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I was born in 1966, in the
countryside near Ommen, Holland. I like to be
outdoors. Too young for the old folktales but
old enough to see the remains disappear.
A sense of melancholy for a
time which I have not experienced. Reading about
mythology, fairytales, history and archaeology
helps me a little bit to rebuild that world.
Also books of writers as Tolkien form a source
of inspiration. Sometimes I am with my head in
the clouds but always with the feet firmly on
the ground. As a tree.
I enjoy nature, the changing
seasons. The blackbird which sings before spring
has started, the chestnut tree which stands all
of a sudden in booklet, cows standing with their
legs in the ground fog. The fragrance of the
first frost if in November a cold east wind puts
up.
I got respect for nature. And
awe, also because of the unpredictability and
the power. I saw from nearby what lightning and
storm could cause.
Halfway the 1980s I started
photography as my hobby. I love to be outdoors
and like to walk so I took the camera along with
me. I mainly photographed landscapes and nature
and I became member of a photography club and
started with black and white printing. Within 10
years that hobby dried up because of the
limitations. I couldn't catch the atmosphere I
was looking for. With the arrival of the digital
photography many of those limitations were gone
and it gave me more possibilities to express my
creativity. In 2004, I bought a digital SLR
camera and that meant a second start of my
hobby. Now, three years later, it has become
more than a hobby and I held three exhibitions.
I have something with trees
so that became automatically the head subject of
my photography. Almost all my photos are of
trees which are differently. Trees with
character. Trees which radiate massive strength,
or sensuality. For this reason you would not
encounter me frequently in production woods.
Wooded banks are very interesting for me. Trees
with different shapes, some old, some dead with
no bark. A number of photos are processed on my
computer to strengthen a mystic, fairy-like
atmosphere. Always without manipulating the
subject. It's very important to me that the
subject is as real as in real life. When you
recognize a face or a head of a pig in one of my
tree photos I can assure you that they are real
and not moulded on my pc. I gladly want to share
my moments of amazement with you. |
