Board Photo Contest 2025: ‘I have better photos of myself in a suit on the toilet’

A board year starts in week one, full of fresh energy and high spirits, with taking that infamous board photo. What follows is a year that demands unbridled dedication to the beloved association. Behind every entry lies a year of heated meetings, night-time sober shifts, endless bookkeeping, lugging and hauling, and tireless commitment to the members. But above all, it is a year full of memories that will last a lifetime.

The jury enjoyed the funny, chaotic and sometimes even beautiful photos and would like to thank all the boards for their submissions. The photos were judged on a wide range of qualities such as originality, unity, photographic aspects and, above all, the elusive, prestigious aura of ‘Being the Board’.

The Delft Board Photo Contest is for fun and is not intended to offend anyone. All jokes and comments are directed at the photos themselves, not at the people in them or the organisations they represent. So don’t take the judgement too seriously and enjoy the list!

47. S.R.C. Thor

The very last place goes to Thor’s Christmas card. The photo could have scored much more without the Santa hats and four-pixel decorations. We are quite charmed by the poses – as if these rugby guys are enjoying their very first primary school sleepover. But unfortunately, it’s not Christmas and this is not a board photo.

46. Force Elektro

Dear Frisbee players, we don’t need to see photos of your drunken weekend. The photo is technically poor quality, you’re barely in suits, but you’re quite self-aware, and that’s worth something too!

45. v.v. Ariston

Some boards opt for a static photo with serious expressions. Ariston aims for accessibility. We like it that everyone is smiling broadly. The group looks very friendly, which could also be due to the young jenever it looks like they had …

44. D.K.S.V. Paal Centraal

‘I have better photos of myself in a suit on the toilet,’ one jury member dryly remarks. Blurry, awkward and poorly framed, the four-leaf clovers in the background cannot prevent this being a very unfortunate photo. There are many prejudices about korfball, and this photo does nothing to dispel them. The Board members are standing centraal for paal (Dutch saying for making a fool of yourself).

43. Delftsche Zwervers

What feverish dream have we landed in now? We could complain about the blurriness of the photo, the lack of suits or the unrecognisable people. But we won’t, because the goal here was clear: chaos. And it worked. The Zwervers stayed true to themselves, and they definitely deserve credit for that.

42. Robotics Student Association (RSA)

The RSA has carefully photoshopped itself into its own MicroMouse maze. They even added shadow. We appreciate the effort, although we doubt if most people will recognise the location. A few Board members have buttoned up the top button of their shirts, as Ryan Gosling likes to do. He gets away with it, but on these students it looks rather suffocating.

41. D.S.B.V. Shot

This photo feels like ‘6^th grade goes to sports camp’. We praise the nice location and dynamic poses, but this is not worthy of the Board. Where is the volleyball? Sadly, this photo was a long shot.

40. WTOS

This is a nice holiday snap, but definitely not a board photo. If you happen to be at such a beautiful place, show off your surroundings! The WTOS Board members are undoubtedly pedalling hard on those fast bikes, but unfortunately their reflective visors make them unrecognisable.

39. Outsite

The upper right corner says foutje, Dutch for ‘mistake’. And we agree. This photo creates a great deal of discomfort. If you don’t feel comfortable in a suit, wear something else next time. The different ties make the photo chaotic and the bottom button of the waistcoat should be undone!

Where does that undone button at the bottom actually come from? King Edward VII of England once set the trend, says our jury member Joost Bom. The King loved food so much that the bottom button could no longer be closed. That certainly exudes prosperity.

38. D.S.T. Pegasus

We know it was Brat Summer, but do we really need those laces? Otherwise, it’s a funny photo, although the composition or cropping could have been a lot better. And we are missing a suit jacket.

37. D.S.T.V. Obvius

We are big fans of the green suits. But it should be obvius to not take a picture against a green background! The statue and the cyclist in the background are also very distracting. Did the tennis Board deliberately crop the shoes out of the photo so that we couldn’t comment on them?

36. Stip Delft

As the STIP Board, you really need to be representative, which is why we are extra strict with the political student party. We see nice ties but different coloured shirts, a nice arrangement but not particularly special, and the photo is poorly cropped. Given the grey day, you could’ve tried using the flash. Better luck next election, because this STIP has sailed.

35. Delft Studenten Lacrosse Vereniging

See, it’s not difficult to get the same shirt. That’s everything positive that can be said. Why are the hands in the pockets? Why jeans? It’s nice that the lacrosse sticks are there, although they could have done more with them (for example: holding them straight).

34. D.S.Z. Wave

We see little Board and a lot of flag. Where should we start with these bright pink spider-web-and-googly-eyes vests? Yes, that gives swimming … A towel, swimming goggles or, okay then, a speedo would have made the photo a lot more appealing. You still get some technical points for the photo’s depth and composition.

33. Sport & Cultuur Verenigingen Raad (SCVR)

Check, double check. Are all the zips closed? The SCVR has opted for a creative angle with beautiful blue tones. It’s a shame that the photo is so compressed.

