In this conversation, Willem talks about finding his medium, learning to see what’s already there, and why empathy matters more than access. He traces a path from low-light punk shows to documenting away days, explains how crowds shape identity, and why he prefers poetry over spectacle — the moments between goals. We discuss publishing as preservation in a scrolling world, working safely inside ultra communities, and the discipline of staying flexible. A story about patience, permission, and photographing people as individuals rather than a mass.