About Pieter van de Graaf
This website explains the approach to photography of Dutch photographic artist Pieter van de Graaf.
His photos focus on the concepts of abstraction, colour and light. The sections below describe how Pieter is applying these focus points in his different art portfolios.
Pieter harnesses the power of digital to create his art and uses digital cameras and processing techniques.
About Pieter van de Graaf
Pieter van de Graaf was born and raised in the Netherlands but has spent most of his working life in Scotland. Most of his work originates in the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as his motherland, the Netherlands. Pieter is married to the Scottish portrait artist Karen van de Graaf. They live with their two daughters in Falkirk, Scotland.
About Urban Secrets
Away from the shiny office blocks, modern residentials and pristine historic monuments, lies a world of forgotten buidlings. Yet, these buildings too were once designed by someone and have a story to tell. Ignored by most passers-by, these buildings often do not reveal their beauty and design features until abstracted in a photograph, and in the case of this portfolio, digitally rendered into black and white. Pieter regularly roams the city streets to discover these hidden gems and give them the attention they deserve.
About Street Impressions
The darker parts of the streets often not only offer an honest image of city life but also a great interplay of shadow and light, whether at night or during the day. Pieter loves capturing these impressions and create stunning images of often unseen or unnoticed aspects of the urban environment.
About Beneath Bridges
The confined spaces under bridges are avoided by most passers by. However, these areas in the urban environment often reveal quite spectacular structures and lightfalls. In this project, Pieter is trying to show that the beauty of bridges doesn't always lie at the top.
About Urban Colours
Residential architecture can often be drab and monotone. With this portfolio, Pieter tries to highlight the difference the introduction of colour can make to these environments and the people who live there. Using digital procesing techniques, Pieter has given the images in this portfolio a slightly artificial appearence to underline the fact that for many inhabitants of residential estates, a colourful environment remains a dream.
About Concrete Jungle
Untreated concrete, where visible in architecture, is often seen as ugly and boring. However, as a material, concrete has its merits, perhaps not in colour but certainly in surface patterns and structures, particularly when it starts to age. Pieter enjoys bringing out the beauty of buildings made out of concrete that most people wouldn't warrant a second look.