Architecture
Architectural photography by Koen Van Damme
Koen Van Damme is a true master of architectural photography. He manages to depict the seemingly ordinary and banal in an aesthetically sophisticated, fascinating and unique way. He conjures up exciting visual worlds with straightforward structures from simple walls, conventional rooms and matching furnishings. His works captivate the viewer and present architectural achievements in a very special light.
His interest in architectural photography arose during his photography studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent. There he had the opportunity to attend a course run by the successful architect Paul Robbrecht, who made a lasting impression on him. Today he is an expert in his field and knows how to make architecture tangible in pictures. Viewers can experience it without having to be there themselves. Only a few succeed in conveying this. For him, it is quite logical that architecture and photography belong together: "Architecture is created by images in your head. Architectural photography is created by architecture. Images in your head are created by architectural photography."
Before he takes photographs, he begins by exploring the architectural space, which he first has to really internalize. He takes his time and lets everything sink in. Koen Van Damme therefore describes architectural photography as a "process of meditation". He always looks for the point of quiet simplicity, which he then skillfully realizes. It is more important to him to leave out elements in the photos than to add them. He pays attention to perfect composition and ideal lighting. He analyzes every line and every color, which he
balances with shades of grey. The result is an atmospheric harmony. Joana Brites aptly wrote about him: "He thinks as an architect, sees as a photographer and shoots as a painter. " Koen Van Damme mainly photographs for architects and architectural firms, including well-known clients such as Vincent Van Duysen Architects, VSHD Design, Alexander Wang and many more. He has worked on many book projects and regularly wins prizes at various awards. In 2012 and 2013 he received the first prize from Archifocus two years in a row and in 2016 a Black & White Spider Award. These honor his passion for architectural photography, which is reflected not only in his professional success but also in his private life. He uses Instagram extensively and tries to post a picture every day to show an architectural impression. He wants to evoke an "architectural photography meditation" and inspire people.
He draws inspiration from all his interests and describes this as follows: "Henri Cartier-Bresson was right. A good photo is not just a sudden click of a button. It's a result of the movies you've seen, the books you've read, the music you've listened to. Music has a big influence on the photos I take. It helps to inspire and awaken a certain state of mind. "
Thanks to his ability to grasp architecture, the accuracy of his shooting and his in-depth style, he creates images that fascinate us. They encourage us to open our eyes to recognize structures, find motifs and create unique worlds from them.
more info and more works by the artist: Koen van Damme www.koenvandamme.be www.curioos.com/koenvandamme
Instagram @koenvandamme
facebook.com/kvd.architecturalphotography
Schnappschuss: The new issue "Quer"
The theme of the current issue is "Quer" and brings with it a nice special feature: it is printed in landscape format!
In terms of content, you can look forward to a wide variety of topics and approaches relating to this term. to the Schnappschuss
