Photography is now my greatest passion, but it hasn’t always been that way. However, I’ve been creative from a young age. At six years old, I started attending art school, which became my second home for over 20 years. In 2012, I graduated with high distinction in drawing and watercolor painting. Around the same time, my interest in photography began to grow, and I enrolled in a course. I quickly swapped my Nikon Coolpix compact camera for a digital SLR. Although macro photography intrigued me, it initially remained unfamiliar territory, even though nature was already a major source of inspiration for me.
When COVID brought the world to a halt, we had to find joy close to home. My husband Wim had a macro lens and started photographing the insects in our backyard. I quickly caught the macro photography bug too and decided to buy a Tamron 90mm lens, which I still use today. Since then, we often head out, not always far, as long as there are plenty of little creatures to be found.
In my photography, I often aim to capture the mysterious and artistic, where details fade and only a silhouette remains. Images that don’t reveal everything, allowing the viewer to fill in the blanks. For me, a photo is successful when it evokes a feeling or emotion in you.
But it can also be a clear and simple image with clean lines. Stems of plants, branches, or lines created by an insect can add an abstract dimension to the photo. Just like in drawing or watercolor painting, composition is incredibly important here as well.
By observing nature up close, I also learn a lot about the species that inhabit our area. I’m often amazed by the beauty and vibrancy of colors, discovering species I didn't even know existed. Even a spider looks much more beautiful and less frightening through the lens! Photography has opened up a whole new world for me.
