meral nijenhuis photography

“Photography can be a mirror and reflect life as it is, but I also think it is possible to walk, like Alice, through a looking glass and find another kind of world with the camera.”
— Tony Ray-Jones

Welcome — it’s great to have you here.

For me, photography is a way of looking more closely at the world. It encourages me to slow down, pay attention, and notice things that might otherwise pass unseen. Through photography, I try to capture not only what is happening around me, but also something of the atmosphere, beauty, and humanity that can be found in everyday life.

In my landscape photography, I am drawn to peace, atmosphere, and the ever-changing relationship between light, sky, water, and land. Working in colour allows me to explore the mood and character of a place, while abstraction and movement offer new ways of interpreting familiar scenes.

Street photography offers a different experience. Here, I work mostly in black and white, both during the day and into the late evening hours. For me, black and white simplifies the scene and allows me to focus on gesture, expression, atmosphere, and the relationship between people and their surroundings.

What fascinates me most is not only the contrast between the stillness of nature and the energy of city life, but also the quiet moments that often go unnoticed. I am drawn to people when they are simply being themselves: waiting, observing, wondering, playing, or briefly lost in their own thoughts. These quiet pauses, fleeting encounters, and small gestures can reveal something universal about being human.

Whether I photograph a landscape, a city street, or a child at play, I am always searching for moments of attention, wonder, curiosity, and connection. Photography reminds me that even in the most ordinary situations there is often something worth noticing if we take the time to look..

A few years ago, I traded my compact camera for a mirrorless camera. Since then, photography has grown from an interest into a serious and deeply rewarding hobby. What keeps drawing me back is its ability to transform everyday scenes into photographs that encourage us to pause and look again. I learn mostly by doing: by photographing frequently, experimenting, and remaining curious. I also enjoy visiting exhibitions and have built a collection of photobooks that continues to inspire and challenge me.

The photographers who have influenced me most include Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka, Mary Ellen Mark, Chris Killip, and Ed van der Elsken. Their work differs greatly in style, but they share a deep engagement with people and everyday life. I am particularly drawn to photographs where atmosphere, emotion, vulnerability, and human presence come together.

I hope the photographs on this website convey something of what I experience while making them. I invite you to explore these galleries through my lens and perhaps discover a few images that linger just beyond the looking-glass of the everyday.

Thank you for visiting.