Can you briefly tell us about your background and what inspired you to pursue photography?
After a 25-year career in Real Estate and finance I made a career switch and followed my heart end 2022. Fascinated by photography and the artistic world since childhood, I studied Photo Art at the Academy of Visual Arts in Antwerp (Belgium) combined by own practice.
Deeply inspired by nature in general, the ocean in particular, contemporary architecture, and cross-cultural relations, I focusses with my fine art photography on the extraordinary landscape phenomena while traveling. I attempt to give a new (sur)realism by accentuating the aesthetic of our precious blue planet with intuitive photography. In this way I want to express my emotions and convey a powerful message.
What drove you to submit your work to the Px3 State of the World competition and your thoughts on how being in the curatorial selection impacted your artistic journey?
With my participation to the State of the World competition of Px3 I want to convey a powerful with my photographic artwork “Glacier Azur” by a sequence of images.
Glaciers are in constant movement, they are transient, changeable and dynamic. By submitting “Glacier Azur” I want to give the spectator positive feelings of gratitude for the beauty and wonder of the natural world. But also point out the impact of human activities on the environment. And I hope with my work it will let people think of further taking care of our precious planet.
Could you describe any challenges you faced while capturing this moment (winning image/s)?
I spend my free time mainly in nature. As a diehard offpiste skier I have been a lover of the French alps for years and always along with my camera. In the meantime, i replaced the fast skiing with taking my time on searching for difficult steep situations. During February of 2023, I had the opportunity to visit the glacier of Chamonix during a beautiful clear day with freezing temperatures. As soon as I arrived, I saw the beautiful light entering the glacier and I knew I could unleash my full creativity on this with my camera.
What, in your opinion, are the most important factors in creating great images?
I can synthesize this in one quote from Henri Cartier-Bresson:
“It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head”
What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of photography?
First and foremost, the specific places in nature must fascinate me and make my heart beat faster. Then, the most challenging aspect is capturing the right light combined with the endless possibilities you have by shooting manually, because you can determine all the settings yourself. And the postprocessing brands the finishing touch.
What motivates and drives your photography?
My work embraces the principles of biophilic design. I observe patters and forms in nature. And contemporary architecture is also a source of inspiration for me.
I have the need for aesthetic creativity – visualization and showing this to the world. You can see it as a kind of self-development. With my creations of fine art prints, I develop new concepts for finishing touches of interiors.
With my drive for independence, I created my own photographic business in an international environment.
What’s next for you in your career as a photographer?
I want to continue to discover new landscapes in the world were time and weather has left its marks through my lens. This is the basis for my photographic work. With my fine art prints I want to create the haute couture for the walls for a multitude of interiors.
