How to embrace your ambition?
– Ans Brys
Passion, to me, is essential. It serves as the foundation and the starting point for every story. Without passion, there is nothing.
However, in my practice the challenge lies in avoiding being overwhelmed by compassion. At times, I find myself so deeply engaged in empathy and profound respect for the people or communities I photograph or collaborate with, that my passion risks being undermined. In these moments, the distinction between my professional and personal self fades, leading me to repeatedly question my role in this relationship. Am I a caregiver? A social worker?
My deep involvement occasionally gets in the way of simply photographing. In the past, this would frustrate me as I felt I was missing out on moments and possibilities. But now – instead of dwelling on missed opportunities – I welcome the act of not photographing. It allows me to build personal relationships, gain trust, and truly connect with others on a profound human level. On top of that, primarily – most interactions give energy.
It is ambition, combined with the necessity to tell a specific story, that pushes me forward, helping me integrate both passion and compassion into actual endeavors and meaningful projects.
Ans Brys –
Photographer
Ans Brys is a documentary photographer based in Antwerp, Belgium. In her practice, she focuses on interpersonal connections, searching for liminal, twilight zones that converge the visual aspect of her works with content. She continues to work with titles such as NRC Handelsblad, De Standaard and The New York Times while her photographs have been published in The Guardian, De Morgen and Télérama to name a few. She’s also the initiator of The Female Gaze project – a photographic print sale co-created by 108 female Belgian or Belgium-based photographers in aid of the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.