I was born in a tiny village on the border of Brabant and Limburg in the year of our Lord, 1957

Actually, there isn't much to tell about me. Mainly self-taught and always looking to learn something new, I walk the path of life. There isn't much more, or maybe there is?

I am a versatile person, always trying to learn and almost always open to a deep conversation. My area of interest is very broad, and I hardly ever get bored. There is always something that keeps me busy, and I can analyze things in depth.

Self-taught

I love to learn, I learn quickly, very quickly! My motto has always been that what my eyes see, my hands can create, and that is still the case. I don't have to make an effort for it; it comes naturally. And once I've seen it, I've already decided whether I will do it; some things just don't interest me, and then the input is simply too great for what I can get out of it. Buying or having it done is the only option, really. But if I were to decide to buy the right machines and follow the right training, I am convinced that I (and any other person) could create what they want to create.

In this way, I have gathered all the knowledge I needed to do the things I enjoy, photography being one of them. Everything is digital now and shareable. The DPI's are flying around you, and only the insiders know what is truly important.

Fake or real?

Nothing special, really. What drives a person to do something, to choose a profession? Personally, I think the profession chooses you. In my case, photography, starting a business in photography, was a logical consequence of what I had been engaged with in the material aspect of life; "Bread on the shelf" and passions and hobbies.

You do those things after 50 years together in a jar, you shake it, and what you love to do comes out, and look: usually, nice things come out.

The World, street photography, me

I've been doing this since 2003. It's fun work, although a wedding isn't fun by definition; it's hard work and a lot of stress, but the fun part mainly lies in expressing your own creativity and making something beautiful for someone else. Along that path, I ended up in design work. Very enjoyable and something I would like to do more, but at my age, it's about being content with what is.

In recent years, something new has come along: street photography! Started during a vacation in New York in 2006, and that is truly fun! Walking through the streets with the camera ready and actually shooting as if your life depends on it. Just shoot everything your eyes see and not care about the people; that makes it interesting because later on your screen, you see it before you. Then the world suddenly shines, and you can enjoy every shot to the fullest.

Is it allowed? (street photography)

You don't need to worry about whether it's allowed. It's absolutely something you can do without permission in the Netherlands. You can even post photos on Facebook or other sites, no problem at all.

The story changes if you start making money from it, especially if you start making a lot of money from it. As for posting on Facebook: not so difficult. According to judicial rulings, it is so difficult to ascertain the identity of any person in a photo that you can speak of anonymity.

So if you see someone with a camera pointed in your direction, don't panic and shout:

Det Meug neet!

 

or: "that is not allowed"

Because it is allowed. What you cannot do is verbally attack other people on the street and make unfounded statements or even prohibit someone from taking a photo.

So!

Speaking people can be helped. Stay polite and keep your hands to yourself, appreciate that someone is doing something for the community, and if not, just take a walk but don't ruin someone else's day. If you have a real objection, express it politely, treat others as you would like to be treated. (I had to get that off my chest)

If you need a spontaneous photographer who wants to do his best to provide you with the most beautiful pictures of your life, don't hesitate to contact me; speaking people can be helped, and if you are already in one of my pictures, let me know, and we will definitely work it out together!