I am a photographer — jan janssen
“As a true sentimentalist, I express my feelings trough my images. I get inspired by authentic cultures and the pure beauty of our Earth”, Jan Janssen
Meet Jan Janssen — a Dutch photographer, well known for his documentary photography works. In 2013 he published a book — “The Himalaya, my home”. It’s the result of his 14 journeys to Tibet, North Nepal and North India — 115 pictures of real life of Tibetan Buddhist people. The book was honored several times with international awards (Gold Medal — (Book/People), Silver Medal — (Book/Overall Winners) at MIFA Photo Awards in Moscow, 2016; 1st Place — Book Overall Winner at IPA in New York, 2014, etc.)
Here are some of his photos honored with the awards at various photo contests:
Jan, how did you develop an interest in photography?
My passion for photography began in my early years when I was already interested in the rest of the world. I started visiting other countries for holidays, and at that time, I took pictures to make memories. Being away from home, I just took pictures and had to deal with post-processing later. I developed my technical photographic skills journey after journey and my images became better and better. Pictures for “just memories” slowly became stories which got noticed by others.
What kind of gear do you use?
I use Nikon bodys and Nikkor lenses. I currently work with Nikon D810, Nikkor 24–70 f2.8, Nikkor 70–200 f4 mm and Nikkor 105mm macro. Which gear anyone uses is not really important to me, it is still the person behind the camera that takes the picture.
How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?
Having education is always important, no matter what you’re planning to do or want to become. I was gifted with an eye for composition, light and details. I took evening classes, master classes and private classes for both technical knowledge and post-processing. It’s also good to be in a group of people with the same passion, so your work can be judged and critiqued.
How do you choose what you are going to shoot?
I’m not a photographer that just chooses a subject. I am a true sentimentalist, with a weakness for other cultures, poverty and injustice. Often it’s a subject on the news, or in the newspaper that triggers me. I always want to take pictures that create some kind of awareness.
Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?
At this point my “Proud for One Second” series is still favorite. It tells the story of the Batwa Pygmies, one of the oldest people of Uganda. The Batwa are evicted from their ancestral land in the effort to protect the mountain gorillas and their habitat, with no compensation. It has been over 20 years now and the government still is not helping these people, while tourism for the gorillas is booming. It’s a story about injustice and poverty in a way I couldn’t even imagine. I had the chance to travel there and meet these people. The conditions they have to live in truly broke my heart.
What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
When I started taking photos I did not really have the best technical skills. You can be at the right place in the right moment, but if you are lacking camera knowledge you still can’t make that perfect picture …
Tell, please, a little about a project you’re working now at.
As long as I know it happens, I felt shocked about the horrible acid attacks against women in India. I wanted to do a story about it, but in another way as it usual is told. Earlier this year I managed to take this trip to a victim of an acid attack. A strong woman that became a doctor because of her perseverance. I photographed her in her daily life as a doctor, but also as a woman with lots of doubts and insecurities.
And here are some images from Uganda, India, and the Himalaya:
