behind the lens
Joeri Glastra
Track and field has been part of my life since watching Michael Johnson’s golden shoes as a kid. An injury at 12 ended my running, but the spark stayed.
Years later, watching Dutch athletes break through on the Diamond League circuit made me lace up again as an adult. Since then, this sport has given me more than I expected – new friends, the feeling of flying, and a passion for capturing what makes athletics special.
Now I’m finding my place in professional sports through photography.
principles
‘How I work’
I prefer to photograph athletes I genuinely connect with. That mostly happens based on the personality they show when on their performance ground and outside of it. The divide between photographers and athletes that one sometimes sees at competitions doesn’t need to exist – we’re all reinforcing each other’s value. Without athletes no imagery, without imagery no attention and income.
In terms of taking pictures; I just follow my feeling. There are no specific techniques or angles I keep in mind. Wherever there seems to be an original shot, something exciting happening or one of those athletes that resonates with me, I point my camera.
I am fiercely protective of the rights of both athletes and photographers, since I believe they both often end up short-handed in receiving the benefits from their performance.
My camera is just another way to be part of this sport.
why prints?
‘against the scroll’
We love social media because there’s always something new. We resent it because everything is fleeting and we get addicted to the short bursts of hormones as a result of seeing something that excites us.
Prints don’t get lost in the feed. An image on your wall brings something stable – a reminder of a performance, a feeling, a dream worth chasing. That doesn’t go out of style. Just look at any home you enter; there are always decorations on the walls, and often picturing something human. From intense portraits to exotic scenes. This is where sports fit perfectly, not only as a fan poster, but because athleticism and character are inspiring visuals for everyone.
Supporting athletes
‘fifty/fifty sharing’
Every print sale directly supports the featured athlete’s training and career. Even in a lot of big sports and for champions, finding sponsorships is both a painpoint and necessity. Buying sports art will directly contribute to the athlete’s budget. So by doing so, you are a little bit closer to your favourite sport or athlete.
The bottom line is quite simple: you get quality art, they get meaningful income, I get to keep doing what I love.
Everyone benefits.
Portrait
With some experience in the modelling world, I’ve become fascinated by the simple beauty of nice portrait.
Nature
I love spotting animals, observing them and trying to capture the majestic yet common nature of their existence.
Sports
Travelling to select tournaments, mostly of athletics and tennis, to capture both elites and talent performances.