GEERT BREKELMANS 03-10-1956 Together with my wife Tineke, I live in Tilburg, “the most beautiful city in the country.” I have been photographing since my student days in Utrecht in the 1970s, where I co-ran a small photo studio called Lagaffe, photographing student parties and events. I am largely self-taught, supported by many courses and the inspiration of fellow photographers. I consider myself a photographic omnivore. My main interests are macro photography, urbex, and architectural photography, but I also enjoy photographing animals—especially owls and other birds—as well as people. Professionally, I worked as a medical specialist. I spent 11 years at SEIN in Heemstede as a neurologist, epileptologist, and clinical neurophysiologist, followed by more than 20 years at ETZ in Tilburg as a neurologist, clinical neurophysiologist, and trainer. In retirement, I enjoy a wide range of activities, including volunteering in nature conservation, caring for our two grandchildren, running, walking, and cooking. I follow courses through HOVO (affiliated with Tilburg University), serve as chairman of the alumni association of the Elisabeth TweeSteden Hospital, and am a member of two photography clubs: Flits013 and CCC Fotounie. I believe a photograph becomes compelling through a balance of technical quality, aesthetics, and emotional impact. Elements such as recognition, wonder, and sometimes abstraction give an image depth and invite the viewer to create a story. I have a strong interest in photographic techniques, equipment, and the creative possibilities of Photoshop and AI, which I increasingly use in my work. I admire photographers such as Erwin Olaf, Jimmy Nelson, Anton Corbijn, and Stephan Vanfleteren. I photograph both independently and in groups, and I find photography trips with like-minded people—focusing on themes such as urbex, the Ruhr area, and city and street photography—particularly inspiring. My equipment includes a Sony A1 II, a Sony A6700, and a Sony NEX-7.