The Sunday interview: 5 questions for Leon Goossens

Today I will present Leon Goossens the author of GSSNS - a visual journal about photography. Leon is an enthusiastic Dutch photographer with a Fuji camera.

1. Why photography?

Answering this seemingly simple question actually took me a moment and that surprised me. After all, photography has been my hobby for years. But in all that time, I never really asked myself why. The short and honest answer? I love it. I feel a natural urge to create. Photography is for me a beautiful creative outlet that allows me to let go of everything around me for a moment. Maybe it also has something to do with the DNA I inherited from my parents. My fascination with photography started in my dad’s darkroom when I was about seven or eight. Watching a photo slowly appear on a sheet of paper submerged in chemicals felt like pure magic to my young eyes. Wow! Still, it took years before I fully embraced photography as my own creative path.

2. What is your favourite gear? (camera, lens)

It all started with the Minolta XD7 camera I was allowed to use from my dad. Back in the early ‘80s, that camera was Minolta’s pride so yes, it’s been a while! Later, I saved up and bought my own Minolta 7000i. When I switched from analog to digital, Canon became my go-to brand for many years. In 2018, I took a different direction. I wanted to shake off my “camera gear syndrome” and rediscover the joy of photography. So I switched to a more compact camera, one I could take anywhere without sacrificing image quality. That turned out to be the Fujifilm X-T3, which is still my camera today. I mostly pair it only with a 23mm f/2.0 prime lens or sometimes with one of my vintage manual Minolta lenses; a 28mm f/2.8, a 50mm f/1.7 or a 135mm f/3.5. For my lazy moments, I go with an 18–55mm zoom lens.

3. What are your favourite subjects to photograph?

If you’ve seen my profile, street photography probably comes to mind and rightly so. It’s a genre I’m passionate about, and one where I’m eager to grow and push my boundaries. But if there’s one recurring theme in my work, it’s this: finding beauty in the everyday and the unseen. Even in my street photography, I’m drawn to capturing those quiet, often overlooked moments and objects that most people walk right past, presented in a way that makes them feel interesting or new. One of my favorite quotes that perfectly matches my approach is: “Forget what you know. Watch the world as if you’ve never seen it.”

4. Can you name a few of your favourite photographers?

There are quite a few, and the list tends to change over time. But some names always stick: Joel Meyerowitz, Saul Leiter, and William Eggleston. I also admire Anton Corbijn for his raw black-and-white portraits. In that same style, the Belgian photographer Stephan Vanfleteren really resonates with me. I’m drawn to the artistic work of Joakim Möller and the beautiful Polaroids by Cyril Auvity. Lately, I’ve been especially inspired by the stunning photography (and the essays he writes) of Canadian photographer Patrick Laroque, as well as the work of my fellow Dutch photographer Marcel Fraij.

5. What can Substack community expect from you/your publication in the future?

Honestly? I’m letting things unfold naturally, I don’t have any fixed plans. I’ve always loved blogging alongside my photography, and in 2024, I picked it up again after a long break. Substack has been the perfect place for that. In a short time, I’ve connected with so many creative and passionate people here. I’ll continue to share my love for photography, personal projects, and all the things that inspire me visually. You can also expect more visual storytelling. Starting this month, I’m posting shorter entries each month featuring three photos from my Inspiration Journal, images that caught my eye, paired with a short note that I hope will spark inspiration in others.