32. S.V. Life

We see the Board members so close up that it makes us a little uncomfortable. The church is nice, but unfortunately it is not shown in its entirety in the photo. A nice detail is the association’s pin, but they are not pinned at the same height on the lapels.

31. Aegee-Delft

Aegee’s photo is an ode to Delft, which we appreciate. The photo may have a strong composition and well-tailored suits, but it is unfortunate that it is not straight. The sullen faces combined with the purple suits make us wonder when this emo rock band will release their first single. Emo is not dead!

30. F.C. Tutor

Is it a board or a five-a-side football team? The jury appreciates this creative approach to the line-up. The fighting spirit exuded by the Board promises a passionate year for Tutor. Zooming in more would have been better, and the green tint makes it look as if lightning could strike at any moment. Safely above the relegation line, but still in the bottom half of the table.

29. D.S.S.V. Effe Lekker Schaatsen (ELS)

While two Board members made the effort to wear stylish heels, the rest simply grabbed the first sneakers they found. The green trees complement the ties nicely, and it is a pleasant composition. Unfortunately, the suits are lost against the background, and the photo could have been centred. Haters gonna hate, skaters gonna skate.

28. S.W.V. Plankenkoorts

Are these people windsurfers or hooligans from the local football club? Scheveningen is a well-chosen spot. The pier in the background is cool, but its end could have been included too. And more sea! The photo exudes a lot of fun, but not much professionalism. That has everything to do with the cans of Schultenbräu that are proudly held aloft for reasons incomprehensible to us.

27. D.S.V.V. Punch

All you need is love, uh volleyball players, in a playground. Nice composition and the props fit well with the climbing frame, but again we’re missing a volleyball. The suits are beautifully coloured and the combination with the tie is unique but not ugly. The rose petals are a nice detail. Are we being seduced?

26. D.S.A.V. Dodeka

This location looks familiar. Isn’t the Board of the Student Lacrosse Association located in exactly the same place? The Board members of Dodeka radiate cheerfulness: we immediately believe that this is a very fun group. The length of the tie is reminiscent of bus drivers, and the logo at the bottom draws the gaze to a region you don’t really want to look at.

25. Delft Global Student Club (D.G.S.C.)

Feedback should be sandwiched right? Photographically, this is a very strong photo. Unfortunately, the busy graphic T-shirts make this more of a committee photo than a dignified board photo. Though the group’s appearance is nice and open!

24. All Energy Day

What a beautiful wedding photo! Wait, a wedding photo? Not a board photo? Okay, it’s a part-time Board, so we’re more forgiving, but at least tuck your shirt into your trousers. The location is very nice and the photo was taken at a beautiful time of day.

23. Social Impact Hub

The effort here is on the part of the person behind the camera rather than in front of it. The distance between the Board members gives us Covidesque feelings and the background is somewhat distracting. Still, the photo is nicely symmetrical and the puddles on the ground create a cool effect.

22. Students4Sustainability

This photo is technically very good. Nice location, good composition, beautiful composition, although it could have benefited from a little more light. We have some comments about the outfits of this Board. Sure, you don’t all have to wear suits, but a simple T-shirt really is too casual for a board photo. Next time, a little more uniformity would be good.

21. Drop

You can say a lot, but this. Is. Drop. The photo appears spontaneous, but clearly a lot of effort has gone into it. He did a good job, but if we were the photographer, we would stand a bit further back, and shoot horizontally and a little lower.

20. D.S.M.G. Krashna Musika

The jury knows that it’s not easy to take a good photo in a dark, anechoic chamber. Does that make Krashna brave or just a bit stupid? We’ll give them an A for effort for dragging all their instruments along. It’s also nice that they didn’t opt for a standard suit, even though the buttons look a bit like beer caps. And what does a chamber orchestra actually sound like in a darkroom? Next time, please include sound effects with the image.

19. Het Technologisch Gezelschap (TG)

We will start with the positive points: it’s nice that the Board is recognisable in front of their building. We also like the suit-shoe colour combination. But then, the car? It certainly is a unique aspect in the photo, but what on earth is this solid family car doing there? The jury is left with the creeps from the eerie reflection in the side window.

18. Lijst Bèta

The location is well chosen and appropriate for this student political party. Everything else is … fine. It’s great that they have already blown up the balloons, but once again there will be no victory party for Lijst Bèta today, as this photo ends up well outside the top 10. Bèta luck next time.

17. S.B.V. Slopend

We think this is a good example of going the extra mile for a creative photo! It’s really nice to see them on their own playground equipment. Unfortunately, the person on the left with his shirt untucked ruins the symmetry of the photo.

16. D.S.W.Z. Broach

Oh dear, these aren’t this year’s best outfits. The two shades of purple clash terribly, and dark shirts are meant for pallbearers. The purple does look nice against the green background though – Obvius could learn a thing or two from that. It’s a strong photo with good depth and a vignette that actually adds something. We would have liked to see a reference to a sailing boat somewhere.

