Talent is nothing without practice

 It’s never too late to learn something. Here at Only-apartments we still want to discover new things and be amazed by new cultures and countries as much as having skills and sensibility to capture breathtaking images as part of this experience for all senses.

 Travel photographer of the month  Floortje van der Vlist

 

 

How long have you been a photographer?

It’s hard to tell when my photography changed from shooting snapshots to shooting “real” photographs. I guess it was about 4 or 5 years ago. There was one young photographer that told me about his learning-process, and I became interested, and started experimenting myself. I never took lessons, or followed classes, I’m totally self-educated. Ofcourse I must be honest, and tell you that I work for a television-station as a news-reporter, so I am familiair with shots and angles and framing. I guess that helped me too.

Did you study photography or did you start it as a hobby?

Definitely a hobby! Although I love it so much, I would like it to be my profession! But being in media already, I know how hard it is to work as a professional photographer/camera-man. So I will stick to the journalism-stuff for a while.

 

What in your personal (and professional if applicable) life inspires you to take your pictures?

My inspiration comes from my kids, and from the street. Just ordinary, everyday life. I like to catch moods, to catch expressions and faces and smiles, but tears too. I like grumpy old faces and the ever changing face of my daughter growing up to be a beautiful, independent teenager. I love the thoughtful expression of my handicapped son, showing his inner world and inner peace. I don’t need show or glamour, just give me daily life.

How would you describe your style?

Simple and direct. But I love processing, and editing colors and atmospheres. No tricks, just some mood-adjustments. Faded, vintage, black-and-white, sometimes cross-processing. Whatever fits the feeling of the moment.

What type of cameras do you shoot with?

At the moment I am deeply in love with my Olympus Pen-3 (E-P3). My favourite lens, by far, is the M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8! It’s so fast, so sharp, so beautiful. Still looking for a wide-angle favourite, but haven’t found it yet.

What kind of photos do you prefer to take?

I love to make portraits, and I love street-photography. I do not make portraits in a studio-setting, I prefer to shoot people in the wild.

Street-photography is a challenge. You must have a good eye, be quick and be distinctive. Tourist-shots are for everyone, but I’m looking that one rare, funny, interesting shot. Very hard and I’m still learning.

Also I love sadness. You can make me really happy by taking me to a rainy fair. I love empty markets, rainy streets and cloudy days. I think melancholia is an important theme in my work. I want the real world, not the shiny happy fake-world with glitter and glamour and lights en cheesy smiles. Give me loneliness and decay, and I’m a happy photographer.

 

What was your favorite trip as a photographer and as a traveler?

The totally deserted, rainy, sad carnival in my hometown Zaandam, last september. And I mean that. The lights and music feeled so empty and pointless. Nobody smiled. The people who had to work there didn’t smile, it was terrible. Great place to photograph, if you ask me 😉

Can you tell us about any particularly exciting trip or photography projects you have planned for the future?

I am working on a 24-hour project in big cities in The Netherlands. I want to start in Amsterdam. 24 hours in the city, from the outskirts to the busy city-centre, from tourists to working people, everything and everywhere. A real street-photography project. I want to write some good texts with this as well. Or a Twitter-storm, 24h long. Still working that out. After Amsterdam I want to go to Rotterdam, Den Haag, Utrecht, Maastricht, Groningen… and eventually it must turn out in a book about 24 hours in The Netherlands (but that will take some shooting-hours in the quiet areas of the country as well).

This will all take place in 2013, and must be finished in 2014. So watch out for that!