The main draw in Van de Kreeke’s portraiture
is the immediate sense of individuality and
importance in his subjects. We are struck with
a sense of familiarity that sparks a curiosity
to better know these subjects. Through his
photography, Van de Kreeke sheds any hints of
the average—the common, the overlooked—
bestowing each subject with due presence
and significance.
Presenting viewers with raw imagery, Van
de Kreeke tries increasingly to “stay away
from the effects and go back to the real
thing.” Subtly highlighting the ordinary with
a slight, playful tilt o f the head, a hand gently
resting on the nape of the neck, or a sea of
freckles peering from between two innocent
eyes, Van de Kreeke magnifies detail with
unfiltered clarity.
“My challenge is to capture what I initially
see in my subjects; that can be beauty,
strength, sadness or any other emotion.” Van
de Kreeke’s photography strips the subject
not physically, but spiritually, where all that
remains is the bareness of being.
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