taking a picture

For me, the definition of taking a photograph is: making a recording of a personal and visual observation at a particular point in time. I.e. I like what I see and it is remarkable enough to record it exactly as I see it, for myself or with the intent to share it with others. But only recording the moment is not enough. The photograph must have substance through, deliberately, adding qualities such as aesthetics, beauty and content. As a result the photograph becomes meaningful.

In the end, the person taking the photograph determines what can be seen in the frame and why. This person also has to decide, preferably before taking the photograph, why it is made; to publish (as art), using the picture as reference or as the basis for other work or form of expression, to show it to family and friends as a snapshot or keeping it for themselves. Taking pictures is and remains very personal.

my personal observations

In my working life, spent mostly in architecture, observation of the build and visualisation of the un-build, is the norm, a habit, a way of life. Therefore when I’m travelling through countries, walking through cities, enjoying nature or cycling through landscapes, for me the observation never stops. I stay curious, always looking for common and uncommon details, colors, textures, characteristic light, objects, buildings, perspectives or spaces.

 In my opinion being able to share these personal and remarkable observations is only possible if the capture is of good quality and the intention for taking the photograph is clear. The photographer should have the skills to truly document these observations. This requirement is a highly personal choice. Achieving quality photographs is a continuous quest. Sure in the days of film I recorded many of these moments, with limited (reproduction) quality and always asking myself what to do with them. Up until recently, my technical limitations as a photographer concealed much of the pointed message or aesthetics in the picture, limiting any publication other than for own use, reference and/or recollection. But with better understanding of the required latest digital photo-techniques and with intensified practice during recent years, the journey of improving the quality of my photographs and being able to show their intent, has taken off. Also, the recent technical development to capture, categorize and  archive these recordings has advanced, making it easy to compile a body of work. So much so, that I feel confident enough to show the present results of this journey to anyone who is interested. 

Making photographs public, but also viewing them, can be done in many ways. Where perhaps displaying prints in a gallery can be, ideally, the most satisfying and personal way of getting the intent of a collection of photographs from the photographer across to the viewer, the possibilities of publishing on a website are for me nowadays an enticing and practical way of achieving this direct relation between photographer and viewer. The photographer has total, albeit digital, control over the way his/her collection is presented, the viewer has total control in the way the content is to be viewed. 

These considerations resulted in selecting my most successful digital recordings of recent, and in creating this site. I did this with serious intentions but, for the moment, without any artistic ambition or commercial purposes. Nevertheless I hope you will respect and acknowledge the ownership of my work. This site is a work in progress. It will be transitional in its setup, by intent. I'll adjust the concept, form and content of the site, depending on the development in my view and understanding how a picture along with its context must be represented. I will certainly continue the exchange of the shown photographs with newer, more and hopefully better ones and add some subjects when appropriate. I will document more what is shown, when I feel there is a need for it.

For now…….enjoy!