Interview
ERIC PIJNAKEN
France
ERIC PIJNAKEN is a photographer whose work is driven by a fascination with the overlooked and unseen. After earning national recognition at the age of 19, he went on to showcase this vision through exhibitions, international photobooks, and award-winning photography.
1 Congratulations on winning in the MUSE Photography Awards! Can you share a little about yourself, what inspired you to pursue photography, and how has your journey evolved since your first shot?
I began my photography journey humbly at the age of 16, photographing cows in the meadows with an Agfa Clack camera. Photography fascinated me, but unfortunately neither the cows nor I quite lived up to my expectations. Determined to capture more life in my images, I continued to experiment and improve. My efforts paid off when, at the age of 19, I won second prize in a national competition with a series of color slides documenting the construction of the Rotterdam Metro in my hometown of Rotterdam. A few years later, I photographed my sister, Marja, around the iconic Zadkine statue in the center of Rotterdam. From that moment, a recurring theme in my work began to emerge: revealing what often goes unnoticed. I feel fortunate to have expressed this vision through numerous exhibitions, participation in several international photobooks, and many honorable mentions throughout my career.
2 Can you share the story or inspiration behind your award-winning piece? How does winning this award make you feel about your journey in photography?
The award-winning piece is part of a new series titled The New World Is Around the Corner, a project I have been working on for a long time. The series explores my belief that our solar system and humanity are moving toward a new frequency in the universe, a transition that does not come without challenges. I follow these developments closely and draw inspiration from various sources and perspectives. While the real battles often take place beyond what we can immediately see, I believe that more and more people are becoming aware of the changes happening around them and are choosing to engage with them. Humor also plays an important role throughout the series, as I see it as a powerful positive force. Receiving a Gold Award has given me encouragement to continue this work.
3 How do you decide which photo to submit for a competition?
For me, it is a matter of feeling and empathizing with what another person may find interesting, while also choosing subjects and topics that I am passionate about.
4 What first made you pick up a camera?
What first made me pick up a camera was curiosity—curiosity about what happens when viewing the world through a lens.
5 What’s your favorite type of photography, and why do you love it?
Since my source of inspiration is everyday life, the possibilities are endless. I have explored what some would call still life photography, as well as street photography, portraiture, landscapes, and more. I love the world, and I love creation.
6 What’s your go-to camera setup, and why does it work best for your projects? What’s your favorite feature?
I have tried many camera brands over the years, but Pentax cameras suit me best. To me, they feel as though they were designed by photographers, offering a certain quality and character that I have not found elsewhere. The same is true of my Leica M cameras. In fact, the photograph you selected was captured using a Leica M11 Monochrom.
7 If someone looked at your work, what’s the one thing you’d want them to feel?
I prefer to leave that open to the viewer. Everyone is free to interpret my images in their own way and connect with them through their own thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
8 What was the most challenging part of capturing your winning shot?
The most challenging part was capturing the sense of uncertainty I saw in the woman waiting for the bus. To me, she does not know when it will arrive or what lies ahead for her, and expressing that feeling of sadness and loneliness through a single image was the challenge.
9 Is there a specific place or subject that inspires you the most?
The pilgrimages I undertook along the St. Jacques de Compostelle route and the Ohenro Pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan, have been among my greatest sources of inspiration. Both were extremely beautiful, spiritual, and emotional experiences.
10 Who or what has been your biggest influence in photography?
It is a pleasure for me to mention two black-and-white photographers whom I especially admire and respect: the Portuguese photographer Paulo Nozolino and the Slovenian photographer Klavdij Sluban.
11 What message would you share to inspire photographers to participate in photography awards, and what advice would you give to help them excel in the competition?
Be yourself. Take a good look in the mirror and ask whether you truly know yourself. If you catch a glimpse of who you are, ask yourself whether you want to see the world through a lens—and what you would do with that perspective. I never consciously asked myself these questions. I simply picked up a camera and did it.
12 What’s one piece of advice for someone just starting in photography?
If you decide to begin, remember that there are billions of smartphones in the world, each equipped with one or more lenses. And there you are, standing with your tiny Agfa Clack. Yet that should never stop you from seeing and capturing the world in your own way.
13 What role do editing and post-processing play in your creative workflow?
I apply as little editing and post-processing as possible in my workflow.
14 How do you see technology, like AI, influencing the future of photography and your own approach?
I believe that today's artificial intelligence is harmful and should not be used. In my view, as humanity moves toward a higher level of consciousness, new and more positive technologies will emerge, while older technologies will gradually disappear.
