by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 13^th of November 2023

Wim Denijs is a very sensitive photographer when it comes to show the beauty of nature.  He has a huge urge to share his emotions. He also is concerned by global warming and tries to state it in a modest way  through his photography.  He shares all the beauty worth to fight for. He considers his camera as a replacement for his eyes and is persuaded that it is not the camera but the guy behind the camera who makes the picture. Follow me on a journey through his wonderful portfolio and learn more about this fine photographer.

'The Eye' - A bolder on Lofoten coast

First, I would like to thank you Wim,  for taking the time to answer this questionnaire! To begin, please introduce yourself shortly and tell us more about you, your hobbies or other projects you are involved in!

My name is Wim Denijs. I am 67 years old. I was born and raised in Flanders where I spend my youth. When I finished studying as an ‘Engineer public works‘ I started to work in textiles and that was not an obvious choice, but those where the better times. During my professional life, I travelled a lot. I lived in Tunisia and Vietnam and journeyed a lot through Asia. Since the last 25 years, I now live in Limburg (north-east of Belgium). Photography is a great hobby to me but also painting and nature are very important. I'm also involved in a project to guide children with autism through nature and love it. I noticed that stories about nature are often opening some doors for them and it gives me a lot of satisfaction. Teaching photography is another thing I really like a lot. 

When and how did you start your photographic journey?

My photographic journey started in the wonder years, late sixties. My father worked in a local cinema. The films/movies broke a lot of time and he had to cut out some frames before fixing the film again. He gave me all those lost frames (32 mm). So I made my first projector with those frames.  At the time, we didn't have a lot of toys and I was and I was triggered. And than, I was able to show something I made for the first time to my friends. Of course, it was not 'my' movie made with lost frames, but the seed was planted. Later on, I bought a Practica camera with my very first salary and learned how to develop black and white pictures. As I was living in Gent at that  time, street life was a good beginning. At least, now I could create my own images .

For many of us photography is either a hobby or a way of life. How would you define your relationship with photography?

My relationship with photography is probably the urge to share emotions. Let me explain...
As an example, if I'm on a beautiful spot at an unusual moment (for instance the lake Baikal at 3am) and I see a very clear and distinct milky way. Besides my companions, I am the only one to watch this beauty … and that is what I like to share.

'Frozen' – After midnight on a frozen Baikal lake – 29 degrees

'Kolsoy Mood' – Early morning on a Faroer Island

When I was in Vietnam and in Tunisia, I took a lot of street life shots, and was listening to the many stories of those from whom I took portraits telling their stories to the world by sharing my work. Photography is a grateful medium. It is all about emotions.

'Happy' – I made an old lady laughing at Dalat Vietnam

'Old Man' – Made me thinking on Rembrandt

What would be the most important experience so far that has influenced your steps in photography?

Ragnar Axellson, and Icelandic photographer/journalist, inspired me a lot with his fabulous  landscape photographs. He made a very touching movie about what he called ‘The last days of the arctic'. Everybody concerned about nature and global warming should see this movie (on YouTube). I saw it for the first time in 2010. Since than, I travelled 20 times to Iceland. I was also at the foot of the Eyjafjallajokull in 2010, when the eruption paralysed the air traffic. It made me very humble. During those years I crossed Iceland from the North to the South.  I saw nature changing, glaciers melting. Through photography, I try in a very modest way to show all the beauty worth to fight for.

'End of a Day' –  Although it is a classic one you just have to wait for the right light . It was a magical evening and I would not have been surprised to see some hobbits

'Morning Glow' – We started in a snow storm at early morning than the sun came through for 10 minutes … pure emotion

'The devils own' –  An iconic sunset over the geothermal site at Hveravellir

You have your own style but your work is very diversified.  I see architecture photography as well as landscape photography. Can you explain why this is?

It seems a bit strange indeed . Sometimes I like to make some architectural pictures. Although it feels a little as capturing the artwork of an architect. The challenge is to look for special compositions and details, with shapes and lines to increase the beauty of the artwork.

'Towers' – By looking for an unusual angle you can discover some different shapes.

'Tubes' - Or using another lens such as 11 mm to give another perspective

'Den Haag' – Or what I call a city-landscape

What is more important to you, the mood,/story behind your images or the technical perfection?

