From Luggage Stacker to Tour de France: A Photographer's Pursuit of Passion

His journey began with a simple exchange: free climbing gym access in return for photographs. This seemingly small deal was a monumental step, the first tangible recognition of the value his photographic skills held. However, Bram's interest extended beyond mere action shots; he sought to capture the complete human experience within sports, the lifestyle, the emotions, the stories etched on every athlete's face.

Immersing himself in the climbing community, he photographed local competitions and eventually found himself face-to-face with an extraordinary opportunity: a weekend documenting Adam Ondra, a world-renowned climber, in his native Czech Republic. This experience felt like the pinnacle of his aspirations. Yet, the expected flood of offers did not materialize, and Bram found himself a year later in a starkly different reality, stacking luggage in the underbelly of airplanes, a far cry from the thrill of sports photography.

This period was fraught with doubt, a questioning of whether to abandon his dream and revert to his engineering background. The uncertainty was the most challenging aspect. To keep his dream alive, Bram strategically 'planted seeds', one of which was a straightforward offer to the football club PSV, highlighting his proximity to their stadium. After a year, this simple pitch yielded an opportunity, not glamorous initially, but gradually leading to more significant assignments, each new athlete and shoot opening new doors.

Through these experiences, Bram gained a profound appreciation for the sacrifices of professional athletes: the isolation, the rigid routines, and the physical demands. He began to draw parallels between their journeys and his own, the sacrifices he made to nurture his skills and build a portfolio. Despite the lure of weekend social activities, he persisted, focusing on reasons to succeed rather than succumb to doubt. His break arrived in the form of an offer to work with the cycling team, Jumbo Visma. Suddenly, he was jetting across Europe, covering training camps and major races, a world away from stacking suitcases.

This immersion shaped his unique photographic voice, culminating in what he considers the most significant photo of his career: a candid, intimate moment between cyclist Jonas Vingegaard and his wife Trine, after Jonas won the Tour de France. This image encapsulated everything Bram valued in sports, the human element, the raw emotions of exhaustion, pride, relief, tenderness, vulnerability, and love. This photo resonated deeply with viewers, often evoking tears.

Bram acknowledges the role of chance in capturing such a powerful moment, but recognizes that his dedication and the stories of the athletes he photographed prepared him to fully appreciate and capture it. This marked the realization of his dream. While he doesn't claim expertise in achieving dreams, he emphasizes the importance of sacrifice, humility, and relentless hard work. It's not about magic or exceptional talent, but rather consistent effort, resilience, and the ability to persevere through constant rejection. Every success story starts somewhere, often with no clear direction, but with unwavering determination.