaken. I was incredibly proud to own that camera and could hardly put it down. Most of my photos were snapshots of my outings, animals at the zoo, my dog Nicky, and of course, my friends and family had to put up with being photographed too. In short, I was basically photographing my everyday life.
My first digital camera was a Canon S40, with 3x optical zoom and 4 megapixels. I absolutely loved that little camera and took it with me everywhere. I managed to capture some really beautiful moments with it, although they were still mostly simple snapshots of everyday life. Back then, I didn’t edit my own photos either. What came out of the camera was what I kept, and I loved the honesty and simplicity of that.
Through YouTube, I discovered that there was so much more I could do with my digital photos. The only problem was that the camera I had at the time simply didn’t give me the possibilities I was looking for. So, in 2017, I bought my first DSLR, a Canon 100D. It didn’t take long before I started shooting in RAW and joined a local photography club. At the time, Thomas Heaton and Simon Baxter were two photographers who really inspired me, and their work sparked something in me. I found myself becoming more and more interested in landscape photography and wanted to learn everything I could about it.
It didn’t take long for photography to become a big part of my life. The more I photographed, the more curious I became, and I started exploring all kinds of different genres. I’ve never really wanted to put myself into a particular box, because I simply enjoy photographing whatever catches my attention. From landscapes to urban landscapes, and from wildlife to animals, every subject has something that can draw me in. The only type of photography I haven’t really connected with so far is portrait and model photography.
Photography, On My Own Terms
Of course, my journey as a photographer hasn’t always been easy. In 2021, after many medical examinations, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I went through rehabilitation, hoping it would help me regain some of the energy I had lost, but unfortunately, things didn’t really improve. I now live with chronic pain and fatigue and have a very limited amount of energy. I am also fully unable to work.
I had to learn not only how to reorganise my life, but also how to find my way back to photography. I had to discover what I could still do and, perhaps more importantly, what kind of photography still felt right for me. For a few years, landscape photography faded into the background, and I found myself drawn more towards urban and everyday life photography. But deep down, I really missed being out in nature and photographing landscapes.
At some point, I realised I was spending too much time thinking about what I couldn’t do. So I decided to turn that around and focus on what I could do instead. That change in perspective made me realise that I don’t have to choose just one type of photography. I can still enjoy all the different kinds of photography that I love. I just have to do them at my own pace and within my own limits. And honestly, that’s okay. When I have the energy to take my camera with me and go out, I enjoy it just as much as I always have.
Gucci
Before Gucci, it was my previous dog, Matsi, who kept me company on my walks with a camera in hand. These days, it’s Gucci who joins me on my daily walks, and whenever I can, my camera comes along too. We also regularly head out to the local woods, and when I’m feeling well enough, I love taking a trip to the coast to photograph.
Of course, having a dog with you while photographing isn’t always easy. If you’re a photographer with a dog, you probably know all too well what can happen when you put your camera on the tripod! Luckily, I used to be a qualified dog trainer as a volunteer, so I know a thing or two about teaching dogs to stay calm. I’ve been working with Gucci on exactly that, so she knows that when I pick up my camera and set up my tripod, it’s time to settle down and let me do my thing.
MY 4 GUIDING PRINCIPLES
I photograph the things I love and enjoy, without wanting to put myself in one particular box.
I don’t photograph for financial gain or assignments.
I don’t spend much time editing my photos.
I do things my own way and don’t let myself be guided by rules.