http://www.doest-photography.com
Jasper Doest (1979) has been working as a professional nature photographer for several years now. He grew up in Vlaardingen, in the Western part of the Netherlands. His parents initiated his affection towards the natural world. And although his father took lots of photographs during his youth, it wasn’t until he finished a laboratory study that he bought his first SLR-camera. “I remember buying this camera from my first paycheck, not knowing anything about photography…all I knew was that I loved taking pictures…I was hooked”.
To acquire more knowledge about the natural world Jasper decided to start a biology study at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. After reaching an ecology degree, one of his photographs (taken during a MSc trainee period on Svalbard) was announced to be the winner of the Grasduinen nature photography contest. It was then that Doest decides to pursue a career in nature photography.
Beside the many foreign travels and workshops, Doest enjoys photographing in the Netherlands. “Even in the most crowded area of the country there is enough to explore. Living close to meadows and the coast means there are always many birds around. It is great to be able to leave the hasty society behind you by biking to one of the small nature reserves nearby with a camera or a binocular. Witnessing a Great-crested Grebe laying an egg, in the middle of rush-hour is only an example of one of these moments that make you realize the favoured position you’re sometimes in as a nature photographer.
Meanwhile his work has been published by a variety of renowned (inter)national media and has received several international awards. (among others: Overall winner Argus Natuurfotograaf 2007, Overall winner Asferico 2008, First place winner Concours International Montier-en-Der 2008; First place winner European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009). Jasper Doest is specialized in wildlife photography and especially the interaction between the animal and the environment surrounding it has his preference as a photographer. “Being accepted by an animal in its natural environment is a feeling no words can describe…perhaps that’s the reason I became a photographer…”
