Welcome on my website! My grandfather who was a painter used to call me a PIN OAK when I was young. It wasn’t meant in a flattering way 😉, but I kind of embraced the nickname because it perfectly describes my personality and my style of photography. I have a pin sharp observation which helps me to see things in an original way. To find something interesting in an ordinary place or a glimpse of someone’s soul. Like an Oak I am steadfast, loyal and firmly rooted in the creative culture of The Netherlands. A Pin Oak is intolerant to shadows. In my photography I try to use the essential light to show things that need to be corrected and beauty that has to be appreciated.

 

For me the magic of photography is that it has the power to freeze a moment in time. It becomes a powerful picture in your mind of a place, time or situation. A still image leaves room for a viewer’s interpretation and imagination. It is a global language that can tell stories, which is essential for us as individuals and as a species. It binds and defines us. Storytelling is a deep-rooted need for me, hopefully my photos tell a personal story and also resonate and inspire on a universal level.

 

Originally I am a designer and I have a great need to create. Photography gave me that opportunity during my travels around the globe. I wanted to capture the beauty, vulnerability and diversity of our planet and it’s people. It also helped to organize and trying to understand the chaos and complexity of it. And of course wanting to share my wonderings with all of you.

 

Machiel Crielaard