How I got into people photography was a coincidence. I was taken along to a model shoot. And the principle of 'go along, get along' could be taken literally here. I immediately felt at home, but I also quickly realised that glamour, beauty and exaggerated staging were not my thing. It's important to me to show people as unadulterated as possible. The classic nude is at the centre of my work. Also portraits that are created without elaborate make-up and retouching.

I find inspiration in the people I work with and the places we visit. I love being in nature. Travelling, landscapes, wind, weather, natural light, I incorporate all of this into my images - especially in special places where I feel comfortable. On the other hand, you will rarely find me in a studio. Basically, any place can be a good location because the most important thing is the people who come together to create the images.

Nude photography is much more than taking off your clothes and turning on the camera. The most important element is communication. The technique is secondary. It's about bringing the person in front of the camera into harmony with themselves and their surroundings. The body becomes a work of art. The person narrates, stories and emotions are created. Nudity is much more than just showing parts of the body that are usually hidden.

To emphasise this, I usually use black and white. The lack of colour reduces the image to other - and for me usually more essential - content, such as emotion, expression, and also form and structure. There are exceptions here and there where I feel colour is important to the mood of the image. All of this is mostly digital, although I do make occasional forays into analogue photography.

For me, nude photography is a very honest way of telling a story. People are vulnerable and open. The nudity is part of the story, not an end in itself.

[ Text DirkBee ]