MARIAN SMEETS I was born in 1969 and live in the south of the Netherlands. In my professional life, I work as a social worker. My interest in photography began in my teenage years, when I bought an Agfamatic Pocket 508 with my pocket money. Using simple means, I built my own “photo studio”: bed sheets draped over a chair, a desk lamp for lighting, and my pets as models. After secondary school, photography temporarily faded into the background. Only once I had a stable life, with a partner and a steady job, did my interest in photography return. In 1997, I bought an analogue camera, but due to a lack of knowledge I was unable to take good photographs and lost my enthusiasm. At that time, photography felt mainly technical and difficult to me. However, the spark never completely died. In 2009, I switched to digital photography with a Nikon D5000. In 2014, it was replaced by a full-frame Nikon D750, which I still use with great pleasure today. By attending numerous workshops, I developed my skills and broadened my interests. This is also how I became acquainted with CCC FotoUnie, which further ignited my love for studio photography. I also dedicated myself to urbex photography: photographing abandoned, often dark and mysterious places. These locations tell stories about people and the spirit of their time. In this, I see a clear connection with my profession: a sincere, observant interest in the lives of others. In fact, I enjoy a wide range of genres within photography: nature, landscape, macro, creative studio work, fine art, urbex, and architecture. The common thread is a refined approach, both during the shooting process and in post-processing. I am far from finished learning; I can no longer imagine a life without a camera. More work can be seen at: www.mariansmeets.nl