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My first contact with photography was at the age of 6 years old when I was taken to see somebody who had a darkroom. All I could see was a red lightbulb above a sink with 3 clear looking dishes and some liquid in it and a piece of white paper submerged. After a short while an image appeared on this paper and I thought this was an absolute miracle.
At the age of 10 years old I had saved enough money to buy my first camera, a Yashica 35mm. Over the next few years I photographed my classmates and friends and was encouraged to continue taking pictures. In 1967 I moved from Amsterdam to England to perfect my English skills at a language school in Bournemouth. Six months later whilst sitting my English exams I got lost in the Art College were the exams took place and ended up in room where final year photographic students were exhibiting their work. Realising that you could study photography, I had my amateur pictures send over from Holland and applied for the 3 year course in photography.
In 1971 I left for London and studied for 2 years at The Royal College of Art and I did get commissioned work immediately after graduating. My first job was to do all the photography for the new BIBA store that was about to open at the art deco building of Derry & Toms. For the first 3 years I only worked in the field of editorial photography before moving more in the direction of advertising.
Over the past 30 years I have worked for clients all over the world and have exhibited extensively; some of my work is in private collections. When not doing commercial work, I still go out and shoot personal work.
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