15. S.V.K.T. Variscopic

We are fans of the peaked lapels, as well as the slanted pockets. The trousers look very Italian, should you ever want children. The Variscopic briefcase makes the Board recognisable and professional, the socks are unfortunate.

14. D.S.J.V. Groover

The Board members look a little lost. As far as we’re concerned, there’s no need for that – they chose a dope location and, above all, hats off to how well they managed to shoot against the light! The outfits are beautiful and different from a ‘normal’ board outfit. The tweed pattern gives a soft and warm feel, just like good jazz.

13. YES!Delft Students

YES!! A breath of fresh air is blowing through this photo, fitting for the start-ups that this Board represents. The photo is beautifully lit and shot from the right angle for an imposing effect. Yet not all Board members seem to be looking at the same cloud. Are their goals aligned?

12. Oras

Energetic and cheerful are the first words that come to mind. Photographically there are a few things to note. The colour balance is not good and the photo is zoomed in too far, pushing it off-centre. Nice colour suit, but it’s a shame that the guy on the left is looking away. An apple a day keeps victory away …

11. S.G. “William Froude”

The jury awards bonus points for the bowler hat, always a classic. However, we cannot agree on whether the huge crane in the photo is very cool or very dominant. It is certainly unique and, above all, very TU Delft!

10. D.S.F.A. Kong

Wow. A highly creative photograph that beautifully encapsulates the association. The wide-angle lens is effective, but the colour saturation is slightly too bold. The jury is so enthusiastic about this unique photograph that we almost feel like jumping the fence ourselves. Honourable mention for Kong!

9. Delftsche Studenten Bond (DSB)

These people radiate pride and dignity from their platform in front of the clubhouse. The medals around their necks help this, and tradition is a plus for us. But we have to be strict: the platform looks a bit cramped for six people and the photo is too cropped.

8. Gezelschap Leeghwater

Very cool photo, too bad that a traffic sign draws so much attention. Every year the Leeghwater Board takes its Board photo at this location, a nice tradition. We’d love to hear what connects the mechanical engineers to this bench. As for the outfits, some of the trousers are too tight and too short. Otherwise, it’s a nice suit with fun personal details and a subtle use of accessories.

7. W.I.S.V. ‘Christiaan Huygens’

Interesting setting and beautiful lighting. The jackets are a plus, but make sure to wear black shoes with formal attire! And what are you pointing at? Is this a reference to the autist tower (unofficial nickname for the EEMCS Faculty, Ed.)? The girl on the far right clearly missed the memo and is unfortunately the only one looking straight into the camera.

6. D.S.R. Proteus-Eretes

Sometimes the suit wears the person, but here it is the people who truly wear the suit. Working with 10 people is quite an achievement, but having 10 people in the photo without any of them taking all the attention is even more impressive. Proteus has succeeded in doing just that. The lighting at this time of day is unfortunate, but it is clear that a lot of effort has gone into the post-processing, transforming the backlighting into the strength of the photo. Hats off!

5. Stud Studentenuitzendbureau

Each Board member is wearing a different coloured suit, and yet … it works. There is cohesion, and the corporate image fits well with the employment agency. The background is impressive, only the bottom of the photo is distracting. Well, if that’s the only thing we can complain about, then it’s definitely a successful photo!

4. C.S.F.R. Johannes Calvijn

Bravo, we love this photo! Yes, we criticised Plankenkoorts for beers in their photo, but Heineken is beer for the elite. Our jury member Joost is jealous of the suit colour, as he is still searching for one himself. The double-breasted waistcoats are also different. And then the crate as a platform gives the photo a playful touch. So is it all perfect? No, unfortunately, the men are looking so intently at the crate that they are difficult to recognise. C.S.F.R. just misses out on the podium.

3. D.B.S.G. Stylos

The name of this file was ‘Group Photo Spontaneous’, and that’s certainly what we see here. In front of the entrance to their own building, Stylos is the epitome of gezelligheid and, on top of that, one of the strongest entries in terms of sartorial style. The photo is sharp and well centred, but the faces seem to lack a little depth and have an orange glow.

2. Het Gezelschap “Practische Studie” (PS)

Jury member and Delta in-house photographer Thijs is impressed. This is one of the few photos that really is well framed and cropped. The Board members are arranged in a fairly standard formation, but it works well and comes across pretty professionally. They are nicely symmetrical and positioned at the iconic Radio Kootwijk in the Veluwe, relevant to Civil Engineering.

1. Electrotechnische Vereeniging (ETV)

And then we come to our number one: the ETV! The jury was blown away by the lighting in the photo, which has been described using adjectives that we cannot publish here. We see a unique location with character and good use of props. The Board members look stern and confident, but not in a cringy boy band way. This is clearly a Board with capital B. The suits are very good and the subtleties are nicely reflected in the background. We could say something about the shoes, but the staging is so impressive that we spontaneously forgive everything. A worthy winner of the Board Photo Competition!