JOHAN TIMMER 15-04-1970 For over 30 years I have been taking photographs. I never followed any formal training; for me it has always been a matter of doing and experimenting, and then seeing whether it worked out. Through my job at Compaq I had the opportunity to work in Scotland as an inventory controller, which I did for seven years. In my free time I went out to photograph the beautiful landscapes. Due to a reorganization I returned to the Netherlands and completed training as a truck driver. I worked in tanker transport and transported sea containers. At many companies photography is not allowed, which is a shame considering the many different places you pass along the way. This means you can only take photos during breaks or overnight stays. At the moment I am on sick leave following surgery for a brain tumor. Photography helps me a great deal as a distraction. My first workshop at Fotounie was the trash shoot. Since then I have attended several more workshops. What I enjoy about them is that they give you new ideas and allow you to see and try different equipment. I enjoy photography in general and don’t really have a single favorite genre, although landscape photography stands out for me. I probably also suffer from a bit of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome): you see a nice gadget, you want to have it, you use it once, and then it ends up in the cupboard for a long break. As an amateur, I find it very special that some of my photos are now being published in a book and exhibited. I never expected this. It is a wonderful motivation to keep shooting many more beautiful images.