Interview: Wilma Wijnen
Luca Curci talks with Wilma Wijnen, winner of PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH – OCTOBER 2021.

After working for almost 30 years in the insurance world, it was time for a career switch. Wilma started a travel organization in 2003, which mainly focused on the African continent. Her passion for photography arose in southern Africa and she became fascinated by the colors, views, flora and fauna of this diverse continent. After four years, she once again changed course by giving direction to her passion and started vocational training at the photography school in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. She followed the photography training there, specializing in portrait photography and additionally she attended various workshops and masterclasses in portrait, landscape and architecture photography. The challenge for her is to give the light a leading role in her work. A large part of her work consists not only of actually taking the photo, but also editing the photo. She uses many photographic techniques for this. Editing the photos is like painting for her. Reality forms a base for the photos she creates.

LUCA CURCI – According to you, what makes a good photo?
WILMA WIJNEN – If the photo is technically well put together and existing light has been used or light has been added, creating a surprising photo.

LC – Which details do you focus on?
WW – Composition, lighting and exposure, no disturbing objects, originality.

LC – How important is the editing process in your work?
WW – The post-processing process is at least as important as taking the photo. I can also be very creative with this by using different techniques.

LC – How’s yours?
WW – I spend a lot of time on this and I am very precise. Not too much and not too little. How are the colors, is the composition strong. The composition makes or breaks the photo in my opinion.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
WW – I am inspired by, among other things, my environment, architectural buildings, large building structures, nature and light. I love to see what light is doing with structures and shapes. It is a combination of finding inspiration in myself and my environment.

LC – How do you choose your subjects?
WW – If I see something beautiful along the way, I write it down in my diary and think about what I could do with it photographically. Which technique will I use, which lighting. What time of the day is the best, what is the weather like and if the conditions are favorable I plan a visit to make the photo. Then I will edit the photos and spend at least as much time on that as I did taking the photo.

LC – Is it a reasoned or an instinctive process?
WW – Often very reasoned but also instinctive. It’s actually a combination of both.