Like the majority of the human population, I have been taking pictures my whole life but it is after graduating from art school in Sint Niklaas, Belgium, in June 2011, that my life as a photographer has profoundly changed. In the first place, my pictures gained a dynamic content they did not have before. As for the form and techniques employed, I have nearly exclusively reverted back to the use of black and white film followed by intensive darkroom work in order to create the final picture. These were the techniques used by the old masters and are, in my opinion, not overtaken by the modernists, digital and colour photography, for its artistic expression. Notwithstanding the statement just made, digital and colour photography has an important place in the total photographic landscape, and I use it for special applications. In this website, all pictures shown are generated using black and white film followed by printing on real photographic paper in the dark room.

The one aspect that has not changed from the past is my interest in people. Most of the pictures in this website deal with people in one-way or another. Since my family is closest to me and always available, the largest number is dedicated to them. However I also love making formal portraits mainly because of the opportunity for human contacts. Most interesting are the family portraits I made in nursing homes. For these, I feel, I have also contributed in one small manner to lift the inherent loneliness these people must feel.

At this juncture I would like to express my thanks to my teacher, Marieke Verfaillie, for her support and advise during the 8 years I spent in the academy.

Finally I like to wish you a pleasant trip through this website. In case you have a question, or better still wish that I come to make your portrait, please do not hesitate to let me know.

E van Leemputten