Who is Justin Sinner?
I’m a passionate professional photographer, specializing in nature, landscape, interior, architecture, and urban photography. I was born in 1981 and grew up in Den Burg on Texel, the largest Wadden Island in the Netherlands. My love for photography developed amidst the beautiful nature and unique light of the island.
With a strong connection to nature, I spend a lot of time on the beach and in the dunes. The ever-changing skies, sea, and landscapes continue to inspire me. In addition to photographing Texel, I love traveling around the Netherlands in search of forests, unique landscapes, and urban architecture. Discovering and capturing new environments fuels my creativity.
During the day, I photograph interiors for real estate sales and rentals. During the golden and blue hours, I capture the island at its most beautiful. My work is characterized by colorful, calm, and balanced compositions with an eye for detail. What started as a hobby in 2016 quickly grew into a full-time career. Since 2018, I’ve been fully dedicated to photography.
At Work
Living on Texel gives me the freedom to photograph at any moment. The island’s contrasts are fascinating: the rough North Sea versus the calm Wadden Sea, wide beaches alongside picturesque dunes. Texel is always changing, allowing you to rediscover it time and time again. Think of the dramatic cloudscapes and the unique sunsets — each day different. This makes Texel the perfect place for nature photography.
I prepare thoroughly for nature shoots. I check the timing of the golden or blue hour and determine where the sun will rise or set. That way, I know exactly when and where to be to capture the best light.
Self-Taught
I taught myself photography through a lot of experimentation. I didn’t follow any courses or formal education, but I’ve always looked for ways to improve my work. Over the years, I’ve expanded my gear, but in the end, it’s all about the way you look and see.
I often use exposure bracketing, where I take three shots with slight exposure differences. This ensures that every detail is perfectly captured. Not only the photography technique but also post-processing I taught myself. Over time, my workflow became more efficient and effective.
To give my work a unique feel, I developed my own editing style. Every photo is carefully fine-tuned. Sometimes I spend hours on a single image, especially when it’s printed in large format — for example, for Werk aan de Muur or SinnershopTexel. For those prints, the image has to be perfect, as every detail becomes visible. I examine every pixel and remove anything that bothers me.
How Do I Add My Personal Touch to a Photo?
Every photographer has their own style and approach. It’s great when people recognize mine. Especially my use of color and composition draws a lot of questions and compliments.
On location, my focus is on composition and perspective. I try different angles, as it can completely change the image. For example, from a low angle (frog’s perspective) above the water, you get a stunning reflection you wouldn’t see from a standing position.
Once home, I decide how to edit the photo — it’s like a treatment plan for each image. I’m a perfectionist, and if something in the photo bothers me, I won’t use it. Be critical of yourself and “kill your darlings.”
Gear List
My equipment consists of high-quality gear that allows me to capture my vision as accurately as possible:
Camera & Lenses
📷 Canon EOS 5D IV
🔍 Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
🔍 Canon 16-35mm f/4L USM
🔍 Sigma 12-24mm f/4.0 DG HSM Art
🔍 Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports
🔍 Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Filters & Accessories
🎞 Benro graduated filters
🎞 Benro Big Stopper
📏 Canon timer for long exposures
Statieven & Drones
📍 Manfrotto MT 190GOA4 tripod
📍 Manfrotto BEFREE GT Pro tripod
📍 Gitzo carbon monopod (series 4)
🚁 DJI Air2S drone
📸 Photomast for elevated photography