Page 11 - aruba-today-20220702

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local Saturday 2 July 2022
Meet Ayrton Tromp:
From restless child to disciplined photographer

From a restless child who was a few months of doing something, I
bored with everything, to one of would get fed up.” And know, Ayr-
the most sought-after professional ton understands, because he got
photographers in Aruba. We’re tired with everything he did before.
talking about Ayrton Tromp (25),
who thanks to his parents’ ‘no’, Ayrton started taking pictures of
learned to appreciate all that he plants, flowers, animals, and all
can achieve on his own: From na- that surrounded him at home. And
ture photographer to photogra- using Facebook, he shared his pic-
pher for His Majesty King Willem tures, which caught attention right
Alexander of the Netherlands and away. “Recently someone asked
his wife Queen Maxima. All this in me when I’m going to go back
only ten years. to nature photography”, he com-
mented. [red. On the day of the
Ayrton was always artistic, but interview, Ayrton published some
easily distracted. When he was 11 nature images, with the comment
years old already he realized he that he decided to go back to his
could work easier with images. roots, for a moment.]
And when he was 14, he expressed
to his parents that he wanted to Currently, most of his energy goes
try photography. But because into his work. Photography is his
Ayrton was never consistent with hobby, but it’s also his responsi-
what he started, his parents didn’t bility. And what always remains, It didn’t take long for the young able to open his company. “Now
want to give him what he wanted, from the beginning, is his own style. nature photographer to get com- I know that wasn’t necessary. But
and surely not invest in a camera, “Those who know me know that I mercial opportunities. He was in I had to wait a few months until I
which isn’t cheap. Consequently, never want to be like someone secondary school when he re- could gather Afl. 10,000 and so
the 14 year old decided to go to else. I want something different. I ceived his first offer for a commer- start my own company.”
the supermarket close to his house want to be apart. I never want to cial job. “I was sixteen, in the mid-
and get a job during his vacation, imitate another. I can say that I dle of exams, and my mom was And in the next six years, Ayrton ex-
and for weeks he filled bags of could come up with a way to pres- helping me reply to the person to panded his portfolio with pictures
groceries. That way he saved and ent an image in a different way.” tell them that at that moment I had of weddings and other events. He
got 1,500 florin, and Ayrton went to Even though it was a risk, it worked to focus on school.” But the oppor- received a lot of guidance from
Boolchand’s, and so the photogra- for Ayrton, because his style tunities didn’t stop, and once he other professional photographers,
pher was born. opened doors to him. “I managed was in higher education (EPI), as a who he admires, including Luis Me-
for people to recognize my pic- 17 year old, Ayrton started to com- jia, Crooze Photographers, and
“I was very ashamed to talk about tures without me having to put my bine work with school. Each free Kenneth Theysen. But always with
what I did. In the beginning, I name. For me, it’s weird because hour he spent working on photog- his own style, creating a bond with
was influenced by friends and I just do something I like. Logically raphy, for magazines and even for his customers. “I want to know my
watched how my friends got the I’m happy, but I don’t know how I Aruba Tourism Authority. clients, I want to keep my job fun.”
latest phone, the latest computer. managed. I think it’s because I re- Because to achieve quality and
But my parents didn’t want to buy ally like photography and I give it Ayrton was even invited to take reputation is easy, that’s his talent
the camera, because I was the kid hundred percent of myself in it.” pictures during the Royal Visit. “I and desire; but the job requires
who didn’t stick to anything. After skipped school to be able to do the contact, meeting the client’s de-
job. The other students were ask- mands, and deliver a good prod-
ing me if I knew what I was doing, uct. “Work ethic is extremely impor-
because EPI requires presence at tant. Everything has to go smooth-
school, which counts towards your ly.”
grades. On top of it, my own moth-
er was a teacher at EPI.” Even so, And so the young man who was
Ayrton took the risk and got the op- bored with everything found his
portunity to document the visit of rhythm. A profession that carries
King Willem Alexander and Queen risk became his anchor, which
Maxima, and even found himself helped him brave even the pan-
presenting a gift to the royal cou- demic, when there was no job and
ple. “I was doing what I really liked. no security. And his mom? She’s his
And remember, I didn’t even have bigger supporter and is happy that
a driver’s license, so I had to walk her son worked for his own things
to get to the photoshoots.” himself. Because of this, Ayrton ap-
preciates the value of his job. “Ev-
When Ayrton turned 18, he knew erything I have today, I worked for
he had to start his own company. myself. My parents had to make
And the Chamber of Commerce me work for my things. My mom is
didn’t believe in him, and wanted super proud.”
to put the company in his mother’s
name. But the young man was de- His vision for the future is to get
termined, because without a com- the opportunity to explore each
pany registry from the Chamber of corner of the world and continue
Commerce he wasn’t allowed to encountering more culture, other
take on jobs. But the institution indi- countries. “Practically I want to
cated that he needed to have Afl. travel and take pictures.”
10,000 cash in his account to be