Mood AND story, for sure! I usually don’t give a lot of explanation about my landscapes.  The viewer goes into the mood or not. About the technical perfection, you need a good camera but personally, I consider my camera as a replacement for my eyes. It is not the camera but the guy behind the camera who makes the picture.

What generally is your relationship to your subject matter beyond being an observer? Do you prepare carefully the locations where you are intending to photograph?

Locations are carefully prepared. This is to avoid to waist time on location. But I always try to be a bit original. Copying a picture from someone else is cheap in my opinion. It is missing passion.

Describe your overall photographic vision.

My vision is quit simple: Look for yourself what touches you. Maybe portrait or macro photography... whatever... but try to put your emotion in your pictures. Sometimes I have the impression that some people are just making pictures to please the viewer, but are they really like them? Or is it contest worthy? My vision is that you have to follow your heart, your own style and workflow. Take the pictures and enjoy it. Of course we are all human and therefore vain. It is indeed nice when people like your work .

Can you please tell us something more about your workflow from the idea to the final product?

My workflow from the idea to final product starts of course by finding spots on Google earth or maps. Once I found something interesting, I look in Photopills what would be the best period to go there. The biggest secret is to be patient. Sometimes I go a few times to the same place till I find the perfect composition and light. I do not a lot of post processing. I use Lightroom and some small features in Photoshop. When I have to work long time on a picture, it means that the picture is not good enough.

'Arrow' – An example of good light conditions …almost no post processing

Where do you look to find inspiration and what inspires you the most?

 I find my inspiration on internet. For instance, lately discovered the White desert in Egypt. I went there in January  to make acquaintance and next year, I will go back to discover more.

'Monolith' – A desolate landscape in the white desert

'Misty Foss' – A rather unknown waterfall along the Sprengissandur, Iceland

Many are of the opinion that the gear is not very important when the passion for photography is strong. However, can you please share with us what gear you use (camera, lenses, lighting, tripod, etc.)?

My gear is quit simple. I am using a canon Eos R and R6. I have some lenses: 16-35 mm f 2.8 and tele 70-200 f 2.8. I also like to use the Irix 11 mm. I agree with the opinion that the gear is not the most important. For sure there must be a minimum quality level for noise and resolution. But some cameras are really an overkill for me as we are using only a small part of the functions. It is indeed the guy behind the camera who is making the picture. I always tell my students that there is only one function that they have to know very well: the RTFM function (read the F******* Manual). In other words : you have to know your camera so that you can spent all your time to watch the changes in the landscapes.

'Foss' - Made on a stormy and rainy day

What would be your favourite photo? Please tell us the story behind it.

My favourite picture is a picture that never will be published (this to make you curious). It is a picture of inferior quality made in a Blizzard in the middle of the night on a desolate place in Iceland. I was sitting there with a friend waiting for the polar light that never came . But we had nice talks and saw the sky and landscape changing all the time although it was night. But of course I have others like a rather unknown waterfall that we reached after a long time etc .

'Autumn in Senja'  

I remember that I was waiting to see the Otertinden mountain. But there was a lot of fog. I knew via Photopills that the mountain was over there but I could not see it. After two hours, I was ready to leave and put my camera away when suddenly the mountain showed up for just one minute. Huge luck that I had my 16mm lens!

'On The Run' –  A classic one with the guy on the right place and time

'Heather' – This one is made at 10 km from my home town. You don't have to go far away. Just enjoy the moment.

'Magical Forest' – Also forests a grateful. Go once when it is raining or when there is snow.

Who are your favourite photographers or mentors whose works have influenced you and your photography?

For sure, Ragnar Axelsson and also Thorsteinn H.Ingibergson. I follow Thorsteinn since more than 15 years and I am still touched by the solitude in his pictures. They both are great photographers. Of course, there are a lot of good photographers that I follow. Only this two guys changed my view on landscape photography.

Global Voices | Last Days of the Arctic | Trailer | ITVS – YouTube

Now, since we have almost reached the end of this interview, I would kindly ask you to share with us your plans or photographic projects you would like to be involved in.

I hope to make nice trips in the future and to take a lot of photographs to share my passion and love for nature.

Is there anything else you wish to add  and what do you think about 1X as a home base for your work?

1X is a fantastic discovery to me. I knew the site since quit a long time but since a few months back, I know it better. I really like the quality of the pictures and the curation system. Many other sites work with likes and/or points. One thing I learned in the past is that points and people are a difficult match.
So, 1X keep up the good work !