Larissa van Hooren from Alkmaar has won the photo competition MijnBesteDroneshot with a photo of the Alkmaar Waagplein and the Waag. Larissa had submitted three photos and is happy that the winning photo is a photo of ‘her city’. She didn’t expect to win. “I often participate, but I never win anything!”
Larissa sent in the photos in July and received the results last Friday. “I had set an alarm clock at 4 pm,” says Larissa. At that time, the results came online in a video presented by Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers. “First he told me who had won in the ‘under 16′ category, then he went on to say ’16 and over’ and I saw my photo in the background.”
A total of 320 drone photos were submitted. “You can see the Kaasmarkt and the Waag looming out of the fog very nicely,” says Harbers in the announcement about the winning photo.
“I immediately cried when I saw it,” Larissa continues. Her mother passed away unexpectedly last month. “She always thought it was fantastic that I photographed. The night before the results I thought ‘if I win this, it’s because of my mother’.” And that’s how it still feels. “My father also cried when he saw me cry.” The photo was taken last February, so her mother was still able to see the photo. “She also thought it was beautiful, which is very nice.”
Nature, landscapes and cities
Photography is Larissa’s hobby and passion. “If I could make it my profession I would. But it is very difficult, there is of course so much competition,” says the winner. She has some favorite photography subjects. “Nature, landscapes and cities, also abroad.”
For her photography she uses a camera and a drone. “I alternate the drone and camera a bit. The drone is a nice addition. From above you can of course see completely different things. The world looks so different, actually a lot nicer,” says Larissa with a laugh.
The Alkmaarse has won a new drone and it comes in handy. Soon she will go on holiday with the camper for three weeks to Germany, Italy, Austria and Slovenia. That will certainly make for beautiful pictures.