Photography

Photography has accompanied my work since childhood. It is less a profession than a practice — a way of observing, documenting, and telling stories across time, spaces, and people. 

Biography

My photographic journey began at the age of ten, when I received my first camera. Very early on, I developed a fascination for black‑and‑white photography and visual storytelling.

At fourteen, I presented my first slide shows of youth and travel projects — images, music, and commentary woven into narrative formats that received strong local resonance.

At sixteen, I took on my first professional responsibilities at Fotostudio Lica in Zaventem. Alongside the practical work, I was entrusted with independently running the studio at a young age — an experience that shaped my understanding of responsibility and reliability in a lasting way. 

Photography & Nightlife Culture

During my studies at LUCA School of Arts in Brussels (Master in Performing Arts), another defining chapter emerged: my work as the in‑house photographer at the legendary Brussels club Fuse.

In the 1990s, I documented — with an analogue camera — the early years of a scene that would profoundly influence music and club culture across Europe. My images were created in the middle of the action — raw, direct, and close to the energy of the night.

Beyond Fuse itself, I also documented pioneering events such as I LOVE TECHNO and worked closely with Fuse founder Peter Decuypere. During this time, many knew me by my nickname Izzy. 

Fuse – 30 Years of Making Noise

Decades later, large parts of this archive resurfaced. For the book Fuse: 30 Years of Making Noise (AfterClub, 2024), I reviewed and digitised hundreds of negatives and slides that had been archived for years.

Many of the published images had never been shown before. They document not only club nights, but a period of emergence, freedom, and cultural transformation — captured from an insider’s perspective.

Music journalist Koen Galle describes it in the book as follows:

“The book made extensive use of Peter Ooms’ stunning archive… His images offer a rare and intimate glimpse into the raw energy and atmosphere of Belgium’s most iconic techno institution.”