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Ellen van den Doel
Sommelsdijk, The Netherlands
Who are you?
I am Ellen van den Doel, 40 years old, born and raised on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee. I am a professional landscape photographer. I am also the founder of Dutch Photo Academy. Within this organization I give workshops, but also other photographers give workshops in their specialism. I also organize photo trips to various photogenic destinations such as Iceland and Madeira. Because I live on Goeree-Overflakkee, I am quickly close to the water. Water is therefore an important theme in my photography. I love working with filters and slow shutter speeds. In the past I have been a gymnastics trainer and physiotherapist.
How and when did you get into photography?
I've always done photography as a child. In my family, photos were always taken on holidays and on special occasions. So soon I got my own camera. A simple analog thing, just clicks and no further options. The photos that were developed from that were often not good, but I really enjoyed doing it. Creativity has always been something that has attracted me. In 2009 I had my first SLR camera. A simple entry-level model, but what a lot of features were on it. That was also the moment for me to delve further into the possibilities of a camera. I wanted to get a grip on the settings. So I followed several workshops, joined a photo club and did a lot of research myself. I really enjoyed (and still do) to immerse myself in that and to improve. When I saw pictures of others, I always wondered "how do they do that?". The interest in photography grew and it became an increasingly important part of my life. From a hobby to a real passion. In the past I studied CIOS (sports training) and physiotherapy. This baggage has also proven to be very valuable in photography. As a result, I have a background in teaching and teaching people. In 2015 I started giving workshops. For me, it's an ideal combination of things that I really enjoy doing. When you teach people new things and you see them get excited, it's so rewarding.
What is your favorite location?
Without a doubt, that's the beach. Goeree-Overflakkee is an island and therefore surrounded by water. I've always liked to be on the water, but with the camera it's twice as much fun. No matter how many times I go there, I always manage to take new pictures. This is my to-go location close to home. I also love Iceland. No matter where I shoot there, I enjoy it all. This country is so impressive, it's almost addictive. But I also love going to Madeira, such a varied island. There is sea to be found in both, so that is a recurring theme.
What weather conditions do you prefer to go out in?
With all the circumstances, I can eventually do something, sometimes I have to think about other options. But my favorite is windless weather on the water, or stormy weather with threatening skies. I also love to do a misty sunrise in the polder. Actually, adapt to the circumstances and then choose the appropriate location.
What motivated you to take up photography?
As mentioned above, photography has always played a role in my life. We also had regular slide evenings at home in which photos were viewed. I've also always enjoyed creating things. In addition, I find the technique of a camera just interesting. It is actually your paintbrush with which you can make what you have in mind. When I started working more seriously with the camera, I actually liked to photograph everything. As I went along, I gravitated more and more towards landscape photography. This gives me the most pleasure. Relaxing in nature, enjoying the scenery and at the same time trying to convey this as well as possible in a photo. Delicious! Seeing beautiful photos in magazines has further inspired and challenged me to push my limits.
What do you think is important when giving workshops?
I think it's important that people go home with a good and satisfied feeling. They need to be comfortable, free to ask questions, and have fun. In addition, it is of course important that they learn a lot. For me, it is extremely important that a teacher can transfer knowledge and get along well with people. Of course, having photography knowledge is also important. This is of paramount importance to Dutch Photo Academy.
Are there moments in your life that had a lot of influence on your photography experience?
Actually, there are no specific moments. It's kind of a common thread. A passion that has grown and plays an increasingly important role. What triggered me in the beginning is, for example, experiencing a beautiful sunset. At first, it's frustrating that you experience something like this, but can't capture it. That challenged me to learn more. These are still moments that give an enormous feeling of happiness. I can't get enough of that. There are many beautiful moments in nature that evoke this feeling, both in the Netherlands and abroad. What I think also plays a role is my former passion in gymnastics. I really did this so fanatically, when I stopped, photography took over this role. I can express the same passion and fanaticism here.
Which locations are still on your Bucket List?
No specific locations, as long as there is a nice landscape and preferably water. Of course, there are plenty of places on earth that are fantastic and that I would love to go to. But on the other hand, I still get very happy from taking a beautiful photo close to home. Iceland is a country that was very much on my bucket list in the past. I am in the special position of being able to go there more often at the moment. This is so valuable and for this I am so grateful. I still get very happy every time I get to go there.
What makes the difference?
When you have mastered the knowledge, dreaming how your camera, tripod and filters work, you can fully concentrate on shooting. This allows you to anticipate special moments that often only last a short time, but also get the most out of a location. You have more space in your head for composition and creativity.
Which Kase Filter product is your favorite?
This is without a doubt the magnetic Kase Armour system. I work with a grayscale filter 90% of the time. Or the hard gradient 0.6 or the soft gradient 0.9. This depends on the situation. I think it's important to have the exposure as good as possible in the field, in order to get the most out of the RAW file at home. This also saves work in post-processing. In addition, you can immediately see in the field what your end result will look like. In addition, the ND64 is my most used neutral density filter, followed by the ND1000.
Which camera system do you shoot with?
I use the Nikon Z7II. A mirrorless camera. My most used lens is the 14-24 f/2.8. Fortunately, Kase has developed a special ring for this lens, so I can just use the 100 mm Kase Armour system on this wide-angle lens.
Do you have any tips for beginner photographers to take better photos?
- Don't want to go too fast! Enjoy the process, the learning. Don't want to go straight to the finish line. Because what is that finish line? The nice thing is that you can always learn and improve.
- Don't be fooled by images on social media. It's okay to inspire yourself like this, but don't expect yourself to make these kinds of images. This is only frustrating. A learning process takes time. And you photograph because it's fun, right? A hobby should be fun and not give unnecessary pressure.
- It is nice to follow several workshops. You will gain new insights, but you will also be inspired by the other photographers who are present.
- Don't go straight to all the well-known locations, but look for your own to-go location near you. By going here often, you will eventually have the most beautiful conditions and you will be able to take unique photos. You will also train your composition skills in this way.
Where can people find you?
Website: el.foto.nl
Instagram: @ellenvddoel
Facebook: Ellen van den Doel Photography
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