Q: When did you know you wanted to be a photographer?
A: At 16
Q: How did you choose photography as an art form/career?
A: When I was younger, my sister had a lab at home. I spent time printing black and white pictures.
Q: What is your first memory of picking up a camera with serious intent?
A: My first job was for a newspaper; they told me that they would buy three or four pictures. When I came back with the pictures, they loved them and chose about 25!
Q: What is the most interesting photoshoot/subject you’ve ever photographed?
A: I love doing portrait work and meeting people, but the photoshoot with Nelson Mandela is perhaps one of my most interesting projects. It was about 25 years ago, when he was visiting the European Commission. Unfortunately, I don’t have the picture anymore; it was lost in a bad hard drive.
Another great moment for me was during the photoshoot with Grace Jones. She told me that many photographers were taking pictures with her, but she never received any photos. She asked me to send her some of mine, and I, of course, said yes!
One of my most influential photos was very difficult to get. I had to photograph a politician who declared in the press that, in ten years, Belgium would be dead. I knew I wanted a dark image, but, looking at the pictures after the session, I didn’t find any of them to be strong enough. I asked him for one more minute, and he said that I could take another picture after the interview. I waited for two hours. But I knew what I wanted to do. When he was finally available, I asked him to stand in front of me, put his head down, and close his eyes.
“Close my eyes?!” he said. “Decidedly, I do not understand anything to art!”
The result (below) was featured on a cover and in many tweets between politicians.
Q: What do you like most about being a photographer?
A: Every day is different – portrait, people, advertising, editorial!
Q: Do you ever shoot with a film camera?
A: Some times for fun with a Hasselblad 500 CM