M A R T I N V A N L O K V E N P H O T O G R A P H Y L A N D S C A P E N A T U R E W I L D L I F E T R A V E L F I N E A R T
| M A R T I N |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD & BIOLOGY Already in his early childhood Martin is fascinated by the natural world, which in those days he merely knows from books. He wants to become a biologist, working in and with nature. As a teenager he joines a youth group for nature study and starts to explore nature in real life in the Netherlands. He spents most of his spare time in nature - specially watching birds - loving to be outdoor. Martin graduates as a biologist at the Utrecht University and works several years as an ecotoxicologist. PASSION In the meanwhile he is already passionate about photography - specially nature and landscape photography - and making a profession of it. FRANS LANTING & TIGERS Seeing a presentation of world's best nature photographer Frans Lanting and fully enjoying searching for tigers during a long trip to India - both in 1992 - Martin then knows he has to go for it. "I remember being so emotionally touched by the presentation of Frans Lanting - a this-is-it-feeling seeing his still unequalled wandering albatrosses displaying - I was stuck to my seat when Frans Lanting finished his presentation." EXPLORING PHOTOGRAPHY Until then not photographing seriously, Martin passionately starts fully exploring photography, in the meanwhile working as a tourleader for a nature travel company and in many other jobs. Pursuing the art of photography he soon photographed not only nature and landscape, but a wide range of subjects. |
PROFESSIONAL
In 1997 Martin becomes a professional photographer - working in assigments for a variety of magazines, publishers and communication agencies - photographing nature, landscape, potraits, lifestyle, food, studio, gardens (small landscapes!), outdoor recreation and travel.
Since 2002 he is leading nature photography tours all over the world in cooperation with a nature travel company. His assignments in nature, travel, lifestlye and food photography too takes him to all continents.
In 1997 Martin becomes a professional photographer - working in assigments for a variety of magazines, publishers and communication agencies - photographing nature, landscape, potraits, lifestyle, food, studio, gardens (small landscapes!), outdoor recreation and travel.
Since 2002 he is leading nature photography tours all over the world in cooperation with a nature travel company. His assignments in nature, travel, lifestlye and food photography too takes him to all continents.
TURNING POINT
Then in 2008/2009 his work as a photographer reached a turning point. Making images of the natural world and recording the beauty of animals, plants, landscapes - our environment - and of the people enjoying all this, was initially his main reason to become a photographer.
Then in 2008/2009 his work as a photographer reached a turning point. Making images of the natural world and recording the beauty of animals, plants, landscapes - our environment - and of the people enjoying all this, was initially his main reason to become a photographer.
"I realized I was so busy enyoing all round photography, honing my skills and - not unimportant - earning a living as a photographer and enjoying family life, time for nature and landscape photography had become very limited. A change had to come."
From then on Martin's focus is on nature, landscapes, wildlife and people enjoying and working in nature and our environment.
"With my images I want to show the sheer beauty of nature and hope to contribute to a feeling of wonder about the natural world."
"With my images I want to show the sheer beauty of nature and hope to contribute to a feeling of wonder about the natural world."
FRANS LANTING AGAIN
"Seeing the presentation of Frans Lanting in February 2012 in the Netherlands I was once again so emotionally touched, so totally flabergasted!
Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) was so right stating 'To take a photograph is to align the head, the eye and the heart. It's a way of life' ".
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FAVOURITE IMAGE
"My favourite image still is 'Oryx on Namib Desert' by Jim Brandenburg, a graphic - almost monochrome - dreamy and powerfull piece of art!".
FAMILY LIFE
Martin lives with his wife and three - almost four - children - his biggest passion - in the Netherlands.
