Member spotlight: Yelle Verheyen
Hi Yelle! Could you introduce yourself in 1 or 2 paragraphs?
My name is Yelle! I’m originally from Indonesia, and I’m half Indonesian and half Belgian. After graduating high-school, I moved to the Netherlands to pursue my university studies. I first moved to Tilburg which was a stark contrast coming from a city of over 15 million people. It was too quiet! I finally had reason to move to The Hague and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.
Even though it took me quite some years, I finally appreciated what this city has to offer in terms of its beauty, its energy, the vibes, and what it has done for me in my best and worst of times. Photography has evoked a curiosity in me to rediscover this city all over again, and it’s convinced me that it is possible to fall in love twice.
“I felt like I really found a group I could connect with on a passionate level regarding photography, and a group that I could learn a lot from”
How long have you been into photography and how did you get into it?
I have been into photography for as long as I can remember. Any family holiday was a chance for me to hijack my parents’ camera and take pictures of everything. I enjoyed the process of capturing moments, sights, and memories.
A few years after starting college I bought a Nikon D3000 from a classmate of mine for €50. It came with a basic kit lens, but nevertheless it’s what opened up the creative neurons in my head, and the rest is history ever since.
When did you join The Photographers Club and do you remember your first time joining a photowalk?
I joined The Photographers Club in August of 2024 on the Scheveningen sunset photowalk. The group was so large we had to split it up into 3! I joined Francine’s group and climbed up the bungy jumping tower, for the first time ever after living in The Hague for 15 years. I felt like I really found a group I could connect with on a passionate level regarding photography, and a group that I could learn a lot from.
Can you tell us a bit about your own photography, what do you like to photograph and why?
I don’t have a particular style or something specific that I like to photograph. I believe I’m still finding my voice through the photos. I do enjoy geometry and patterns, it’s something I find oddly calming to see. It may have something to do with the juxtaposition of order in a chaotic world.
Photography also allows us to provide a multitude of perspectives in an otherwise very binary world. It’s either 1 or 0, black or white, good or evil, and the nuance of everything that could be in between is often lost. Photography shows not everyone has the same perspective on things, the same subject can be photographed in a million different ways and there’s something wonderful and daunting about that at the same time. That’s why I try to pay attention to the details of everyday living that people may overlook, to showcase the nuances of the in-between, and hopefully make people think “oh, I never looked at it that way before.” Still a long journey to get to that point for me though.
Please share 3 photos you made that you like and tell us a bit about them!
I chose these 3 pictures in particular because of several things.
The pier - The Hague
The picture from the pier was a photo I took from the first Photo Walk I joined. This was taken with the Nikon D3000. This was a photo that invoked a sense of pride for being able to see that frame as it was in my head and translate that into a photograph.
Analog
The second photograph is my favorite picture I’ve taken with the analog camera. Analog photography is new to me, yet there is a lot that I love about this photograph.
Erasmusbrug, Rotterdam
Last shot is from the Erasmusbrug in Rotterdam. I particularly like this picture as it feels almost artificial, the lines and geometry feel perfectly aligned, and I can’t say enough good things about the color of the sky in the background.
What’s something you really like about being part of a photography community?
The passion, and knowledge. The community on the WhatsApp platform has been very welcoming of new members joining. I felt very encouraged about my work, and the group quickly dispelled any insecurities I had about my own work. The variety of styles is also great to witness and speaks to my love of photography being able to show different perspectives of the same subject. Just take a look at the results being shared after a photowalk, especially when we all notice the same interesting subject!
Thanks for joining Yelle! If there’s anything else you’d like to share with our readers, drop it here! :)
If you’re reading this but haven’t joined a photo walk yet, I challenge and invite you to come join any of the events mentioned in the calendar. Come meet the people that make this community great, in person. For long-time photographers who have put their camera down for many years, and want to get back into it, for current professionals who want to rediscover their passion for photography and shoot for themselves, or for the absolute fresh newcomer to the world of photography, everyone is welcome!
