Born
in the Netherlands, and emigrated to Canada in the 1950’s with his parents,
Fred Braakman, always had an interest in art. He practiced drawing and
painting during his formative years however, when he entered university, he
decided to focus on a technical career, and obtained a degree in chemistry.
Fred Braakman met his
wife during his education at the University of Alberta, and both pursued
their careers together. He continued to maintain his interest in the arts on
a part time basis, and eventually enrolled in private instruction in
painting under Eileen Raucher Sutton for three years. Along the way he
developed an interest in photography and pursued this medium to the present
day. He has taken courses in photography and digital imaging, and continues
to improve and enhance his skills in this medium. He recently attended a
workshop in Arizona with master landscape photographer, Alain Briot.”
Braakman tends to approach his photography with the eye of a landscape
artist, with the intention to develop a distinctive style. “I spend most of
my free time photographing nature, away from the maddening crowds.” says
Braakman.
ARTIST STATEMENT "My
interest in photographic art has broadened over the years since I
started taking photography seriously as an art form. I have worked with
both film based photography, and digital, and work comfortably in both
mediums. I work in two darkrooms, the chemical based darkroom, and the
digital darkroom.
I am
a member of the Monochrome Guild, a group of film based photographers in
Edmonton, Alberta, who are dedicated to preserving that art form. Digital
photography best allows me to express my personal style in color, while film
based photography allows me to express my vision in the black and white
medium.
My
photographic art has been influenced by my earlier training as an artist,
having studied under well know artist Eileen Raucher Sutton, also based in
Sherwood Park , Alberta. My photography has been influenced by Alain Briot,
who resides in Pheonix, Arizona, a master photographer in both film and
digital photography, and Bruce Barnbaum, who resides in Washington, and is
well known for his craftsmanship in film based photography. In addition I
have had training by Dan Burkholder, a photographer from New York, in the
art of melding together traditional film based photography, with the digital
age.
My
goal as a photographic artist, rather than just produce “photographs”, is to
produce works of art. I strive to express my personal vision of what I see
when I produce the image on the medium of choice. The camera produces an
image in its raw form, and it is the duty of the artist to create a
memorable reproduction of the subject matter as he envisions it, in his own
personal style. The artist has at his disposal more tools than just the
camera and the lens to portray that vision.
I
have shown my work at the McMullen Gallery, the Works in Edmonton, and
Picture This Gallery in Sherwood Park. My artistic training –utilization of
repetition of shape, form, line, and color - are found in many of my images.
Proper placement of these factors in the frame is not always easy, and
requires a careful eye when composing the image.
My
goal is to utilize my personal style in a way that expresses my vision of
how I would like to see the world, one that is in harmony with man and
nature. I love photography as an art form, and will continue to develop my
artistic skills".
Picture This
framing & gallery is an authorized representative for:
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