MARTIN VAN DE KREEKE

BY ADRIANOMARCHESE

What is love at first sight, if not a deep and unique connection with the input of very few values? Dutch photographer Martin Van de Kreeke shows us that, though it need not be love, we can certainly know someone with the same brevity and intensity that strikes in the flash of a moment.

Not a photographer by profession, Van de Kreeke owns and operates a busy record shop in Rotterdam, Netherlands. “I learned photography, in part, in art school,” Van de Kreeke told INSPADES Magazine, “But mainly I am an autodidact.” Though his shop occupies the majority of his time, Van de Kreeke “rediscovered” his passion for photography in the last five years.

Transitioning from outdoor photography including street, landscape and natural, Van de Kreeke has moved toward indoor work, developing a compelling collection of gorgeously gritty portraiture. “I bought myself some simple studio equipment which allows me to shoot whenever I want,” said Van de Kreeke.

The main draw in Van de Kreeke’s portraiture is the immediate sense of individuality and importance in his subjects. We are struck with a sense of familiarity that sparks a curiosity to better know these subjects. Through his photography, Van de Kreeke sheds any hints of the average—the common, the overlooked—bestowing each subject with due presence and significance. Presenting viewers with raw imagery, Van de Kreeke tries increasingly to “stay away from the effects and go back to the real thing.” Subtly highlighting the ordinary with a slight, playful tilt of the head, a hand gently resting on the nape of the neck, or a sea of freckles peering from between two innocent eyes, Van de Kreeke magnifies detail with unfiltered clarity.

“My challenge is to capture what I initially see in my subjects; that can be beauty, strength, sadness or any other emotion.” Van de Kreeke’s photography strips the subject not physically, but spiritually, where all that remains is the bareness of being.

Unlike shooting street photography, which can often be chaotic and spontaneous, the composition of Van de Kreeke’s portraiture is noticeably uniform and minimalistic, “I admire photographers like Stephan Vanfleteren and Platon.”

It shows. At the forefront of the image, Van de Kreek’s subjects are artfully lit by studio light. Behind them the background is deep black—intense in its simplicity. The subjects’ features, curves and details are enhanced by Van de Kreeke’s use of black and white instead of colour. What remains are the extraordinary portrayals of ordinary people.

Van de Kreek’s venture into portraiture has only just begun. When asked about his plans moving forward, he answered, “I think there are lots and lots of people who have very interesting faces. My challenge for the future will be to capture even more ‘ordinary’ people.”

Martin Van de Kreeke is a name to look for in the world of portrait photography, and if you happen to be near his record store in Rotterdam, drop in to say “hello” and you just might be featured in his next series.

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