As many of you may be aware, I’m somewhat of a collector of one-of-a-kind (or limited production) custom toys. I’ve featured some of them in earlier posts, such as Creative People and Ugly Unicorn!
My collection tends to gravitate toward the unusual, which surround me when I sit at my desk.
Gill, My Monster Pet and Riblet the Bold
In this image you see Gill standing proud in the back row with My Monster Pet left and Riblet the Bold right in the front row. These wonderful creations come from the mind and hands of Richard Page of UMEtoys fame. Richard seems to have a neverending supply of wonderful ideas floating in his head, which he puts down into his iPad with great skill. His favorites wind up in the form of resin cast figures, such as the ones that you see here.
Richard is probably best known for the Geekwoks line that he has cast into a large variety of extremely cute and adorable shapes. But to me, Richard is much more than an artist, as he is a true inspiration who always has a kind word and is an old-fashioned gent!
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
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Dutch goes the Photo! 
Talent exudes from the art.