I am Jurjen (1976) and I have been interested in photography all my life. And really all kinds of photography. I worked as a professional photographer for years. Eventually I ended up in IT (long story). But photography never let go of me and that is why I have been active again as an independent photographer for many years. I photograph almost everything, but especially nature and nude models. And sometimes those come together beautifully in projects such as 'Nearby Nature'.
I learned photography from my father at a young age. He was not a professional photographer, but a very talented amateur. Because in the analogue era you could only see your photographs long after taking them, you were forced to think carefully while photographing. Apart from tips about composition, I also learned about ISO, shutter speed and aperture at a young age.
In my younger years I mainly used photography to capture the nature around me. I loved nature and absolutely wanted to become a biologist. As a nude photographer I often combine nature with nude models, for example in the projects 'Nearby Nature' and 'Models Nature'.
When I was in secondary school, I bought a second-hand Olympus OM-10 with various lenses. This significantly improved my photography. During adolescence, the things I paid attention to changed. But I still often took my camera with me to parties and nights out. I am very happy that I have photographs from this period.
Magical moments were always when my father darkened the garage and transformed it into a darkroom. It is wonderful to see how the tiny images on a negative came to life on photographic paper. Making test strips, carefully mixing chemicals and keeping them at the right temperature were all things I learned back then. Later I used this knowledge in my project 'Photograms'.
Study
During my Landscape Architecture studies I started working as a photographer for the school newspaper. After graduating, I worked full-time as a photographer. As one of the first professional photographers in the Netherlands, I switched to digital photography. I did so for the first time during the Youth Conference for Climate Change. Unfortunately, halfway through I had to switch back to analogue because the camera had stopped working. I experienced many wonderful moments as a photographer.
Alongside my digital camera, I was also very interested in the digital world of the internet. Gradually, my business activities shifted from photography to web design.
Nude Photography
The advantage of my work in IT was that it allowed me to focus on non-commercial subjects in photography. Nude photography had always interested me. A great way to begin was by attending workshops with various photographers. My first personal project as a nude photographer was the 'Student Calendar'. The main prize was a party for the student association of which the winning student was a member.
After this project it took some time before I started making nude photographs again. I had moved into a house with a garage that I did not use. I converted this garage into a small photo studio. This is where I started the project 'The Garage' in 2017. I am very grateful to the models who participated in this project. Thanks to this project I gained a great deal of confidence as a photographer. I managed to create photographs in which the models could be themselves and to create an atmosphere of trust. Respect for models is extremely important to me.
Nijmegen
Thanks to this confidence, I dared to rent a large permanent studio in a beautiful old building in the centre of Nijmegen in 2019. I had photoshoots here with wonderful models from all over the world. I loved the natural light coming through the tall old windows (and many models did too). Unfortunately, 2019 is also known for COVID-19. In 2020, when the pandemic really took hold, I had to give up the studio. During the quarantine period I worked on an online project with several models: 'Corona Project'.
Nude and Nature
During the shoots for 'The Garage' and 'Nude in Nijmegen' I had occasionally taken a model outdoors. In the first case this happened spontaneously because such beautiful light was coming through the studio door that it seemed a shame to stay inside. This shoot took place in nature close to my home. In the second case, with the studio located in the centre of Nijmegen, the shoot also took place outdoors in the city. Because I no longer had a studio during Corona, I came up with the idea of working outdoors with models again. I live in Rheden, close to Arnhem and National Park Veluwezoom, with beautiful nature nearby, and this led to 'Nearby Nature'. I love seeing how the nude body combines with nature; it creates beautiful images. It is also wonderful to see how each model engages with nature in her own unique way. During these shoots I walked through nature together with the model, looking for places that inspired both of us. No plan, just seeing what felt right.
While on holiday in the winter of 2024, I realised that I was staying close to where the model Noa lived. I got in touch and we did two fantastic photoshoots in nature that she knew well. This gave me the idea of photographing not in an environment familiar to me, but in an environment familiar to the model: 'Models Nature'.
Experimental
By nature I am quite a classical photographer: good lighting, sharp photographs and standard compositions. In an attempt to loosen up a little, I started taking a course in Experimental Photography at Agora, School of Experimentation in 2025. They also organise the Experimental Photo Festival in Barcelona. I attended the festival in 2025. It is truly a fantastic event for anyone interested in alternative photography. The course and the festival resulted in the project 'Experimental'.
In my photography, both for the long-running projects and for my newer experiments, I am always looking for models. Feel free to get in touch if you would like to exchange ideas.
